Intravenous anisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex versus intravenous streptokinase in evolving myocardial infarction. Preliminary data from a randomised multicentre study.

The efficacy of a single intravenous bolus of anisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex (APSAC 30U in 4 to 5 minutes) versus an intravenous infusion of streptokinase (1.5 X 10(6) U in 60 minutes) was assessed in 86 patients with evolving myocardial infarction of less than 6 hours duration in a cooperative randomised study. The patency of the infarct-related artery was assessed by coronary angiography at, on average, 90 minutes after therapy (mean time: APSAC 95 minutes, streptokinase 105 minutes). The treatment groups were similar with respect to sex, age, location of myocardial infarction and the delay from onset of pain to treatment. The 90-minute patency rate (grade 2 to 3) was 71.8% in the APSAC group and 55.8% in the streptokinase group; the difference was not statistically significant. There was no difference between the drop in fibrinogen concentrations in the 2 groups at 3 or 24 hours. The minimal concentration obtained at the first assessment was +/- 0.2 g/L in the streptokinase group and 0.5 g/L in the APSAC group. One patient in the APSAC group, who had a previous meningeal bleeding, had a non-fatal cerebrovascular accident. In a subgroup of 38 patients who had 3 control coronary angiograms at 90 minutes, 24 hours and 3 weeks, the patency rate was 63, 82 and 93%, respectively, in the APSAC group and 48, 88 and 92%, respectively, in the streptokinase group (the difference was not statistically significant). None of the patients in the APSAC group presented with reocclusion, whilst 3 patients in the streptokinase group had reocclusions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Spin echo MRI in the evaluation of pericardial disease.

As in other pathological processes of the heart, the contribution of MRI is not limited to optimal anatomical evaluation but also offers functional or etiological information (approach of tissue characterization). In this work we report on our experience in evaluating normal and pathological pericardium with MRI spin echo sequences. The results with 41 patients, including pericardial effusion, thickening, and mass are discussed and confronted with previously reported data. Contrary to classical echocardiographic notions, pericardial effusions are more frequently in the anterior than posterior location (26/30 vs. 19/30 p less than 0.03). Not only does MRI provide a precise and positive diagnosis, but also a rather clear distinction appears in spin echo sequences between hemopericardium with high signal intensity and other effusions with lower signal (high intensity found in 6/6 patients with hemopericardium versus only 8/24 in the remaining group; p less than 0.01). When constriction signs are present, MRI solves the difficult differential diagnosis between pericardial thickening and restrictive cardiomyopathy. In paracardiac primary or metastatic tumors pericardial involvement is clearly demonstrated. Distinction between paracardiac, respectively pericardial cyst or false aneurysm is possible. We conclude that MRI is a new imaging method, complementary to echocardiography and/or computed tomography in the evaluation of pericardial pathology especially when hemopericardium, constrictive pericarditis, or tumoral etiologies are suspected. Important technological improvements are needed to solve the problem of long acquisition time and to improve the possibilities of tissue discrimination.

Detection and quantification of recent myocardial infarction: diagnostic value of multiecho multislice spin echo imaging.

Thirty-four patients with documented transmural MI were studied with gated three echo, multislice MR imaging. In 12 patients MRI MI size was compared with CK release measurement, Tl-201 SPECT defect, and with Tc-99m LVEF. Infarct was visualised in 29/34 patients on 3rd echo images (18/34 on 2nd and 6/34 on 1st echo images). Mean MR infarct size (planimetered from 3rd echo images): 33.1 +/- 9% overestimated the SPECT defect (mean value of 23.8 +/- 15%). However, the overall correlation between MRI and Tl-201 sizing was significant: r = 0.82; p less than 0.001; SEE = 5.5%. The correlation with LVEF also appeared significant: r = -0.61; p less than 0.038.

[Genetics of dilated cardiomyopathies]. / Génétique des cardiomyopathies dilatées.

So-called idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy is a multifactorial condition. Its familial nature is increasingly commonly observed in genealogical studies. The Cardiomyopathy Working Group of the French Cardiological Society has recensed 31 families with two or more members with dilated cardiomyopathy. This led to the search for genetic abnormalities in this condition, as it has been performed in other diseases, especially primary hypertrophic cardiomyopathies.

[Detection of recent myocardial infarction by spin-echo MRI. Value of the third echo]. / Détection de l'infarctus myocardique récent par l'IRM en écho de spin. Intérêt du troisième écho.

Seventeen patients underwent MRI spin-echo imaging (Magniscan 5000) 7 to 21 days after acute myocardial infarction (10 anterior, 7 inferior--average 13.1 +/- 3.7 days). The success rate of visualisation of AMI evaluated independently by a qualitative score (from 0 to 4) based on the brilliance of the myocardial signal after taking steps to eliminate the brillance of pericardial fat and subendocardial flow signals, was 3.1 +/- 0.87 in anterior AMI (10 out of 10) and 1.28 +/- 1.25 (4 out of 7) in inferior AMI (p less than 0.007). The diagnostic sensitivity was increased when images of the third echo were used (13 out of 17) compared to those of the second echo (8 out of 17, p less than 0.016). The value of the 3rd echo is explained and emphasised. Abnormal intramyocardial signals were not recorded in a control group of 10 patients under similar conditions of multi-echo imaging. Finally, significant correlations were observed between peak CPK concentrations and the MRI score (r = 0.62; p less than 0.01) and between peak CPK and the number of sections in which the hyperbrilliant signal was observed (r = 0.74; p less than 0.001): this may open the day to quantification of myocardial necrosis by MRI.

[Coronary-left ventricular fistulae]. / Fistules coronaro-ventriculaires gauches.

The authors report a case of fistulae between the right and left coronary arteries and the left ventricle. A 58 year old man was investigated for inaugural unstable angina without infarction. Coronary angiography showed multiple communications between the terminal branches of the septal arteries of the left anterior descending, the terminal segments of the left diagonal and the terminal portion of the right coronary artery and the apical region of the left ventricle. Angiography in the ascending aorta confirmed the diagnosis of coronary-left ventricular fistulae. The dilatation and rapid emptying of the entire coronary circulation were indirect signs of increased flow due to the shunt. There was no coronary alternation or stenosis. The rarity of coronaro-cardiac fistulae, especially involving both main coronary arteries and the left ventricle, is emphasised. The symptoms of angina are explained by the coronary "steal" syndrome : the diagnosis is angiographic; rare cases with high flow and a favourable anatomical set up may be managed surgically.

[Angina pectoris in a hypertensive patient with left ventricle hypertrophy: echo-angiographic comparisons]. / L'angor de l'hypertendu avec hypertrophie ventriculaire gauche. Confrontations écho-angiographiques.

Not every case of angina pectoris occurring in a hypertensive patient is indicative of coronary atherosclerosis. Nine patients with essential hypertension of moderate degree had attacks of angina of sufficient severity to require investigation by arteriography. In these patients, the coronary arteriogram was normal but ventriculography showed hypertrophy of the walls of the left ventricle of restrictive or obstructive type. These appearances were confirmed by echocardiography which also showed hypertrophy of the septum and, in certain cases, confirmed the involvement of the ventricle, while by contrast the electrocardiogram and radiological appearances of the heart were essentially normal. The beta-blockers may have an important part to play in such conditions, and echocardiography is suggested as part of the routine investigation in cases of hypertension.

[Echography after regularization of atrial fibrillation]. / Echographie après régularisation de la fibrillation auriculaire.

An echographic study was carried out on 17 patients before and after conversion of atrial fibrillation to normal rhythm. It showed up the moment of return of atrial contraction as a movement of the posterior wall of the left auricle and a reappearance of the 'a' wave or the anterior cusp of the mitral valve. The contraction can appear immediately after the electric shock, or may be delayed.

[Two-dimensional echocardiography of ventricular aneurysm. Study of 38 cases with angiographic correlation]. / L'échocardiographie bidimensionnelle de l'anévrysme ventriculaire. Etude de 38 cas avec corrélation angiographique.

This is a study of the data supplied by cross-sectional echocardiography in the diagnosis of post-infarction aneurysm. It involves 38 confirmed cases of myocardial infarction. The clinical, electrical, radiological and echocardiographic data (in M mode) were specified. Right anterior oblique ventriculography showed 21 posterior and 17 anterior aneurysms (4 antero-lateral, 5 apical, 8 antero-apical), and 14 mitral regurgitations. Cross-sectional echocardiography using a (30 degrees or 90 degrees) mechanical sector scanner allowed the study of the kinetics of 6 segments following 5 viewing angles: one longitudinal, two transversal, two apical. Each segment was classified according to its shape and motion: akinetic, dyskinetic or aneurysmal, and the papillary muscles of the mitral valve were assessed as normal or pathological (dense and motionless on the echogram). 35 of the 38 aneurysms seen at angiography, were detected by cross-sectional echocardiography; in one case the diagnosis could not be made for technical reasons; in two cases echocardiography was in favour of akinesia. An abnormal papillary muscle was observed in the 14 cases of mitral insufficiency. The causes of error in localisation were considered. In conclusion, cross-sectional echocardiography appears to be an excellent atraumatic procedure for the diagnosis of aneurysms and papillary muscle dysfunction.

[Clinical value of thallium-201 myocardial scintigraphy with dipyridamole performed before and after aortocoronary bypass]. / Intérêt clinique de la scintigraphie myocardique au thallium 201 sous dipyridamole pratiquée avant et après pontage aorto-coronarien.

In addition to preoperative coronary angiography, 63 patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery also had myocardial scintigraphy with dipyridamole 1 to 2 days before surgery, resting scintigraphy 10 after bypass and a repeat scintigraphy with dipyridamole 3 to 6 months later. The myocardium was divided into 5 segments. In each segment the perfusion was classified as: normal, presence of a reversible defect (redistribution), presence of a permanent defect (no redistribution). A comparison of pre-and postoperative scintigraphies led to the following conclusions. Three to six months after bypass, improved perfusion was observed in 65.6% os ischaemic segments, showing that surgery was very effective. On the other hand, the immediate postoperative control (10 days) only showed improved perfusion in 42.5% of the ischaemic segments: this interval was too short to appreciate the benefits of coronary bypass. There was a good correlation between the scintigraphic improvement after surgery and the reversibility of the zones of hypofixation of Thallium before surgery. When the defect was reversible, 80% of the revascularised segments were improved. Fifty-eight per cent of non-reversible defects before surgery were unchanged by the revascularisation procedure. However, the absence of redistribution during preoperative scintigraphy was not synonymous with definitive myocardial lesions and does not represent a contra-indication to coronary bypass surgery; in fact, improved perfusion was observed in 42% of these constant defects. The quality of recovery depends on the condition of the muscle: only segments with normal motion can be improved. Degradation of the clinical condition of patients was always related to aggravation(lack of improvement in 1 case) of scintigraphy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)