[Thrombolytic therapy of myocardial infarction. Prognostic value of early reduction of elevation of ST segment]. / Zawal serca leczony trombolitycznie. Znaczenie rokownicze wczesnej redukcji uniesienia odcinka ST.

In-hospital mortality, infarction mass (estimated enzymatically) and electrocardiographic indexes (total ST-segments elevation, number of leads with R-wave presence and total R-waves amplitude) were assessed in 532 patients with acute myocardial infarction, randomized to two treatment groups: 272 treated with streptokinase (SK) and 260 with heparin (H). Echocardiographic contractility indexes (contractility disturbances area index, contractility disturbances index, left ventricle diastolic diameter) and heart volume estimated from X-ray film were also assessed. There were no significant differences in mortality and infarction area between the two groups. In 175 patients total ST-segments elevation was reduced by at least 50%, in the rest 340 patients this reduction was less significant. In the group with early elevated ST-segment reduction there were less in-hospital deaths (p less than 0.01), smaller infarction mass (p less than 0.0001) and significantly less disturbed electrocardiographic contractility indexes. Results suggest that simple electrocardiographic index, namely reduction of ST-segment elevation by 50% after 2 hours of treatment may be a useful prognostic tool, independent on treatment options, as far as in-hospital mortality, necrosis mass and left ventricle contractility disturbances are concerned.

[Clinical significance of mitral valve insufficiency detected by Doppler echocardiography in acute myocardial infarction]. / Znaczenie kliniczne niedomykalnosci mitralnej wykrywanej echokardiografia dopplerowska w swiezym zawale serca.

Doppler echocardiography revealed in the third week of the recent myocardial infarction a pattern of mitral insufficiency in 27 (36%) of the 75 patients studied. Mitral insufficiency was usually associated with the more severe clinical course of myocardial infarction, with more frequent supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias, heart failure, and with more extensive infarction area, as compared with the patients without mitral failure. A decreased contractibility of the left ventricle wall (especially in patients with anterior myocardial infarction accompanied by mitral insufficiency and enlargement ventricular dimension) may suggest its role in the development of mitral insufficiency in myocardial infarction. The results show the need of Doppler echocardiography in recent myocardial infarction to detect patients with an increased risk.