Is a pacemaker indicated for vasovagal patients with severe cardioinhibitory reflex as identified by the ATP test? A preliminary randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: A previous observational study suggested that, in syncopal elderly patients with vasovagal syndrome, a test using adenosine-5'-triphosphate (intravenous ATP 20 mg. 2 ml-1) could identify a subgroup of patients at high risk of severe cardioinhibitory response and guide the therapeutic strategy. To test one aspect of these results prospectively, we designed a small study focusing only on vasovagal patients with abnormal response to ATP testing. METHODS: Twenty patients hospitalized for syncope, which was considered to be vasovagal, and exhibiting an abnormal ATP test--defined by a longer than 10 s cardiac pause--were randomized to two groups: half to implantation with a dual-chamber pacemaker and half to usual medical care. All patients who were not hospitalized for recurrences were assessed every 6 months in the clinic or by telephone. RESULTS: At baseline, the randomized patient groups were similar in their demographic and health characteristics and in the results of their ATP tests, for example the mean cardiac pause (21.4 +/- 9.3 vs 15.9 +/- 3.7 s) and the mean interval between escape beats during the pause (7.29 +/- 4.2 vs 7.48 +/- 3.3 s). During a mean follow-up of 52 months, recurrences appeared in six of the 10 usual-care patients (range 0.2-29 months) but in none of the implanted patients (P < 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: This limited trial (1) supports the conclusion that patients with an abnormal ATP test who receive a dual-chamber pacemaker suffer fewer recurrences than those who are monitored only; and (2) consequently further supports the hypothesis that, among vasovagal patients, a cardiac pause of longer than 10 s in patients administered ATP identifies those at high risk of symptomatic vagal cardiac inhibition.

Can adenosine 5'-triphosphate be used to select treatment in severe vasovagal syndrome?

BACKGROUND: Selection of treatment in vasovagal syndrome should be guided by the mechanism of symptoms. This study determined whether a simple drug test may assess one mechanism. METHODS AND RESULTS: To identify patients at risk of severe cardioinhibitory response of vagal origin, we infused 20 mg ATP into 316 patients hospitalized for recurrent syncope (n=195) or presyncope (n=121) of unknown origin and into normal subjects (n=51). We then assessed the ECG and clinical responses to the drug, recommended therapy, and followed up the subjects chronically. A cardiac pause > 10 seconds was seen in only 3 normal subjects (6%). Therefore, a pause < or = 10 seconds yielded the approximately 95th percentile of the normal range. ATP provoked a pause > 10 seconds in 130 symptomatic patients (41%) and a pause < or = 10 seconds in 186 symptomatic patients (59%). Thus, symptomatic patients with pauses > 10 seconds were proposed for pacemaker implantation; all other patients and normal subjects were simply monitored. Among long-pause patients with follow-up, the observed recurrence rate for the 104 with pacemakers was one-third that for the 21 who were only monitored (P<.0001). Among followed-up short-pause patients, the rate in the 153 monitored-only patients did not differ from the 20 implanted patients (P=.432). CONCLUSIONS: The vagal effect of ATP may identify the subgroup of patients at high risk of severe cardioinhibitory response of vagal origin who likely will benefit from pacemaker therapy. This fast, uncomplicated test should be considered for further use in screening patients with vasovagal syndrome.

Acute and long-term efficacy of perindopril in severe chronic congestive heart failure.

To assess the short- and long-term hemodynamic efficacy of perindopril, 15 patients (12 men and 3 women) diagnosed with congestive heart failure were treated with oral perindopril (4 mg daily) for 3 months in association with digitalis and diuretic maintenance therapy. Patients were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classes III and IV. Underlying cardiopathy was ischemic (6 patients), hypertensive (5 patients), valvular (2 patients), and dilated cardiomyopathy (2 patients). Hemodynamics, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity, and perindoprilat (the active metabolite of perindopril) blood titration were measured at 2 periods. Acute assessment was performed over 2 titration days on oral perindopril 2 mg (day 1) and 4 mg (day 2); measurements were performed at rest and at 0, 1, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours. Chronic assessment was performed after 3 months of treatment with oral perindopril, 4 mg daily. During the study, 1 patient withdrew due to low systolic blood pressure (< 100 mm Hg) and 3 severely impaired patients died due to a worsening of heart failure during the study. Among the 11 remaining patients, 6 were symptomatically improved. On 4 mg perindopril administration, hemodynamic improvement was similar for peak values at both day 2 and at 3 months. At day 2, compared with baseline, cardiac index increased by 21% (p < 0.05) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) decreased by 54% and by 21%, respectively (p < 0.01). Similarly, at 3 months, cardiac index increased by 37% (p < 0.001) and PCWP and MAP decreased by 41% and 19%, respectively (p < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Intravenous enoximone versus conventional treatment in acute lung edema. Preliminary results of a randomized study]. / Enoximone administré par voie intraveineuse contre traitement conventionnel dans l'oedème aigu du poumon. Résultats préliminaires d'une étude randomisée.

The aim of this open study was to compare the efficacy of Enoximone and conventional treatment in 44 patients with acute pulmonary edema. At the time of this interim analysis, 22 patients had received Enoximone (1 mg/kg by rapid intravenous injection every 8 hours for 48 hours) and 22 were given conventional treatment (furosemide, nitrates, dopamine-dobutamine). The treatment schedules were randomised. Clinical data was obtained at 0, 1, 2, 24 and 48 hours and evaluated using the Killip-Kimball score, dyspnoea, pulmonary rales, the need for additional therapy and patient mortality. The patients in the two groups were comparable in all clinical features except the sex ratio. The improvement of all clinical criteria of evaluation seemed to be greater in the Enoximone group, except during the first hour of treatment (due to the action of diuretics). The overall outcome was better in the Enoximone group (17 favourable responses compared to 11 in the group receiving conventional treatment). Normalisation of haemodynamic parameters was observed only with Enoximone. In addition, it became necessary to administer Enoximone to 9 patients in the conventional treatment group. At these doses, Enoximone was at least as effective as conventional treatment of acute pulmonary edema. What is more, no secondary effects or tachyphylaxis were observed during the period of hospital treatment.

Acute pulmonary oedema: preliminary results of a randomized trial of the intravenous phosphodiesterase inhibitor, enoximone, vs conventional therapy.

The purpose of this open study was to compare the effects of enoximone and conventional therapy in 44 patients with acute pulmonary oedema. In this preliminary report, 22 patients were randomly assigned to the enoximone group (1 mg/kg bolus, every 8 hours for 48 hours) and 22 patients to conventional therapy (frusemide, nitrates, dopamine-dobutamine). Patients were assessed clinically at 0, 1, 2, 24 and 48 hours by the change in their Killip-Kimball score, dyspnoea, pulmonary rales, blood pressure, diuresis, requirement for additional therapy and/or death. Patient characteristics were similar except for distribution of the sexes. Improvements of each clinical parameter seemed more marked in the enoximone group, except during the first hour (due to the diuretics). The general course of the disease was more favourable in the enoximone group (17 cases vs 11 in the conventional therapy group), in which enoximone used alone was sufficient to normalize the haemodynamic variables. On the other hand, in the conventional therapy group, it was necessary to institute enoximone therapy in 9 cases. With the dosage used, enoximone appeared to be at least as effective as conventional therapy in acute pulmonary oedema. Moreover, no side-effects or tachyphylaxis appeared during the hospital assessment.

[Post-infarction anterior septal rupture. Aspects of the IVC flux on bidimensional Doppler with color coding]. / Rupture septale antérieure post-infarctus. Aspect du flux de CIV en Doppler bidimensionnel à codage couleur.

In a case of anterior septal rupture complicating a transeptal myocardial infarction, the diagnosis of IVC is immediately confirmed by bidimensional Doppler with color coding. The abnormal flow and its three components are studied in multiple section planes. Incidences permitting the best visualization of the shunt are the longitudinal sections: left parasternal and apical-long axis. The parasternal short axis section only visualizes an abnormal intraventricular flow. Sweeping of the septum by caudal tilting of the probe, from an apical section of the 4 cavities, successively studies the three portions: left intraventricular, trans-septal, and right intraventricular of the abnormal flow. The size of the defect seems underestimated on bidimensional ultrasonograms as well as color Doppler. Speed, sensitivity and reliability of the color coded bidimensional Doppler, places it as the reference diagnostic test in this type of pathology. Catheterization still has a place in evaluating the severity of the shunt.

[Acute thrombosis of mitral Starr prosthesis. Value of color coded two-dimensional doppler echocardiography]. / Thrombose aiguë de prothèse de Starr mitrale. Intérêt de l'échocardiographie-doppler bidimensionnelle à codage couleur.

In a case of acute thrombosis on mitral Starr valve two-dimensional doppler-echocardiography rapidly showed that parts of the transprosthetic jets had disappeared, while conventional continuous wave doppler ultrasound confirmed the presence of a severe haemodynamic obstacle. With colour-coded doppler ultrasound, there only remained a jet that was parallel to the posterior wall of the left ventricle. This jet was of unusual pattern, with the presence of turbulence and high velocities in aliasing colour. The effectiveness of a thrombolytic treatment was demonstrated by the reappearance of the missing diastolic jets with return to normal velocities. Comparison between a post-thrombolysis colour-coded doppler examination and a reference examination confirmed that the valve was now functioning normally. Thus, while conventional doppler recordings accurately quantify prosthetic dysfunctions leading to stenosis, two-dimensional doppler recordings rapidly provide an anatomical information. By showing changes in the transprosthetic jets they indicate the precise location and extent of valve obstruction.

Myocardial infarction: is bepridil, a new calcium antagonist, able to improve the course of the acute phase?

Several calcium antagonists are useful in the treatment of ischemic heart disease. This open randomized study was designed to determine the effects of bepridil, a new long-acting calcium antagonist with antiarrhythmic properties, on the course of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Two hundred patients with AMI of less than 48 hours duration (average 10.9 hours) were randomly assigned to two treatment groups: The first one was treated with bepridil (BEP, n = 100), and the second one was considered as a control group, using isosorbide dinitrate at a low dosage (ISDN, n = 100). BEP was administered intravenously for 48 hours at a dosage of 4 mg/kg/day; at the same time, an oral dose of 200 mg t.i.d. was started and continued for 21 days. In the control group, ISDN was given orally at the low dosage of 5 mg every 4 hours for 21 days. An uneventful course was seen in 28 BEP patients versus 15 in the control group (p less than 0.05). Mortality and recurrence of angina were lower in the BEP group than in the control group, but the difference is not significant. On the other hand, moderate and severe hemodynamic complications did not occur in 80 BEP patients versus 65 in the control group (p less than 0.05). Ventricular arrhythmias occurred in 36 BEP patients versus 50 in the control group (p less than 0.05). Antiarrhythmic therapy was required in 14 BEP patients versus 61 in the control group (p less than 0.001). These results show that bepridil seems capable of improving the hemodynamics and arrhythmologic course of AMI.

Electrophysiological profile of bepridil, a new anti-anginal drug with calcium blocking properties.

The electrophysiological effects of intravenously administered bepridil, a new anti-anginal drug with slow calcium current blocking properties, were studied in 20 patients undergoing an endocavitary cardiac exploration for various reasons. Classical techniques of programmed electrical stimulation were used. Bepridil markedly increased the refractory period of the atrium, atrioventricular node and the AH-interval. The effects on HR and ventricular refractory period were minimal, and sinus rate decreased slightly. A pronounced reduction in the heart rate at which the Wenckebach phenomenon was obtained in the anterograde direction (16%) and particularly in the retrograde direction (26%) was observed. During this study the drug appeared beneficial in suppressing atrial flutter, atrial extrasystoles, and ventricular extrasystoles. In two patients with intranodal reciprocal rhythm, the injection of bepridil terminated the tachycardia which could not be reinitiated later. No side-effects occurred and it appears that bundle branch block and prolonged HV interval are not contraindications to the use of bepridil.

[Isolated ventricular tachycardia without patent cardiopathy]. / Les tachycardies ventriculaires isolées sans cardiopathie patente

The authors have made a further study of the case notes of 49 patients who were followed up for several years with isolated ventricular tachycardia occurring in a heart which was otherwise healthy; such tachycardias are also called essential or idiopathic. First they define the criteria necessary for the diagnosis of essential ventricular tachycardia: -- an arbitrary age criterion (less than 45 years in men and 50 years in women) which seeks to exclude the so-called "arterial" ventricular tachycardias; -- a follow-up period of supervision of more than two years, which excludes certain primary cardiomyopathies whose presenting feature is a series of attacks of ventricular tachycardia. They then attempt to classify the ventricular tchycardias into four types, according to their clinical features and the electrocardiographic tracings at rest and on exercise, and to predict the prognosis. The most frequently encountered and benign type was the classical ventricular tachycardia of Bouveret.