Mixing in the right ventricle and pulmonary artery in man: evaluation of ventricular volume measurements from indicator washout curves.

To assess the mixing characteristics of the right ventricle and pulmonary artery, radioiodinated (131)I serum albumin and indocyanine green dye were injected simultaneously in 16 subjects. One indicator was injected into the atrium and the other into the ventricle, or both were injected at different sites in the ventricle. Washout curves were obtained by rapid catheter sampling alternately just above or just below the pulmonic valve. The washout of radioisotope was also recorded with a precordial scintillation detection probe. Indicator washout from the ventricular inflow tract was rapid, while washout from the region of the ventricular apex was quite slow. Protosystolic dips in indicator concentration, noted in curves drawn below the pulmonic valve, suggest that the ventricle emptied sequentially. Flow values computed from curves sampled below the valve, when compared with reference values, suggest that a significant volume of atrial blood passed through the ventricle without mixing, or mixing to only a small extent, with the residual volume of the chamber. Peak concentration of indicator was higher below the pulmonic valve than above. This finding, plus the close agreement between flow values computed from curves sampled above the valve and the reference values, indicates that further mixing occurred above the valve. Ventricular volumes computed from washout downslopes are systematically falsely high. This overestimate appeared to be larger in normal subjects than in patients with low stroke volumes. Progressive mixing of blood leaving the atrium occurs during its passage through the ventricle, pulmonic valve, and pulmonary artery and permits accurate estimation of flow.

Evidence for a direct stimulatory effect of prostacyclin on renin release in man.

THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS INVESTIGATION WERE: (a) to characterize the time and dose dependence of the effects of prostacyclin (PGI(2)) on renin release in healthy men; (b) to define whether PGI(2)-induced renin release is secondary to hemodynamic changes; (c) to determine the plasma and urine concentrations of 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) (the stable breakdown product of PGI(2)) associated with renin release induced by exogenous or pharmacologically enhanced endogenous PGI(2). Intravenous PGI(2) or 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) infusions at nominal rates of 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, and 20.0 ng/kg per min were performed in each of six normal human subjects; in three of them, PGI(2) infusion was repeated after beta-adrenergic blockade and cyclooxygenase inhibition. PGI(2), but not 6-keto-PGF(1alpha), caused a time- and dose-dependent increase of plasma renin activity, which reached statistical significance at 5.0 ng/kg per min and was still significantly elevated 30 min after discontinuing the infusion. Although combined propranolol and indomethacin treatment significantly enhanced the hypotensive effects of infused PGI(2), it did not modify the dose-related pattern of PGI(2)-induced renin release. Plasma 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) levels rose from undetectable levels (<7.5 pg/ml) in a stepwise fashion during increasingly higher infusion rates of PGI(2) or 6-keto-PGF(1alpha). The threshold concentration of plasma 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) associated with a statistically significant stimulation of renin release was approximately 200 pg/ml. Upon discontinuing PGI(2) or 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) infusion, the disappearance of 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) from blood showed an identical biphasic behavior, the initial phase having an apparent t((1/2)) of 3.2 min. The intravenous infusion of furosemide, which is known to stimulate renin release via a cyclooxygenase-dependent mechanism, caused a three-to fourfold increase of urinary 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) excretion rate, concomitant with the elevation of plasma renin activity levels, in six healthy women. 6-Keto-PGF(1alpha) remained undetectable in peripheral venous plasma throughout the study. WE CONCLUDE THAT IN HUMAN SUBJECTS: (a) PGI(2)-induced renin release occurs with a dose and time dependence similar to its reported platelet effects; (b) PGI(2)-induced renin release is not mediated by adrenergic stimuli or cyclooxygenase-dependent mechanisms secondary to hemodynamic changes; (c) furosemide-induced renin release is associated with increased renal PGI(2) formation; and (d) PGI(2) appears to act as a local modulator rather than a circulating hormone in controlling juxtaglomerular function.

Myocardial cell death in human diabetes.

The renin-angiotensin system is upregulated with diabetes, and this may contribute to the development of a dilated myopathy. Angiotensin II (Ang II) locally may lead to oxidative damage, activating cardiac cell death. Moreover, diabetes and hypertension could synergistically impair myocardial structure and function. Therefore, apoptosis and necrosis were measured in ventricular myocardial biopsies obtained from diabetic and diabetic-hypertensive patients. Accumulation of a marker of oxidative stress, nitrotyrosine, and Ang II labeling were evaluated quantitatively. The diabetic heart showed cardiac hypertrophy, cavitary dilation, and depressed ventricular performance. These alterations were more severe with diabetes and hypertension. Diabetes was characterized by an 85-fold, 61-fold, and 26-fold increase in apoptosis of myocytes, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts, respectively. Apoptosis in cardiac cells did not increase additionally with diabetes and hypertension. Diabetes increased necrosis by 4-fold in myocytes, 9-fold in endothelial cells, and 6-fold in fibroblasts. However, diabetes and hypertension increased necrosis by 7-fold in myocytes and 18-fold in endothelial cells. Similarly, Ang II labeling in myocytes and endothelial cells increased more with diabetes and hypertension than with diabetes alone. Nitrotyrosine localization in cardiac cells followed a comparable pattern. In spite of the difference in the number of nitrotyrosine-positive cells with diabetes and with diabetes and hypertension, apoptosis and necrosis of myocytes, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts were detected only in cells containing this modified amino acid. In conclusion, local increases in Ang II with diabetes and with diabetes and hypertension may enhance oxidative damage, activating cardiac cell apoptosis and necrosis.

Evidence for antigen-driven T-cell response in unstable angina.

BACKGROUND: Activation of T cells and macrophages has been associated with unstable angina (UA), but whether this reflects specific immune responses remains unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analyzed the repertoire and the length of complementarity-determining region 3 of the T-cell receptor (TCR) beta-chain variable (BV) gene segments of activated lymphocytes in 23 patients with UA, 13 patients with chronic stable angina (CSA), and 6 normal control subjects. We also tested the proliferation of systemic T cells in response to autologous coronary plaque proteins, oxidized LDL, and Chlamydia pneumoniae as candidate antigens, in vitro. The activated T cell-TCRBV repertoire was perturbed in 13 (57%) of 23 UA patients versus 3 (23%) of 13 CSA patients (P=0.016) and was restricted to 6 (28%) of 21 expanded TCRBV families; all were significantly higher in UA than in CSA patients. At least one monotypic or oligotypic activated TCRBV population was found in 15 (65%) of 23 UA patients and in 3 (23%) of 13 CSA patients (P<0.001). Finally, T cells from UA patients, but not from CSA patients or normal control subjects, proliferated in response to autologous proteins from coronary culprit lesions and/or to oxidized LDL. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the T-cell response observed in UA patients is antigen-driven and directed to antigens contained in the culprit coronary atherosclerotic plaques.

Inflammatory left ventricular microaneurysms as a cause of apparently idiopathic ventricular tachyarrhythmias.

BACKGROUND: We sought to investigate the arrhythmogenic role, incidence, treatment, and prognosis of inflammatory left ventricular (LV) microaneurysms in patients with apparently idiopathic ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Methods and Results-- We studied 156 consecutive patients (71 men, 85 women; mean age, 44.1+/-11.8 years) with severe ventricular arrhythmias and normal 2D echo cardiac parameters by coronary and ventricular angiography, biventricular endomyocardial biopsy, and electrophysiological study. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect genomic sequences of enterovirus, adenovirus, Epstein Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex viruses, influenza A and B viruses, and hepatitis C virus in frozen endomyocardial samples. Of these patients, 15 (9.6%) showed angiographic evidence of single or multiple LV microaneurysms. All 15 patients had recurrent episodes of ventricular tachycardia with right bundle-branch block morphology, and the arrhythmias originated within or close to the aneurysms in those patients (n=6) undergoing ventricular mapping. A lymphocytic myocarditis was observed in LV biopsies of all patients and in the right ventricles of 3 patients. Polymerase chain reaction analysis was performed in 12 and viral genomes were found in 5 (42%): hepatitis C virus in 2, enterovirus in 2, and influenza virus A in 1. The patients were treated with antiarrhythmics, and cardiac function was preserved for the next 47+/-39.5 months of follow-up. No major clinical event was registered, and arrhythmias were successfully treated by antiarrhythmics. CONCLUSIONS: Inflammatory LV microaneurysms, often of viral origin, are a consistent cause of apparently idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias. Their prognosis so far has been benign, and aggressive therapeutic strategies have been unnecessary.

Major racial differences in coronary constrictor response between japanese and caucasians with recent myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Enhanced coronary vasomotion may contribute to acute coronary occlusion during the acute phase of myocardial infarction (AMI). Japanese have a higher incidence of variant angina than Caucasian patients, but racial differences in vasomotor reactivity early after AMI are controversial. METHODS AND RESULTS: The same team studied 15 Japanese and 19 Caucasian patients within 14 days of AMI by acetylcholine injection into non-infarct-related (NIRA) and infarct-related (IRA) coronary arteries followed by nitroglycerin. Incidence of vasodilation, vasoconstriction, spasm, and basal tone were assessed in proximal, middle, and distal segments after each drug bolus by quantitative angiography. Japanese patients had much lower cholesterol levels than Caucasians (183+/-59 versus 247+/-53 mg/dL, P<0.006) but showed a lower incidence of vasodilation (2% versus 9% of coronary segments) and a greater incidence of spasm after acetylcholine (47% versus 15% of arteries, P<0.00001). Incidence of spasm was higher in IRAs than in NIRAs in both populations (67% versus 39% and 23% versus 11%, respectively). Multivessel spasm was more common (64% versus 17%, P<0.02) and vasoconstriction of nonspastic segments was greater in Japanese patients (-23.4+/-14.9% versus -20.1+/-15.7%, P<0.02) in the presence of similar average basal coronary tone with respect to post-nitroglycerin dilation and of nonsignificant differences of coronary atherosclerotic score. CONCLUSIONS: Soon after AMI, Japanese patients exhibited a 3-fold-greater incidence of spasm and greater vasoconstriction of nonspastic segments after acetylcholine than Caucasians. The causes of such differences warrant further investigation because they may have relevant pathophysiological and therapeutic implications.

Enhanced response of blood monocytes to in vitro lipopolysaccharide-challenge in patients with recurrent unstable angina.

BACKGROUND: C-reactive protein (CRP) plasma levels have been associated with short- and long-term occurrence of coronary events. We investigated whether circulating inflammatory cell responsiveness to low-grade stimuli could contribute to the reported association between CRP and coronary events. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 32 patients with unstable angina who were followed for 24 months and were free of symptoms for 6 months (group 1): 19 patients had persistently high CRP levels (>0.3 mg/dL) (group 1A); 13 patients had normal CRP levels (group 1B). During the follow-up, 12 (63%) group 1A but no group 1B patients developed an infarction or recurrence of unstable angina (P<0.001). Eighteen patients with chronic stable angina (group 2) and 18 healthy subjects (group 3) were studied as controls. Interleukin (IL)-6 production (median, range) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells after 4 hours of in vitro stimulation with 1 ng/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was significantly higher in group 1A (4526 pg/mL, 3042 to 10 583 pg/mL) than in group 1B (1752 pg/mL, 75 to 3981 pg/mL), group 2 (707 pg/mL, 41 to 3275 pg/mL), and group 3 (488 pg/mL, 92 to 3503 pg/mL) (all P<0.001). No significant differences were observed among the other groups. IL-6 production after LPS-challenge was correlated with baseline CRP levels (r=0.42, P=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Mononuclear cells of patients with recurrent phases of instability exhibit an enhanced production of IL-6 in response to low-dose of LPS, correlated with baseline CRP levels, 6 months after the last acute event. This persisting enhanced acute-phase responsiveness may help explain the association between CRP and acute coronary events.

Increasing levels of interleukin (IL)-1Ra and IL-6 during the first 2 days of hospitalization in unstable angina are associated with increased risk of in-hospital coronary events.

BACKGROUND: A growing body of evidence suggests a role for inflammation in acute coronary syndromes. The aim of this study was to assess the role of proinflammatory cytokines, their time course, and their association with prognosis in unstable angina. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 43 patients aged 62+/-8 years admitted to our coronary care unit for Braunwald class IIIB unstable angina. In each patient, serum levels of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), interleukin-6 (IL-6) (which represent sensitive markers of biologically active IL-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels, respectively), and troponin T were measured at entry and 48 hours after admission. Troponin T-positive patients were excluded. Patients were divided a posteriori into 2 groups according to their in-hospital outcome: group 1 comprised 17 patients with an uneventful course, and group 2 comprised 26 patients with a complicated in-hospital course. In group 1, mean IL-1Ra decreased at 48 hours by 12%, and IL-6 diminished at 48 hours by 13%. In group 2, IL-1Ra and IL-6 entry levels were higher than in group 1 and increased respectively by 37% and 57% at 48 hours (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that although they receive the same medical therapy as patients who do not experience an in-hospital event, patients with unstable angina and with complicated in-hospital courses have higher cytokine levels on admission. A fall in IL-1Ra and IL-6 48 hours after admission was associated with an uneventful course and their increase with a complicated hospital course. These findings may suggest novel therapeutic approaches to patients with unstable angina.

Perturbation of the T-cell repertoire in patients with unstable angina.

BACKGROUND: Monocytes are constitutively activated in unstable angina (UA), resulting in the production of IL-6 and the upregulation of acute phase proteins. Underlying mechanisms are not understood. To explore whether the production of the potent monocyte activator IFN-gamma is altered in UA, we compared cytokine production by T lymphocytes in patients with UA (Braunwald's class IIIB) and with stable angina (SA). METHODS AND RESULTS: Peripheral blood lymphocytes were collected at the time of hospitalization and after 2 and 12 weeks. Cytokine-producing CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells were quantified by 3-color flow cytometry after stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate and ionomycin. UA was associated with an increased number of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells producing IFN-gamma, whereas patients with SA had higher frequencies of IL-2(+) and IL-4(+) CD4(+) T cells. Expansion of the IFN-gamma( +) T-cell population in UA persisted for at least 3 months. Increased production of IFN-gamma in UA could be attributed to the expansion of an unusual subset of T cells, CD4(+)CD28(null) T cells. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with UA are characterized by a perturbation of the functional T-cell repertoire with a bias toward IFN-gamma production, suggesting that monocyte activation and acute phase responses are consequences of T-cell activation. IFN-gamma is produced by CD4(+)CD28(null) T cells, which are expanded in UA and distinctly low in SA and controls. The emergence of CD4(+)CD28(null) T cells may result from persistent antigenic stimulation.

Louis F. Bishop lecture. Role of coronary artery spasm in symptomatic and silent myocardial ischemia.

The revival of the concept of coronary spasm has stimulated research into coronary artery disease. Observations in patients with variant angina have substantially contributed to the appreciation of painless myocardial ischemia. However, the presence or absence of pain during ischemic episodes is not related to the cause of ischemia, because painless ischemia can be observed in variant angina (caused by spasm), in effort-induced angina (caused by increased myocardial demand) and in myocardial infarction (caused by thrombosis). Continuous monitoring initially of patients with variant angina and subsequently of patients with unstable and stable angina proved that often painful and painless ischemic episodes are caused by a transient impairment of regional coronary blood flow rather than by an excessive increase of myocardial demand. The transient impairment of coronary flow appears to be caused by dynamic stenosis of epicardial coronary arteries. This most often occurs at the site of atherosclerotic plaques encroaching on the lumen to a variable extent. Dynamic stenosis can be caused by 1) "physiologic" increase of coronary tone, as in stable angina, 2) spasm, as in variant angina, and 3) thrombosis, usually in combination with "physiologic" changes in tone or with spasm, or both, as in unstable angina. The mechanisms of spasm, as typically observed in variant angina, are different from those of "physiologic" increase of tone; they appear to be related to a local alteration that makes a segment of coronary artery hyperreactive to a variety of constrictor stimuli causing only minor degrees of constriction in other coronary arteries. The nature of this abnormality, which may remain stable for months and years, is yet unknown.

Racial heterogeneity in coronary artery vasomotor reactivity: differences between Japanese and Caucasian patients.

Japanese investigators have provided a substantial contribution in the understanding of coronary vasomotor reactivity. On occasions, their findings have been at variance with those undertaken on caucasian patients, raising speculation that vasomotor differences between races may exist. In a comparative review of the published literature, we evaluated the vasoreactive differences among Japanese and caucasian patients with variant angina or myocardial infarction. In variant angina, Japanese patients appear to have diffusely hyperreactive coronary arteries compared with caucasian people, manifested by their segmental rather than focal spasm, hyperreactive nonspastic vessels and multivessel spasm. These differences may reflect the increased basal tone among Japanese variant angina patients and may relate to controversial differences in endothelial nitric oxide production or autonomic nervous system activity. Provocative vasomotor studies of Japanese patients with a recent myocardial infarction report a higher incidence of inducible spasm than caucasian studies, an observation recently supported by a controlled study. Furthermore, the hyperreactivity was diffuse, occurring in both non-infarct- and infarct-related vessels. These observations support the existence of racial coronary vasomotor reactivity differences but require confirmation in further prospectively conducted studies.

Impairment of myocardial perfusion and function during painless myocardial ischemia.

Left ventricular (or pulmonary and systemic arterial) hemodynamics were measured for a mean of 13.6 hours during continuous electrocardiographic monitoring in 14 patients admitted to the coronary care unit because of angina at rest. Of 293 episodes of transient ST segment and T wave changes identified, 247 (84%) were completely asymptomatic. Sixty-three percent of asymptomatic episodes were associated with an elevation of the left ventricular end-diastolic or pulmonary artery diastolic pressure of 5 mm Hg or more; in 15% there were smaller elevations (2 to 4 mm Hg) and in 22% there were no changes or less than a 2 mm Hg elevation of pressure. The peak contraction and relaxation dP/dt (first derivative of left ventricular pressure) were reduced to 100 mm Hg/s or more in 84 and 81% of asymptomatic episodes, respectively. Great cardiac vein oxygen saturation measured in three patients showed an increased myocardial oxygen extraction similar to that seen in painful episodes, which preceded and accompanied asymptomatic electrocardiographic changes. These results indicate that asymptomatic electrocardiographic changes represent transient myocardial ischemia. Comparison of asymptomatic and symptomatic episodes revealed that asymptomatic episodes were generally shorter (253 +/- 159 versus 674 +/- 396 seconds, probability [p] less than 0.001) and produced less impairment of left ventricular function: there were smaller elevations of left ventricular end-diastolic or pulmonary artery diastolic pressure (5.9 +/- 5.0 versus 16.5 +/- 6.9 mm Hg, p less than 0.001), and smaller reductions of peak left ventricular contraction dP/dt (252 +/- 156 versus 395 +/- 199 mm Hg/s, p less than 0.001) and relaxation dP/dt (259 +/- 191 versus 413 +/- 209 mm Hg/s, p less than 0.001). In individual patients, however, asymptomatic and symptomatic episodes of similar duration and severity were observed. The duration and severity of ischemia appear important for the genesis of anginal pain, but additional factors must be involved.

Absence of myocardial dysfunction during stress in patients with syndrome X.

Stress two-dimensional echocardiographic studies were performed in 18 patients with angina, a positive exercise test and normal findings on coronary angiography (syndrome X). Rest and immediate posttreadmill exercise two-dimensional echocardiograms were performed with a digitized cine loop and side by side visual analysis in all patients. In 16 of these patients, right atrial pacing up to 160 beats/min was also performed and percent systolic wall thickening was calculated at five equally spaced segments around the left ventricle, each corresponding to an anterior, lateral and inferior wall and the posterior and the anterior ventricular septum. Measurements of percent systolic wall thickening were established in 10 age- and gender-matched normal persons for comparison. ST segment depression occurred in all patients during exercise and persisted for 42.1 s (range 18 to 75) into the recovery period. Immediate postexercise echocardiography was started within 20.1 +/- 5.4 s and completed in 54.1 +/- 11.3 s. No patient had regional wall motion abnormalities seen on two-dimensional imaging of any myocardial segment. Thirteen patients (72%) reported reproduction of their usual chest pain, which led to termination of the test. During rapid right atrial pacing, nine patients (56%) developed ST segment depression that was associated with angina in seven. In all 16 patients, percent systolic wall thickening increased over values at rest in each myocardial segment. Percent systolic wall thickening averaged 47.1 +/- 6.1% at rest and increased to 74 +/- 8% during right atrial pacing (p less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Relation of severity of symptoms to transient myocardial ischemia and prognosis in unstable angina.

OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to compare the relative power of the severity of angina versus that of any other clinical, electrocardiographic (ECG) and angiographic findings in predicting the risk of subsequent in-hospital coronary events in patients admitted to the coronary care unit for treatment of unstable angina. BACKGROUND: The presence or absence of chest pain has traditionally been used to guide management and therapy of unstable angina. However, recent studies raised the possibility that the cumulative duration of ischemia may be an additional index of prognosis. METHODS: We studied 104 consecutive patients admitted to the coronary care unit because of unstable angina. Diaries of symptoms were accurately kept. All patients underwent Holter ambulatory ECG monitoring during the 1st 24 h and angiography within 1 week of admission. RESULTS: During the hospital stay, 41 patients (group 1) had subsequent coronary events; the remaining 63 patients (group 2) had a good clinical outcome. Recurrence of chest pain after admission was observed in 76% of patients: 36 of the 41 group 1 patients (sensitivity 88%) and 43 of the 63 group 2 patients (specificity 32%). Anginal scores (frequency and persistence of pain, duration of each single episode and pain-free interval) showed high specificity but low sensitivity for detecting evolution toward subsequent coronary events. On Holter monitoring, the duration/24 h of the total number of ischemic episodes was consistently greater in group 1 than in group 2. A cumulative duration of ischemia > or = 60 min/24 h was observed in 34 of the 41 group 1 patients (sensitivity 83%) but in only 16 of the 63 group 2 patients (specificity 75%). High risk coronary artery lesions (left main coronary artery disease or complex stenosis) were detected in 36 of the 41 group 1 patients and in 26 of the 63 group 2 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Transient myocardial ischemia detected by Holter monitoring, but not chest pain, is the best predictor of unfavorable short-term clinical outcome. The decision to perform early angiography and revascularization cannot be based on symptoms alone.

Role of different determinants of psychological distress in acute coronary syndromes.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of psychological distress and of its major determinants in acute coronary patients and in a control group. BACKGROUND: The prevalence and major determinants of psychological distress in acute coronary patients are not clear. METHODS: One hundred and thirty cardiac patients (110 men, age 56+/-9; 85 with acute myocardial infarction and 45 with unstable angina) and 102 controls hospitalized for acute trauma (70 men, age 55+/-9 years) were studied and the level of psychological distress estimated by a Modified Maastricht Questionnaire, self-ratings and ratings by a close relative. Major determinants of psychological distress were assessed by the Life Events Assessment, the Social Support Questionnaire and the Ways of Coping Checklist. RESULTS: The average level of psychological distress was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in coronary patients than in controls in all tests (self-evaluation=7.1+/-2.3 vs 4.3+/-2.4; relative-evaluation = 7.4+/-2.4 vs 4.2+/- 2.5; Modified Maastricht Questionnaire=91+/-32 vs 59+/-30). Cardiac patients reported significantly higher (p < 0.05) levels of social isolation (28.9+/-11.1 vs 23.4+/-8.8), self-blame (7.2+/-1.9 vs 5.8+/- 1.6) and avoidance (21.1+/-3.5 vs 18.9+/-3) and more painful life events (3.9+/-3.8 vs 2.6+/-2.2), than controls. However, not all patients had evidence of distress; indeed, cluster analysis identified a subgroup that comprised 75% of controls and 25% of cardiac patients with no determinants eliciting distress, while the other four subgroups, with one or more determinants of distress, comprised about 75% of patients and only 25% of controls. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that a high level of psychological distress is detectable in about 75% of patients with acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina and is related to one or more major determinants.

Immune system activation follows inflammation in unstable angina: pathogenetic implications.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the relations between inflammation, specific immune response and clinical course in unstable angina (UA). BACKGROUND: Several studies suggest that either inflammation and/or T-cell activation might have a pathogenetic role in UA, but neither their potential reciprocal connection nor their relation to the clinical course is known. METHODS: Serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) (inflammation), IgG, IgA, IgM, C3, C4 (humoral immunity), IL-2 and the percentage of CD4+, CD8+ and CD3+/DR+ T-cells (cell-mediated immunity) were measured in 35 patients with UA and 35 patients with chronic stable angina (CSA) during a period of 6 months. RESULTS: The CRP levels and the main specific immune markers (CD4+ and CD3+/DR+ cells, IL-2 and IgM) were higher in unstable than in stable angina. In UA, the serum levels of IgM and IL-2 and the percentage of double positive CD3+/DR+ significantly increased at 7 to 15 days, and returned to baseline at 6 months. The increment of circulating activated T cells (CD3+/ DR+) in UA was inversely related to the admission levels of CRP (r=-0.63, p=0.003) and associated with a better outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the inflammatory component systemically detectable in UA may be antigen-related and that the magnitude of the immune response correlates with the clinical outcome of instability.

The natural history of left ventricular thrombus in myocardial infarction: a rationale in support of masterly inactivity.

One hundred five unselected and consecutive patients were prospectively studies after acute transmural myocardial infarction to assess the incidence of mural thrombus formation and to relate the presence of thrombus to patient outcome in terms of systemic embolic events, functional class and survival. In 87 patients, optimal quality two-dimensional echocardiographic studies were obtained and were repeated at daily intervals to detect mural thrombus formation. The site of infarction was anterior in 53 patients and inferior in 34. On admission, all patients received subcutaneous heparin and antiplatelet agents (aspirin, dipyridamole); none received full anticoagulant therapy. Left ventricular mural thrombus was visualized between 2 and 11 days (median 6) after the clinical onset of infarction in 21 (40%) of the 53 patients with anterior infarction. No patients with inferior infarction had echocardiographic evidence of thrombus formation. During follow-up of 22 to 51 months (mean 39), none of the 21 patients with mural thrombus had clinical evidence of systemic embolism. One patient with inferior and one with anterior infarction had a cerebral embolus 7 days and 9 months, respectively, after the acute event, but neither of these patients had echocardiographic evidence of left ventricular thrombus at any stage. Echocardiography performed at 1 and 2 years of follow-up showed persistent evidence of thrombus in only 8 (31%) and 5 (24%) of the 21 patients, respectively. On admission, the functional class of patients with anterior myocardial infarction and thrombus was similar to that of patients without ventricular thrombus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Spontaneous coronary artery spasm in variant angina is caused by a local hyperreactivity to a generalized constrictor stimulus.

To assess whether spontaneous coronary artery spasm in patients with variant angina results from local coronary hyperreactivity to a generalized constrictor stimulus or from a stimulus generated only at the site of the hyperreactive segment, the behavior of spastic and nonspastic coronary segments was studied in six patients with variant angina in whom focal coronary spasm developed spontaneously during cardiac catheterization. None of the patients had critical (greater than 50% luminal diameter reduction) organic coronary stenoses. Coronary diameters were measured by computerized quantitative arteriography during control, spontaneous spasm and ergonovine-induced spasm and after intracoronary nitrates were given. During spontaneous spasm, the luminal diameter of spastic and both proximal and distal nonspastic coronary segments was significantly reduced from control values, 64.2%, 13.2% and 14.8%, respectively. Average diameter reduction of unrelated arteries was 12.3%. Ergonovine, which was also administered to four patients, provoked focal spasm at the same site as spontaneous spasm. During intravenous ergonovine, luminal diameter of spastic segments was reduced by 91.5%, that of nonspastic proximal segments by 17.8% and that of nonspastic distal segments by 11.5%. Luminal diameter of unrelated arteries during ergonovine-induced spasm was reduced by 17.7%. Constriction of spastic segments was greater during ergonovine-induced spasm (p less than 0.05), whereas the extent of diameter reduction of nonspastic segments was not significantly different during spontaneous spasm and ergonovine-induced spasm. Intracoronary isosorbide dinitrate dilated spastic and nonspastic coronary segments to a similar extent from control (20.7%, 18% and 16.5%, respectively; p = NS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Relation between stimulation site of cardiac afferent nerves by adenosine and distribution of cardiac pain: results of a study in patients with stable angina.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to establish whether stimulation of cardiac sensory receptors in different myocardial regions results in different distributions of cardiac pain. BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that adenosine provokes cardiac pain through stimulation of sensory receptors in the absence of myocardial ischemia. In this study adenosine was used to obtain a regional stimulation of cardiac sensory receptors. METHODS: Increasing doses of adenosine (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/min) were selectively infused into the right and then into the left coronary artery in 26 patients with stable angina. RESULTS: No patient developed ischemic electrocardiographic changes during either adenosine infusion. Eighteen patients experienced cardiac pain during both infusions. Despite the stimulation of sensory receptors in different myocardial regions, 13 patients experienced cardiac pain in the same body area. Adenosine-induced pain was always similar to the anginal pain. By contrast, the remaining five patients experienced adenosine-induced cardiac pain in different body areas. In two of these patients, the distribution of anginal pain was similar to that experienced during one of the two adenosine infusions. In the remaining three patients, the distribution of anginal pain was similar to that experienced during adenosine infusion into the right coronary artery during some anginal episodes and to that experienced during adenosine infusion into the left coronary artery during other episodes. CONCLUSIONS: During stimulation by adenosine of sensory receptors in different myocardial regions, the majority of patients experience cardiac pain in the same body area; only a few experience pain in different areas. These differences might be caused by different organizations of the ascending neural pathways to the cortex. Our results suggest that in the same patient different distributions of pain during anginal attacks are probably due to ischemia in different myocardial regions.

Response of human coronary arteries to acetylcholine after injury by coronary angioplasty.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of intracoronary administration of acetylcholine on large epicardial vessels 8 days after successful coronary angioplasty. BACKGROUND: Intracoronary infusion of acetylcholine causes vessel dilation in patients without angiographic evidence of coronary atherosclerosis, whereas it causes constriction of stenotic coronary branches. These findings were interpreted as evidence of endothelial dysfunction in patients with coronary atherosclerosis. METHODS: Eight patients who underwent successful single-vessel coronary angioplasty of the proximal left anterior descending artery were studied. Eight days after coronary angioplasty at the time of follow-up coronary angiography, intracoronary acetylcholine was infused (1 ml/min for 2 min) at concentrations ranging from 10(-7) to 10(-4) mol/liter. The diameter of the angioplasty and distal segments of the left anterior descending artery and that of the proximal and distal segments of the circumflex artery (control artery) were measured using computerized edge detection angiography. RESULTS: All patients showed a dose-dependent constriction in response to acetylcholine and experienced chest pain and ST segment changes. Intracoronary nitroglycerin (300 micrograms) relieved the effects of acetylcholine. The maximal tolerated dose of acetylcholine (10(-6) mol/liter in three patients, 10(-5) mol/liter in three patients and 10(-4) mol/liter in two patients) induced a mild constriction of the angioplasty segment from 1.84 +/- 0.11 mm to 1.52 +/- 0.13 mm (p < 0.02) similar to that of the proximal segment of the control artery (from 2.42 +/- 0.23 to 2.07 +/- 0.19 mm, p < 0.02). However, the degree of constriction of the vascular segments distal to the angioplasty site (from 1.24 +/- 0.09 to 0.62 +/- 0.13 mm, p < 0.01) was significantly greater (p < 0.05) than that observed in the distal segments of the control artery (from 1.23 +/- 0.03 to 0.71 +/- 0.01 mm, p < 0.01) and resulted in transient total occlusion in two patients. CONCLUSIONS: Eight days after coronary angioplasty, coronary segments distal to the dilated site but not at the dilated site are hyperreactive to acetylcholine. The response of epicardial coronary arteries to acetylcholine is influenced not only by the dose of acetylcholine and the endothelial function (as currently believed) but also by the location of the coronary segment considered, confirming the presence of a profound alteration of distal coronary vessels.