[Mitral valve prolapse and angina with normal coronary arteries: research of a thrombogenic factor]. / Prolapsus valvulaire mitral et angor à coronaires saines: recherche d'un facteur thrombogène.

The potential thrombotic risk of mitral valve prolapse may, in certain circumstances, require preventive treatment. This study was aimed at determining whether the presence of angina in patients with mitral valve prolapse and healthy coronary vessels was accompanied by a high-risk thrombogenic profile. Forty two patients (19 women and 23 men) with anginal chest pain and angiographically normal coronary vessels were divided into two populations according to the presence (18 patients) or absence (24 patients) of mitral valve prolapse (MVP) shown by angiography. Before angiography, all patients underwent laboratory studies to detect any possible abnormality of plasma coagulation and of prothrombotic physiological fibrinolysis. Study of subgroups, according to sex and/or the presence of MVP, revealed no significant difference in the profile of laboratory parameters. Thus the presence of angiographic MVP in symptomatic patients free of atherosclerosis is not associated with the existence of any particular thrombotic profile and, theoretically, does not require preventive anti-thrombotic treatment.

[Left atrial extension of bronchial cancer diagnosed by echocardiography. Report of 2 cases]. / Extension intra-auriculaire gauche du cancer bronchique détectée par échocardiographie. A propos de deux observations.

The authors report 2 cases of left atrial extension of bronchial carcinoma detected by echocardiography. There have only been ten previous reports of echocardiography. There have only been ten previous reports of echocardiography detection of this complication as echocardiography is not requested systematically in patients with bronchial carcinoma. Left atrial metastasis is not uncommon at autopsy and the diagnostic value of echocardiography is excellent : the tumour appears as a hyperdense mass invading the roof of the left atrium through the pulmonary veins. Echocardiographic detection of left atrial extension of bronchial carcinoma is important because it implies a poor prognosis and because it may lead to a different therapeutic approach.

Captopril test in the detection of renovascular hypertension in a population with low prevalence of the disease. A prospective study.

The value of the captopril test as a screening test for identifying renovascular hypertension has been outlined by several studies performed in populations with a high prevalence of renovascular disease (20% to 50%). We prospectively assessed the value of the test in 103 hypertensive patients referred to our center for evaluation of their hypertension. They had taken no diuretics and no converting-enzyme inhibitors for more than four days. The interpretation of the results of the test was done according to the criteria defined by Muller et al. All patients underwent a digital venous angiography and when positive or doubtful, a conventional angiography. Eleven patients (10%) had unilateral or bilateral artery stenosis greater than 70%. The sensitivity of the test was 73% with a specificity of 84% and a positive predictive value of 35%. The three patients with a false negative test underwent a surgical treatment or a transluminal angioplasty of the stenosis but remained hypertensive. Thus, the captopril test is a useful screening test for identifying patients with renovascular disease, even in a population with a low prevalence of the disease.