Intravenous amiodarone decreases the duration of atrial fibrillation associated with acute myocardial infarction.

PURPOSE: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a fairly common complication of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The aim of this study was to examine the safety and efficacy of intravenous amiodarone in converting AF associated with AMI. METHODS: Seventy patients with AMI complicated with AF were prospectively divided into 3 groups: a) In group D (n = 26), 0.75 mg digoxin was administered intravenously and thereafter as needed, b) In group AM (n = 16), 300 mg of amiodarone was infused over 2 hours followed by 44 mg/hour for up to 60 hours or until sinus rhythm was restored, c) In group D + AM (n = 28), 0.75 mg of digoxin was administered (as in group D) for the initial 2 hours followed by amiodarone infusion as in group AM. RESULTS: Sinus rhythm was restored: a) by the end of the 2nd hour in 9/26 patients from group D, 4/16 from group AM, and 10/28 from group D + AM (p = NS), b) by the end of the 96th hour, in 18/26 patients from group D, and in all patients from group AM and groupd D + AM. The corresponding duration of AF was 51 +/- 34 hours, 17 +/- 15 hours and 9 +/- 13 hours, respectively (F = 15.4, p < 0.001). AF recurred in 9/26, 5/16 and 1/28 patients of groups D, AM and D + AM, respectively (p = 0.026). The required dosage of amiodarone was lower in the D + AM group than in the AM group (603 +/- 563 mg versus 1058 +/- 680 mg, p = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous amiodarone was well tolerated in patients with AMI complicated by AF and was effective in decreasing the duration of AF. However, the combination of amiodarone and digoxin was superior to amiodarone alone in restoring sinus rhythm faster, maintaining sinus rhythm longer, and allowing the use of a lower cumulative amount of amiodarone.

Congestive heart failure treated by the upgrade from VVI to DDD pacing.

The case is presented of an elderly woman with normal left ventricular (LV) systolic function and VVI pacing complicated by severe congestive heart failure. The symptoms and findings of congestive heart failure became refractory to medical treatment and resolved with the upgrade of the VVI to a DDD system. Right heart catheterization during VVI pacing showed increased mean pulmonary capillary wedge and right atrial pressures both being normalized under DDD pacing. This case report illustrates the need to consider permanent physiological pacing in elderly patients, even in presence of normal LV systolic function, to ensure AV synchrony when the atrium can be paced, since diastolic LV dysfunction is quite common in these subjects.

Mechanical ventilation in conjunction with the intra-aortic balloon pump improves the outcome of patients in profound cardiogenic shock.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of mechanical ventilation with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), in conjunction with the intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), on the outcome of patients in profound cardiogenic shock. PATIENTS: Twenty-eight consecutive patients presenting with myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock refractory to medical therapy, including dobutamine, dopamine and fluid administration. Eighteen patients were assisted by the IABP alone (IABP group), and ten patients by the IABP plus controlled mechanical ventilation with PEEP set at 10 cmH(2)O (IABP + CMV group). RESULTS: Weaning from mechanical assistance was accomplished in 8 out of 18 patients in the IABP group versus 9 out of 10 patients in the IABP + CMV group (p = 0.04). Ultimately, 5 of 18 patients in the IABP group were discharged from the hospital versus 8 of 10 patients in the IABP + CMV group (p = 0. 01). CONCLUSION: Mechanical ventilation with PEEP at 10 cmH(2)O supplements the IABP and may improve the survival rates of patients suffering from cardiogenic shock.

Evolution of late potential parameters in thrombolyzed acute myocardial infarction might predict patency of the infarct-related artery.

The objective was to predict the patency grade of an infarct-related artery by identifying the time course of the changes of the late potential parameters before, during, and shortly after thrombolysis. The study population consisted of 51 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who received thrombolytic therapy within 3.2 +/- 1.3 hours from the onset of symptoms. Multiple signal-averaged electrocardiograms (SAECGs) were recorded before, during, and shortly after thrombolysis. A total of 489 single-averaged electrocardiographic tracings were evaluated. Late potentials were defined as: QRS duration > 114 ms, low amplitude signals (LASs) > 38 ms, and root mean square (RMS) < 20 microV. Late potentials were found in 37% of patients (21 before and 16 during the first 2 hours of thrombolysis), disappeared in all of patients within 89 +/- 75 minutes (range 25 to 350) but reappeared and persisted in 12% of patients, all with an occluded artery (grade 0). The late potential parameters (QRS, LAS, RMS) showed a gradual improvement which occurred earlier (2 vs 4 hours) and was more marked (0.01 vs 0.05) in cases with a patent artery. This improvement expressed by the late potential parameter index (LnQRS + LnLAS - LnRMS) predicts the patent artery with a sensitivity of 0.94 and specificity of 0.79. The improvement of late potential parameters jointly with close to normal initial values or the late potential parameter index and its changes constituted a satisfactory prediction of the patency grade. Thus, the signal-averaged electrocardiographic technique is capable of predicting the early success or failure of thrombolytic therapy.

CPPD crystal deposition disease as a cause of unrecognised pyrexia.

We describe three cases of CPPD crystal deposition disease in elderly patients whose main symptom was fever. Misdiagnosis of such cases is possible because of the similarity of the clinical picture to that of septic fever. The probable mechanisms causing the fever are discussed. There was spectacular improvement in these patients after a high dose of oral colchicine and loperamide and no relapse was observed during the long term administration of colchicine in a conservative dose together with supplementary magnesium.

Atrial late potentials: paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia versus paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

The atrial signal averaged electrocardiogram has been used to detect patients at risk for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation but not yet for paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. The P-wave-triggered signal-averaged electrocardiogram, during sinus rhythm, was obtained from 97 subjects divided in groups as follows: 30 controls (Group C), 38 patients with documented paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (Group A) and 29 with documented paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (Group B). The atrial duration, root mean square of last 20 and 30 ms and the P-QRS segment were measured. Atrial late potentials were considered to exist when: atrial duration was > 120 ms and root mean square of last 20 ms were < 3.5 microV. The atrial duration (ms) was significantly shorter (P < 0.001) in Group C (113.4 +/- 8) than in Group A (138.5 +/- 23.8) and Group B (134.3 +/- 14.3). The root mean square (microV) of last 20 ms was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in Group C (5.2 +/- 2.5) than in Group A (2.5 +/- 1.3) and Group B (3.1 +/- 1.8). Atrial late potentials were present in 3/30 controls, 32/38 of Group A cases and 23/29 of Group B. The specificity and sensitivity were, respectively: 0.90, 0.84, for Group A, and 0.90, 0.79 for Group B. The P-QRS segment (ms) was significantly shorter (P < 0.01) in Group B (12.5 +/- 9.4) than in Group C (32.5 +/- 16.9) and Group A (20.5 +/- 13.4).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Clinical and laboratory parameters in adult diabetics with and without calcific shoulder periarthritis.

The clinical and laboratory parameters of calcific shoulder periarthritis (CSP) were examined in 900 patients with type II diabetes mellitus as well as in 350 age- and sex-matched control subjects. A threefold increased prevalence of CSP in diabetics compared with the control group was associated with the presence of longstanding and poorly controlled diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertriglyceridemia suggesting pronounced diabetic angiopathy, as well as with minor trauma and hypomagnesemia. Aging and serum calcium concentrations were not related to the presence of CSP. Thirty-two percent of diabetics with CSP were symptomatic; 15% of them presented with severe pain and restriction of shoulder movement. These findings confirm a close pathogenetic interrelation between CSP and diabetes mellitus.

Antihypertensive treatment for the management of premature ventricular complexes. Pilot study.

An acute increase in blood pressure (BP) may be associated with the appearance of premature ventricular complexes (PVC's) while an acute decrease in BP may reduce preexisting ones. Forty-two patients were studied in order to assess the critical BP value above which PVC's exist, the effect of chronic antihypertensive treatment on PVC's and the possibility to predict the antiarrhythmic effect of oral antihypertensive treatment by an acute test. Twenty-four subjects had over 10 min-1 PVC's at rest and received an intravenous sodium nitroprusside solution. Their systolic PB (SBP) was reduced from 156.3 +/- 34.1 (means +/- SD) mmHg to 96.2 +/- 21.3 mmHg and the PVC's from 29.6 +/- 10.7 min-1 to 4.5 +/- 9.0 min-1. The PVC's were completely eliminated in 16 cases and were fewer in the remaining 8 cases. When the SBP returned to its pre-test level, the PVC incidence also returned to its initial value. In 15 other cases with a SBP 134.9 +/- 18.3 mmHg and no PVC's at rest a metaraminol infusion was started. In 13 cases PVC's appeared at a SBP over 169.0 +/- 27.0 mmHg. The critical SBP below which there were no PVC's ranged widely in the 2 groups from below 75 mmHg to over 210 mmHg. In 11 cases of the nitroprusside group, 3 cases of the metaraminol group and 3 more cases a 24-hour Holter monitoring was applied. Then oral antihypertensive treatment was given (to 16/17 cases) for one week (amiloride 5 mg + hydrochlorothiazide 50 mg, supplemented, if needed, by methyldopa or hydralazine) and the Holter monitoring was repeated. The casual SBP measured before each Holter monitoring was initially 150.6 +/- 26.3 mmHg and was reduced by 20.3 +/- 15.4 mmHg (p less than 0.001). The number of 24-hour PVC's was 8469 +/- 10,007 and was significantly (p less than 0.005) reduced by 6077 +/- 7863 in all patients. The critical over casual SBP ratio was significantly (p less than 0.002) related to the 24-hour PVC's. It is concluded that the critical SBP varies widely in different persons and its determination by an acute BP-changing test may help in predicting to what extent an oral antihypertensive treatment may reduce the number of PVC's.