[Homocysteine and von Willebrand factor in chronic alcoholism].

The levels of homocysteine (HC) and von Willebrand factor (VWF) as cardiovascular risk factors were studied in patients with Stage II chronic alcoholism. Forty-one men with Stage II chronic alcoholism without clinical signs of somatic and infectious diseases were examined. Their median age was 37 (range 32-40) years; the alcoholization period was 12 (range 8-17) years. Plasma HC and VWF (amount and activity) levels were determined. In 63.4% of chronic alcoholic patients, HC levels was twice as high as in the controls; in 80.6%, both the content and activity of VWF were increased. There was no correlation between the levels of HC and VWF. Vascular endothelial damage concurrent with hyperhomocysteinemia increases a cardiovascular risk in patients with Stage II chronic alcoholism.

[Hemostasis disorders in patients with occupational fluorosis are risk factors for IHD].

The studies covered hemostasis changes in workers with occupational fluorosis. The disorders diagnosed could be a risk factor for IHD in aluminium production workers

[Platelet hemostatic changes in patients with chronic alcoholism stage II in rest and exercise]. / Izmenenie trombotsitarnogo zvena gemostaza u bol'nykh khronicheskim alkogolizmom II stadii v pokoe i pri fizicheskoi nagruzke.

Platelet hemostasis was studied in 23 patients with chronic alcoholism (CA) stage II at rest and under muscular exercise. At rest, the patients had elevated spontaneous aggregation of platelets and more active start of adrenaline and ristomycin aggregation. Exercise stimulated spontaneous platelet aggregation, enhances adrenaline and ristomycin aggregation. According to adrenalin test 32% of the examinees had platelet dysfunction. According to ristomycin aggregation, vascular endothelium was impaired in 95.7%of the patients. Thus, it is evident that CA stage II patients develop disorder of platelet hemostasis and vascular endothelium. Such patients are at high risk of thrombogenesis.

[Stable tachycardia as a cause of heart failure]. / Stoikaia takhikardiia kak prichina serdechnoi nedostatochnosti.

The authors described a patient in whom the right vagus had been cut during removal of hormonally inactive chemodectoma in the bifurcation of the external and internal carotid arteries. Stable sinus and then atrial tachycardia (140-180 strokes per min.) developed on the operating table. Congestive cardiac insufficiency developed in 3 yrs. Treatment with diuretics cardiac glycosides was ineffective. Clinical and x-ray signs of cardiac insufficiency disappeared after atrial tachycardia was converted into atrial fibrillation with ventricular contractions up to 80 per min. A conclusion has been made that stable tachycardia causes the development of cardiac insufficiency.