High-Bandpass Filters in Electrocardiography: Source of Error in the Interpretation of the ST Segment.

Introduction. Artifactual variations in the ST segment may lead to confusion with acute coronary syndromes. Objective. To evaluate how the technical characteristics of the recording mode may distort the ST segment. Material and Method. We made a series of electrocardiograms using different filter configurations in 45 asymptomatic patients. A spectral analysis of the electrocardiograms was made by discrete Fourier transforms, and an accurate recomposition of the ECG signal was obtained from the addition of successive harmonics. Digital high-pass filters of 0.05 and 0.5 Hz were used, and the resulting shapes were compared with the originals. Results. In 42 patients (93%) clinically significant alterations in ST segment level were detected. These changes were only seen in "real time mode" with high-pass filter of 0.5 Hz. Conclusions. Interpretation of the ST segment in "real time mode" should only be carried out using high-pass filters of 0.05 Hz.

[Utility of pravastin in cardiac transplant dyslipidemia]. / Utilidad de la pravastina en la dislipidemia del trasplante cardíaco.

Patients undergoing cardiac transplantation are at increased risk of dyslipidemia (60% to 80%). Lipid-lowering treatment in these patients should be aggressive given the known role of dyslipidemia in chronic transplant rejection. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pravastatina therapy and its effect upon cyclosporine levels in a population of dyslipidemic cardiac transplant patients.A total of 20 cardiac transplant patients were enrolled in this 39-week length prospective observational study. Patients had serum cholesterol levels exceeding 200 mg/dl, and received pravastatin therapy at the adequate dose to obtain an optimal lipid profile without significant adverse effects. Pravastatin, at a mean dose of 50 18 mg/day, produced a significant reduction in total cholesterol levels (from 291 32 to 203 25 mg/dl, p < 0.05), LDL cholesterol (from 187 34 to 102 15 mg/dl, p < 0.05) and an increase in HDL-cholesterol levels (from 48 16 to 55 14, p < 0.05). A slight asymptomatic increase in CPK levels was observed but no differences in cyclosporine levels. Pravastatin has shown to be an effective and safe therapy in dyslipidemic cardiac transplant patients.

Utilidad de la pravastina en la dislipidemia del trasplante cardíaco / Utility of pravastin in cardiac transplant dyslipidemia

Los pacientes sometidos a trasplante cardíaco tienen un mayor riesgo de dislipidemia (60 por ciento-80 por ciento).Debido al conocido papel de la dislipidemia en el desarrollo de enfermedad vascular del injerto, el tratamiento hipolipidemiante debería ser especialmente agresivo en estos pacientes. El objetivo de este estudio ha sido evaluar la eficacia y seguridad del tratamiento con pravastatina y su efecto sobre los niveles de ciclosporina sobre una población de pacientes trasplantados dislipidémicos.Incluimos, en este estudio prospectivo observacional de 39 semanas de duración, a 20 pacientes trasplantados cardíacos con cifras de colesterol basales por encima de 200 mg/dl, que recibieron tratamiento con pravastatina a la dosis necesaria para alcanzar un óptimo perfil lipídico o aparición de efectos adversos significativos. Pravastatina, a una dosis media de 50 ñ 18 mg/día, produjo una reducción significativa de los niveles de colesterol (de 291 ñ 32 a 203 ñ 25 mg/dl, p < 0,05), colesterol LDL (de 187 ñ 34 a 102 ñ 15 mg/dl, p < 0,05) e incrementó el colesterol HDL (de 48 ñ 16 a 55 ñ 14, p < 0,05).Observamos un ligero incremento de las cifras de creatinfosfocinasa (CPK) asintomático y sin mayor relevancia clínica, y los niveles de ciclosporina no experimentaron diferencias significativas.La pravastatina se ha mostrado en nuestro estudio como un tratamiento seguro y eficaz en pacientes trasplantados cardíacos con dislipidemia (AU)

¿Posee el fosinopril efecto reductor de los lípidos en los pacientes hipertensos? / Does fosinopril have the lipid lowering effect among hypertensive patients?

Objetivo. El propósito de este estudio fue analizar el efecto del fosinopril sobre la presión arterial, perfil lipídico, función renal, hepática y masa ventricular en pacientes con hipertensión ligera o moderada. Material y método. Se incluyeron 24 pacientes de 66ñ8 años, 14 mujeres y 10 varones, 16 con hipertensión arterial aislada y 8 asociada a cardiopatía isquémica. Medicación concomitante: aspirina 9; nitratos 8; bloqueadores beta 5; antidiabéticos orales 4; hipolipidemiantes 4; calcioantagonistas 3; diuréticos 3 y ranitidina 2 pacientes. Esta medicación no se modificó a lo largo del estudio. Se incluyeron pacientes consecutivos y estables diagnosticados de hipertensión arterial esencial. Se realizaron controles a la semana de retirar la medicación antihipertensiva (revisión 1), semanas 4 (revisión 2), 12 (revisión 3) y tras 7 días de retirar el fosinopril (revisión 4).Resultados. Hubo diferencias significativas (p<0,05) en la presión arterial sistólica y diastólica al comparar el valor basal (PAS: 159ñ11 mmHg; PAD: 99ñ8 mmHg) y a las 4 (PAS: 137ñ10 mmHg; PAD: 82ñ7 mmHg) y 12 semanas (PAS: 136ñ12; PAD: 85ñ8, incluso tras retirar el fármaco (PAS: 151ñ12 mmHg; PAD: 96ñ10 mmHg). No hubo cambios en los triglicéridos, colesterol total ni colesterol HDL. Tampoco en los parámetros de función hepática y renal. Se encontró un descenso significativo en el colesterol LDL a las 12 semanas (132ñ9 frente a 141ñ12) y tras la suspensión del fármaco (133ñ12 frente a 141ñ12). La Lp(a) mostró cambios significativos, con respecto al basal, en todas las revisiones (revisión 2: 5ñ22 frente a 8ñ23; revisión 3: 4ñ22 frente a 8ñ23) aunque experimentó un efecto rebote al retirar el fosinopril (10ñ21 frente a 8ñ23). No se apreciaron cambios en los parámetros de función diastólica ni en la fracción de eyección; no obstante, la masa ventricular sí experimentó un descenso significativo 253ñ58 frente a 276ñ59). Conclusiones. Según estos resultados, creemos que el fosinopril debe ser considerado un fármaco de primera línea en el tratamiento de la hipertensión arterial. Es capaz, por un lado, de reducir la masa ventricular y, por otro, de mejorar de forma significativa el perfil lipídico del paciente sin producir alteraciones en la función hepática o renal (AU)

[Clinical practice guidelines of the Spanish Society of Cardiology on unstable angina/infarction without ST elevation]. / Guías de práctica clínica de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología en la angina inestable/infarto sin elevación ST.

This paper up-dates the Clinical Guidelines for Unstable Angina/Non Q wave Myocardial Infarction of the Spanish Society of Cardiology. Due to the increased efficacy of adequate management in the early phases, it has been considered necessary to include recommendations for the pre Hospital and Emergency department phase. Prehospital management. Patients with thoracic pain compatible with myocardial ischemia should be transferred to Hospital as quickly as possible and an ECG tracing performed. Initial management includes rest, sublingual nitroglycerin and aspirin. In the Emergency department. Immediate clinical attention and accessibility to a defibrillator should be available. If ECG tracing discloses ST elevation reperfusion strategy is to be implemented immediately. If no ST elevation is present, the probability of myocardial ischemia and risk factor evaluation is essential for adequate management. A simplified risk stratification classification is presented, that also determines the most adequate site for admission: Coronary Care Unit if high risk factors are present, Cardiology ward for the intermediate risk patient and ambulatory treatment if low risk. Management in Coronary Care Unit. Includes routine ECG monitoring and analgesia. Antithrombotic and anti ischemic treatment include new indication for GP IIb-IIIa and Low molecular weight heparins. Coronary arteriography and revascularisation are recommended, if refractory or recurrent angina, left ventricles dysfunction or other complications are present. Management in the ward is based on adequate chronic medical treatment, risk stratification, and secondary prevention strategy. Coronary arteriography before discharge must be considered in the light of the result of non-invasive tests.

Lesiones cutáneas en paciente con trasplante cardíaco / Skin lesions in patient with heart transplant

No disponible

[Treatment of chronic stable angina: follow-up study with nifedipine gastrointestinal therapeutic system. SENIOR Study Group]. / Tratamiento de la angina de pecho crónica estable: estudio de seguimiento con nifedipino OROS (estudio SENIOR). Grupo de Trabajo del estudio SENIOR.

OBJECTIVE: To gather information about efficacy and tolerability of nifedipine GITS in patients with stable angina, and its impact on the patient quality of life. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 1076 patients of both sexes (63.5 +/- 12.8 year old) with stable angina (classes I to III of the CCVS) and evidence of coronary disease (43.3% previous myocardial infarction) were included. The treatment with nifedipine GITS 30-60 mg/day (monotherapy or combination) lasted for 6 months. The study variables were: weekly rate of anginal attacks, short-acting nitrate consumption, changes in the antianginal drug treatment, tolerability, and changes in the questionnaire score concerning the quality of life. RESULTS: A decrease in the number of the anginal attacks and in the short-acting nitrates consumption by 80.7% and 83.3%, respectively (both, p = 0.001), was found. Furthermore, the proportion of patients experiencing anginal attacks the week before the assessment visit fell from 71.7% to 10.9% (p < 0.001). At the end of the study, a remarkable decrease in the use of other antianginal medications was seen. Side effects were reported by 10.9% of the patients, 2.7% of which were withdrawn from the study for this reason. A favourable change in the patient quality of life was also noted. CONCLUSION: In patients with stable angina, nifedipine GITS is an effective, safe and well tolerated drug that remarkably enhances the patient quality of life.

[Evaluation of the usefulness of the antimyosin monoclonal antibody (AMA) uptake in the diagnosis of heart transplant (HT) rejection]. / Valoración de la utilidad del índice de captación de anticuerpos monoclonales antimiosina (AMA) en el diagnóstico de rechazo en el trasplante cardíaco (TC).

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain whether a given level of antimyosin monoclonal antibody (AMA) uptake in the endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) can identify patients with rejection. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 186 examinations were performed on 65 patients (8 women and 57 men) with orthotopic heat transplant (HT): Mean age 51 +/- 13 years. There were 3 examinations per patient (range 1-6). The studies were conducted 13 to 880 days after the HT. The C/p uptake indexes were obtained according to the Carrió y cols. method and the results were compared with the biopsy findings. Rejection was considered to be when the biopsy showed at least one site of necrosis. RESULTS: 1) We analyzed the C/P index in accordance with the post-HT interval and with the degree of rejection obtained by EMB. No group showed any significant differences between the patients with an without rejection (p > 0,05). 2) We applied a variable threshold based on post-HT interval, using an exponential curve defined on the basis of the interval of the values corresponding to patients without rejection and good progress compared with that of the rejection patients. This approach also did not contribute any improvement compared to the use of a fixed threshold due to the significant overlay of the values for patients with and without rejection. 3) Finally, we analyzed the individual evolution of the C/P indexes for each patient in terms of time. In patients whose clinical progress was good, the C/P indexes were observed to drop progressively over time. In those whose clinical progress was poor, abrupt increases in the index values were observed. CONCLUSION: We were unable to differentiate significantly between patients with and without rejection in EMB using fixed and variable thresholds of the C/P index. However, the different patterns of evolution for each patient provide information on the lack of complications and could be used as a follow-up technique.

[Myocardial bridging as a cause of acute ischemia. Description of a case and review of the literature]. / Puente miocárdico como causa de isquemia aguda. Descripción del caso y revisión de la bibliografía.

Myocardial bridges consist of muscle fiber bundles lining an epicardial coronary artery for a variable distance. They are a relatively common finding, with incidence changing on the basis of the study method used (angiographic/necropsy). Although myocardial bridges are usually associated with a benign prognosis, being in many cases asymptomatic and only found by chance, their presence has also been considered a cause of angina, malignant arrhythmia, myocardial infarction and sudden death. They are diagnosed in vivo by angiography when a systolic compression of a coronary artery which disappears during diastole is evidenced. We report the case of a patient with electrocardiographic signs of severe ischemia in the territory of the anterior descending artery, which was initially assessed as myocardial infarction and treated as such. Eventually, the ECG returned to normal, and no new Q waves of necrosis occurred. An angiohemodynamic study confirmed the existence of an isolated muscular bridge over the middle third of the anterior descending artery, with no other associated coronary lesions.

[Isolated rheumatic tricuspid insufficiency (author's transl)]. / Insuficiencia tricúspide reumática aislada.

Insufficiency on the tricuspid valve alone due to cardioarticular rheumatism is a rare condition. A 12-year-old boy had had six episodes of rheumatic fever over the previous 5 years. The only damage done to the heart was insufficiency of the tricuspid valve; none of the other valves were affected. The phonocardiographic response to the amyl nitrate and methoxamine tests as well as the correct evaluation of the jugular phlebogram confirmed the diagnosis of this valve pathology. The study of this heart condition was completed with the diagnosis of rheumatic fever (Jones' criteria, modified) and an angiohemodynamic evaluation of the patient (which must include left and right ventriculography using a Bourassa catheter on the right). This pathology is extremely rare and we have found no reference to it in the literature in this country.