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Background Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is a common disorder characterized by the presence of clinical criteria for acute myocardial infarction in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease on angiography. We aim to investigate the relationship between myocardial bridging (MB) and MINOCA. Methods and results An observational retrospective study was conducted on 15 036 patients who had been referred for coronary angiography and who fulfilled the Fourth Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction. The study population was divided into ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients, from which we defined two main groups: the MINOCA group and the coronary artery disease (CAD) group. Statistical analyses were carried out by using SPSS, version 20. The prevalence of angiographic MB among the groups was significantly greater in the MINOCA group (2.9% vs. 0.8%). MINOCA accounted for 14.5% of spontaneous myocardial infarction, and the clinical presentation was more frequently NSTEMI rather than STEMI (84.3% vs. 15.7%). After adjusting for confounders, multivariate analyses showed a positive association between MB and MINOCA [odds ratio = 3.28, 95% CI (2.34; 4.61) P Conclusion MB is a risk factor for MINOCA. Because MB prevalence differed significantly between the controls (CAD group) and cases (MINOCA group), which were positively associated to MB, it seems likely that MB would be a potential cause of MINOCA. Investigations for MB in MINOCA cases and especially in NSTEMI patients seem necessary.

Background In the GLOBAL LEADERS trial, ticagrelor monotherapy beyond 1 month compared with standard antiplatelet regimens after coronary stent implantation did not improve outcomes at intention‐to‐treat analysis. Considerable differences in treatment adherence between the experimental and control groups may have affected the intention‐to‐treat results. In this reanalysis of the GLOBAL LEADERS trial, we compared the experimental and control treatment strategies in a per‐protocol analysis of patients who did not deviate from the study protocol. Methods and Results Baseline and postrandomization information were used to classify whether and when patients were deviating from the study protocol. With logistic regressions, we derived time‐varying inverse probabilities of nondeviation from protocol to reconstruct the trial population without protocol deviation. The primary end point was a composite of all‐cause mortality or nonfatal Q‐wave myocardial infarction at 2 years. At 2‐year follow‐up, 1103 (13.8%) of 7980 patients in the experimental group and 785 (9.8%) of 7988 patients in the control group qualified as protocol deviators. At per‐protocol analysis, the rate ratio for the primary end point was 0.88 (95% CI, 0.75–1.03; P =0.10) on the basis of 274 versus 325 events in the experimental versus control group. The rate ratio for the key safety end point of major bleeding was 1.00 (95% CI, 0.79–1.26; P =0.99). The per‐protocol and intention‐to‐treat effect estimates were overall consistent. Conclusions Among patients who complied with the study protocol in the GLOBAL LEADERS trial, ticagrelor plus aspirin for 1 month followed by ticagrelor monotherapy was not superior to 1‐year standard dual antiplatelet therapy followed by aspirin alone at 2 years after coronary stenting. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT01813435.

International audience; Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)-related myonecrosis is frequent and can affect the long-term prognosis of patients. To our knowledge, ticagrelor has not been evaluated in elective PCI and could reduce periprocedural ischaemic complications compared with clopidogrel, the currently recommended treatment. The aim of the ALPHEUS study was to examine if ticagrelor was superior to clopidogrel in reducing periprocedural myocardial necrosis in stable coronary patients undergoing high-risk elective PCI.Methods: The ALPHEUS study, a phase 3b, randomised, open-label trial, was done at 49 hospitals in France and Czech Republic. Patients with stable coronary artery disease were eligible for the study if they had an indication for PCI and at least one high-risk characteristic. Eligible patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to either ticagrelor (180 mg loading dose, 90 mg twice daily thereafter for 30 days) or clopidogrel (300-600 mg loading dose, 75 mg daily thereafter for 30 days) by use of an interactive web response system, and stratified by centre. The primary outcome was a composite of PCI-related type 4 (a or b) myocardial infarction or major myocardial injury and the primary safety outcome was major bleeding, both of which were evaluated within 48 h of PCI (or at hospital discharge if earlier). The primary analysis was based on all events that occurred in the intention-to-treat population. The trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02617290.Findings: Between Jan 9, 2017, and May 28, 2020, 1910 patients were randomly assigned at 49 sites, 956 to the ticagrelor group and 954 to the clopidogrel group. 15 patients were excluded from the ticagrelor group and 12 from the clopidogrel group. At 48 h, the primary outcome was observed in 334 (35%) of 941 patients in the ticagrelor group and 341 (36%) of 942 patients in the clopidogrel group (odds ratio [OR] 0·97, 95% CI 0·80-1·17; p=0·75). The primary safety outcome did not differ between the two groups, but minor bleeding events were more frequently observed with ticagrelor than clopidogrel at 30 days (105 [11%] of 941 patients in the ticagrelor group vs 71 [8%] of 942 patients in the clopidogrel group; OR 1·54, 95% CI 1·12-2·11; p=0·0070).Interpretation: Ticagrelor was not superior to clopidogrel in reducing periprocedural myocardial necrosis after elective PCI and did not cause an increase in major bleeding, but did increase the rate of minor bleeding at 30 days. These results support the use of clopidogrel as the standard of care for elective PCI.Funding: ACTION Study Group and AstraZeneca.

Item does not contain fulltext BACKGROUND: The Synergy between PCI with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) trial was a non-inferiority trial that compared percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using first-generation paclitaxel-eluting stents with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with de-novo three-vessel and left main coronary artery disease, and reported results up to 5 years. We now report 10-year all-cause death results. METHODS: The SYNTAX Extended Survival (SYNTAXES) study is an investigator-driven extension of follow-up of a multicentre, randomised controlled trial done in 85 hospitals across 18 North American and European countries. Patients with de-novo three-vessel and left main coronary artery disease were randomly assigned (1:1) to the PCI group or CABG group. Patients with a history of PCI or CABG, acute myocardial infarction, or an indication for concomitant cardiac surgery were excluded. The primary endpoint of the SYNTAXES study was 10-year all-cause death, which was assessed according to the intention-to-treat principle. Prespecified subgroup analyses were performed according to the presence or absence of left main coronary artery disease and diabetes, and according to coronary complexity defined by core laboratory SYNTAX score tertiles. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03417050. FINDINGS: From March, 2005, to April, 2007, 1800 patients were randomly assigned to the PCI (n=903) or CABG (n=897) group. Vital status information at 10 years was complete for 841 (93%) patients in the PCI group and 848 (95%) patients in the CABG group. At 10 years, 244 (27%) patients had died after PCI and 211 (24%) after CABG (hazard ratio 1.17 [95% CI 0.97-1.41], p=0.092). Among patients with three-vessel disease, 151 (28%) of 546 had died after PCI versus 113 (21%) of 549 after CABG (hazard ratio 1.41 [95% CI 1.10-1.80]), and among patients with left main coronary artery disease, 93 (26%) of 357 had died after PCI versus 98 (28%) of 348 after CABG (0.90 [0.68-1.20], pinteraction=0.019). There was no treatment-by-subgroup interaction with diabetes (pinteraction=0.66) and no linear trend across SYNTAX score tertiles (ptrend=0.30). INTERPRETATION: At 10 years, no significant difference existed in all-cause death between PCI using first-generation paclitaxel-eluting stents and CABG. However, CABG provided a significant survival benefit in patients with three-vessel disease, but not in patients with left main coronary artery disease. FUNDING: German Foundation of Heart Research (SYNTAXES study, 5-10-year follow-up) and Boston Scientific Corporation (SYNTAX study, 0-5-year follow-up).

BACKGROUND: Triple antithrombotic therapy with warfarin plus two antiplatelet agents is the standard of care after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for patients with atrial fibrillation, but this therapy is associated with a high risk of bleeding.METHODS: In this multicenter trial, we randomly assigned 2725 patients with atrial fibrillation who had undergone PCI to triple therapy with warfarin plus a P2Y12 inhibitor (clopidogrel or ticagrelor) and aspirin (for 1 to 3 months) (triple-therapy group) or dual therapy with dabigatran (110 mg or 150 mg twice daily) plus a P2Y12 inhibitor (clopidogrel or ticagrelor) and no aspirin (110-mg and 150-mg dual-therapy groups). Outside the United States, elderly patients (≥80 years of age; ≥70 years of age in Japan) were randomly assigned to the 110-mg dual-therapy group or the triple-therapy group. The primary end point was a major or clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding event during follow-up (mean follow-up, 14 months). The trial also tested for the noninferiority of dual therapy with dabigatran (both doses combined) to triple therapy with warfarin with respect to the incidence of a composite efficacy end point of thromboembolic events (myocardial infarction, stroke, or systemic embolism), death, or unplanned revascularization.RESULTS: The incidence of the primary end point was 15.4% in the 110-mg dual-therapy group as compared with 26.9% in the triple-therapy group (hazard ratio, 0.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.42 to 0.63; PCONCLUSIONS: Among patients with atrial fibrillation who had undergone PCI, the risk of bleeding was lower among those who received dual therapy with dabigatran and a P2Y12 inhibitor than among those who received triple therapy with warfarin, a P2Y12 inhibitor, and aspirin. Dual therapy was noninferior to triple therapy with respect to the risk of thromboembolic events. (Funded by Boehringer Ingelheim; RE-DUAL PCI ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02164864 .).

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that 6-month dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is noninferior to 24-month DAPT in aspirin-sensitive patients.The ITALIC (Is There a Life for DES After Discontinuation of Clopidogrel) trial showed that rates of bleeding and thrombotic events at 1 year were much the same with 6 versus 12 months of DAPT after percutaneous coronary intervention with second-generation drug-eluting stents. In this report, 2-year follow-up is presented.In a multicenter randomized study, patients with confirmed nonresistance to aspirin undergoing drug-eluting stent implantation were allocated to 6 or 24 months of DAPT. The primary endpoint was a composite of death, myocardial infarction, urgent target vessel revascularization, stroke, and major bleeding at 12 months post-percutaneous coronary intervention. The secondary endpoints comprised the same composite endpoint at 24 months and each individual component.Overall, 2,031 patients from 70 centers were screened; 926 were randomized to 6-month and 924 to 24-month DAPT. Noninferiority was demonstrated for 6- versus 12-month DAPT, with an absolute risk difference of 0.11% (95% confidence interval: -1.04% to 1.26%; p = 0.0002). At 2 years, the composite endpoint was unchanged, at 3.5% for 6 months and 3.7% for 24 months (p = 0.79), and rates of myocardial infarction (1.3% vs. 1.0%; p = 0.51), stroke (0.6% vs. 0.8%; p = 0.77), and target vessel revascularization (1.0% vs. 0.3%; p = 0.09) were likewise similar. There was a trend toward higher mortality with longer DAPT (2.2% vs. 1.2%; p = 0.11). Four patients (0.4%) in the 24-month group and none in the 6-month group had major bleeding.Two-year outcomes in the ITALIC trial confirmed the 1-year results and showed that patients receiving 6-month DAPT after percutaneous coronary intervention with second-generation drug-eluting stent have similar outcomes to those receiving 24-month DAPT.

Obesity in patients with heart failure (HF) is a factor of better prognosis, supposedly partly because of the particular epidemiology of HF in this population. This study expected to compare the parameters of severity and mortality in patients with and without obesity, to better understand the origin of this paradox.Two hundred twenty-two patients with nonischemic HF and systolic dysfunction were divided into two groups according to their body mass index (≥ 30 vs.30 kg/m(2), respectively) and explored for functional parameters and prognosis.B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels were lower and peak oxygen consumption higher in patients with obesity. Patients with obesity had a better prognosis than patients without obesity with a 4-year mortality of 11.1% and 26.4%, respectively (P = 0.009). By univariate analysis, obesity was associated with a reduced risk of death: HR 0.52 [0.28-0.99]. This protective effect was no longer present after adjusting for VO2max and BNP level.The obesity paradox is probably partly due to an overestimation of the severity of HF in patients with obesity because of the multifactorial nature of their dyspnea. Obesity no longer has a protective effect after adjustment for the usual prognostic parameters of HF.

To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Kaname™ cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr), thin strut, bare metal stent (BMS) system for the treatment of coronary artery lesions.Despite widespread use of drug-eluting stents, a certain percentage of patients with coronary artery disease are still treated with BMS. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate their clinical performance.Two hundred eighty-two patients were enrolled in this prospective, single-arm study including a predefined subset of 79 patients with small vessels. The primary end-point was freedom from target vessel failure (TVF) at 6 months. Key angiographic and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) end-points were late loss, diameter stenosis, binary restenosis, and neointimal hyperplasia volume.Freedom from TVF at 6 months was 93.3% and at 1 year 90.8% in total population, and 92.4% and 87.3% in small vessels, respectively. Clinically driven target lesion revascularization (TLR) rates at 6 and 12 months were 4.3% and 6.4% in total population, and 3.8% and 7.6% in small vessels, respectively. At 6 months in-stent late loss was 0.75 ± 0.43 mm and binary restenosis rate was 16.9% in total population, and 0.64 ± 0.40 mm and 26.1% in small vessels, while IVUS assessed neointimal hyperplasia volume at 6 months was 128.9 ± 42.6 mm(3) for total population. There were no definite and probable stent thromboses up to 12 months.Results indicate good safety and effectiveness of the Kaname™ stent with clinically equivalent results in small and larger vessels, as such providing useful treatment option for patients with ischemic heart disease considered for BMS implantation.

We compared the efficacy of the Cypher Select (Cordis Corporation, Bridgewater, NJ, USA) sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) versus balloon angioplasty (BA) in in-stent restenosis (ISR) of Taxus or Taxus Liberté paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES; Boston Scientific, Natick, MA, USA) or Cypher/Cypher Select SES.Optimal treatment strategies have not been identified for drug-eluting stent (DES) ISR.Patients with a native coronary artery SES or PES ISR were randomized to SES or BA. In addition, a control group included BMS ISR treated with SES. Angiographic control was performed at 12 months.281 patients were enrolled. Significant differences favoring SES over BA were noted in immediate and net gain (1.39 ± 0.51 vs. 0.97 ± 0.54 mm, P0.0001 and 1.07 ± 0.69 vs. 0.49 ± 0.67 mm, P0.0001), 12-month mean luminal diameter (MLD; 2.14 ± 0.62 vs. 1.71 ± 0.55 mm, P0.0001) and percent diameter stenosis (%DS; 21 ± 19.24 vs. 29.82 ± 18.47, P = 0.001). There was no significant difference at 12 months between SES and BA in the primary end-point late lumen loss (LLL; 0.37 ± 0.57 vs.0.41 ± 0.63, P = 0.73) and in in-stent binary restenosis (11.1% vs. 14%, P = 0.59). Target-lesion revascularization (TLR) was numerically lower in patients treated with SES (5.9% vs. 13.1%, P = 0.097). There was no difference according to the initial DES. In contrast, significantly higher immediate and net gains and MLD were noted in the BMS control group treated by SES.In this angiographic randomized trial comparing SES and BA in SES or PES restenosis, 12 month MLD, immediate and net gain, and %DS favored SES whereas no difference was noted in LLL. Condensed abstract optimal treatment strategies have not been identified for sirolimus-(SES) or paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES) in-stent restenosis (ISR). We randomized patients with a native coronary artery SES or PES ISR to SES or BA. In addition, a control group included BMS ISR treated with SES. There was no difference in the primary end-point, late lumen loss (LLL) at 12 months between the SES and BA groups. However, follow-up MLD and immediate and net gain favored SES.

The purpose of this study was to assess the 3-year outcome of coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) in patients who had multivessel coronary artery disease with and without diabetes mellitus.The optimal method of revascularization in diabetic patients remains in dispute.The ARTS-II (Arterial Revascularization Therapies Study-Part II) trial is a single-arm study (n = 607) that included 159 diabetic patients treated with SES whose 3-year clinical outcome was compared with that of the historical diabetic and nondiabetic arms of the randomized ARTS-I trial (n = 1,205, including 96 diabetic patients in the CABG arm and 112 in the PCI arm).At 3 years, among nondiabetic patients, the incidence of the primary composite of death, CVA, myocardial infarction (MI), and repeat revascularization (major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events [MACCE]), was significantly lower in ARTS-II than in ARTS-I PCI (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 0.41; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.26 to 0.64) and similar to ARTS-I CABG. The ARTS-II patients were at significantly lower risk for death, CVA, and MI as compared with both the ARTS-I PCI (adjusted OR: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.34 to 0.91) and ARTS-I CABG patients (adjusted OR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.35 to 0.92). Among diabetic patients, the incidence of MACCE in ARTS-II was similar to that of both PCI and CABG in ARTS-I. Conversely, the incidence of death, CVA, and MI was significantly lower in ARTS-II than in ARTS-I PCI (adjusted OR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.27 to 1.65) and was similar to that of ARTS-I CABG.At 3 years, PCI using SES for patients with multivessel coronary artery disease seems to be safer and more efficacious than PCI using bare-metal stents, irrespective of the diabetic status of the patient. Hence, PCI using SES appears to be a valuable alternative to CABG for both diabetic and nondiabetic patients.

During 2005, the evolution of interventional cardiology has largely been dominated by the trial of active endoprostheses, whose advantage has been consistently shown by various studies, mete-analyses and surveys. Extending their use to new indications and evaluating new drugs have also been studied. In parallel, clinical trials have been performed in the promising field of percutaneous treatment of valvular heart disease, particularly mitral insufficiency and calcified aortic stenosis in the adult.

The aim of this study was to compare quantitatively uptake of 99mTc-Sestamibi at rest and that of late redistribution of 201Tl in the same patients with severe ischaemic left ventricular dysfunction, and to correlate the uptake of the tracer to regional ventricular dysfunction studied by ECG grated 99Tc-Sestamini. A double isotope myocardial scintigraphy, 201 Thallium at rest/redistribution and 99Tc-Sestamibi at rest and on exercise, was performed in 28 patients with severe postinfarction ischaemic cardiomyopathy (EF= 29 +/- 4%). Quantitative analysis for each patient and each isotope were performed with respect to the number of hits expressed in percentage of the activity of a normal zone in 17 circumferential profiles distributed in 4 zones, that is to say in 476 segments. A score allowed counting of viable and non-viable segments and evaluation of contractile function of the 17 segments with respect to wall motion and systolic thickening. Total concordance of global uptake of the two isotopes was observed in 430 of the 476 segments (90.3%) (r= 0.814, p0.0001), but the 99mTc-Sestamibi uptake was less than 201 Th (71 +/- 23% vs 73 +/- 21%, p= 0.0001). With respect to left ventricular wall motion, uptake of 99mTc-Sestamibi was greater than that of 201Tl in normal or hypokinetic segments but less in akinetic and dyskinetic segments. The difference between the two isotopes was most marked in segments with very severe contractile dysfunction. The authors conclude that the uptake of 99mTc-Sestamibi is correlated with that of late distribution of 201Tl when left ventricular contraction is not too poor and should no longer be considered as only a marker of perfusion but can also be useful in the investigation of myocardial viability.

The risk of thromboembolism in patients taking estrogen-progestagen oral contraceptive drugs has apparently increased since the introduction of third-generation progestagens (desogestrel, gestodene). We examined the clinical features, risk factors and outcome of pulmonary embolism in this context.We reviewed 11 cases of thromboembolism in patients on oral contraception and hospitalized in emergency situations in 1995 and 1996 for pulmonary embolism in order to determine the gravity of the thromboembolic event, risk factors and type of drug used.Early clinical signs had preceded the onset of embolism by 2 to 164 days. PaO2 was below 70 mmHg in 4 patients. Diagnosis was achieved with pulmonary scintigraphy (11 cases), spiral CT (3 cases) and angiopneumography (2 cases). Duplex Doppler visualized the phlebitis in 7 patients. Given heparin (with fibrinolysis in 3 cases) then anti-vitamin K, and after withdrawal of the oral contraceptive, outcome was favorable in all cases. There were no recurrences. The nature of the oral contraceptive varied. Five patients were taking third-generation progestagens. In two cases, embolism had occurred following a change from a second-generation to a third-generation progestagen. Family history of phlebitis and/or abnormal laboratory findings were observed in 6 patients: resistance to activated protein C (2 patients), protein C deficiency (2 patients), anticardiolipin (2 patients) and low-titre antinuclear antibodies (2 patients).Pulmonary embolism in patients on oral contraceptives persists despite changes in the hormone content of the drugs. Diagnosis is often delayed. Family history of thrombosis or biological risk factors are often found.

Management of major risk factors (smoking, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension), in the context of secondary prevention, has an impact on recurrence and life expectancy. However, there is a delay between the publication of therapeutic trials and their diffusion within the medical community. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and management of the main risk factors in a sample of 500 men, with a mean age of 55.1 +/- 7.5 years, presenting with stable coronary artery disease. 11% of subjects had a family history of premature myocardial infarction. Smoking was frequent: 21% of smokers, 60% of ex-smokers. Hypercholesterolaemia (LDL-C3.4 mmole/l or treatment) was present in 82% of subjects. Only 45% of treated subjects had an LDL-C3.4 mmole/l. Hypertension (systolic blood pressureor = 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressureor = 90 mmHg or treatment) was present in 61% of subjects. Only 33% of treated subjects were controlled. Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (blood glucoseor = 7.7 mmole/l or treatment) was present in 21% of subjects. Only 43% of treated subjects were controlled. Calculation of the distribution of major risk factors (smoking, pathological obesity, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension, diabetes) showed that 90% of coronary patients presented at least two risk factors. Overall, the prevalence and management of risk factors in patients with stable coronary artery disease is far from optimal.

CT patterns of a relapsing polychondritis affecting the laryngeal cartilages are reported in a 42-year-old man with a 10-year medical history of this disease, corresponding to an irregular enlargement of the cricoid, thyroid cartilages and tracheal rings, with a moderate endoluminal narrowing. CT is useful to differentiate this rare inflammatory disease from others causes of airway narrowing, and could help in certain cases of diagnosis of beginning polychondritis.

A mixed hamartoma of the liver in a 39 year old man is reported. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a 4 cm inhomogeneous echogenic mass with acoustic shadowing. MRI T1 weighted images showed a inhomogeneous low intensity mass with lower gadolinium enhancement than normal liver, a moderate low signal intensity on proton density weighted images, and heterogeneous isosignal intensity on T2 weighted images. Peripheric calcifications were found on pathologic examination.

Retrogression of a renal artery stenosis after a six months follow-up is reported in a 43 years old woman who stopped smoking after the first angiography and was treated with antiplatelet, suggesting spontaneous atherosclerosis injury revision.

To determine variations of serum creatinine level immediately after percutaneous angioplasty for renal artery stenosis. After technical success of unilateral or bilateral percutaneous angioplasty for renal artery stenosis in 91 patients (mean age 62.7 years) in whom ioxaglate was always used (90 to 300 ml, mean 195), serum creatinine levels immediately before and 48 hours after dilatation were compared. In the whole population, no significant variation was observed in the overall population. No significant difference was observed between unilateral and bilateral renal angioplasty. The volume of contrast media did not influence creatinine level, nor did iodine injection performed during (n = 4) or more than 3 days before angioplasty. A significant difference was observed with or without diabetes mellitus (n = 15, p = 0.05). In patients without diabetes mellitus technically successful percutaneous angioplasty for renal artery stenosis when using ioxaglate do not significant alter serum creatinine level 48 hours later.

The isoforms of creatinine kinase (CK) and myoglobin were analysed by serial samplings in 45 patients admitted consecutively for myocardial infarction treated by thrombolysis according to the usual indications. Angiographic controls were carried out systematically in the first 24 hours, including 20 cases at the end of thrombolysis. The patients were divided into two groups according to the patency of the infarct related artery: Group I (n = 35) with a patent vessel and Group II (n = 10) with an occluded vessel; 4 patients in Group II were successfully revascularised by angioplasty. The total CK had a higher peak value in Group II (2,393 +/- 1,991 UI/l at 547 +/- 247 min versus 2,888 +/- 2,189 IU/l at 584 +/- 395 min) but the difference was not statistically significant. The analysis of CK isoforms showed the MM3/MM1 ratio to be higher at the 2nd hour in Group I (3.74 +/- 2.37 versus 3.09 +/- 1.43) with a faster increase, without attaining statistical significance. A fourth CK MM fraction was observed at the 2nd hour in 71% of patients in Group I compared with only 20% of patients in Group II. Analysis of myoglobin showed a significantly earlier peak value in Group I (1,218 +/- 1,117 micrograms/l at 133 +/- 62 min versus 1,309 +/- 1,549 micrograms/l at 210 +/- 84 min). The sensitivity and specificity of these different markers were respectively 40%, 86%, 77%, and 60%, 70% and 67% for the CK (peak before 8 hours), the MM3/MM1 ratio (increase of over 35% in the first hour) and myoglobin (peak before 2 hours).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Three hundred and twenty eight patients (238 men, 90 women) with an average age of 63.5 +/- 18 years admitted consecutively for acute myocardial infarction over a 24 month period (March 1989-March 1991) were followed up at one year by out-patient appointment, questionnaire or telephonic enquiry. The average delay before hospital admission was 6.7 +/- 44 hours (1 h-48 h). The infarct was transmural in 82% of cases, anterior in 45.3%, inferior in 46.3% and lateral in 8.4% of cases. Forty eight per cent had one or several complications during the hospital period with a 10.4% hospital mortality rate. Thirty eight per cent of patients underwent primary thrombolysis and 9% had primary angioplasty. Seventy four per cent of patients had coronary angiography; 41% underwent deferred angioplasty and 6% surgical revascularisation. The global 1 year survival rate was 81.4%. At follow-up, 52.6% of patients were asymptomatic, 31% had signs of cardiac failure and 18% had residual angina. Sixty five per cent were treated with 2 or 3 drugs; 6% underwent secondary angioplasty and 2.8% secondary coronary bypass surgery. Of the 34% of active subjects, 61.4% declared having returned to full-time professional activity. Therefore, in 1992, a continuous reduction of infarct-related mortality and morbidity was observed.

The anti-ischemic and cardioprotective effects of various angina drugs have been evaluated during angioplasty. This special situation of transitory regional ischemia was used to test verapami given by intra-coronary injection in 15 patients undergoing balloon dilatation of the left anterior descending artery, suffering from stable angina and with normal left ventricular kinetics. Each patient serving as his own control, parameters indicating oxygen consumption and clinical and electrocardiographic (ST segment changes) markers were measured during two successive inflations. Continuous monitoring of comparative variations between a first inflation without treatment and a second inflation after intra-coronary administration of 1 mg of verapamil revealed, following 60 seconds of ischemia, the absence of any change in heart rate, a moderate fall in mean blood pressure (101.7 as against 96.8 mmHg, p = 0.033) and a notable 60% reduction in the amplitude of maximal ST depression (5.07 +/- 3.08 mm as against 2.07 +/- 1.44 mm, p = 0.0002). These results confirm the anti-ischemic properties of verapamil, the action of which is based upon an indirect peripheral vasodilator model but also on a probable direct cardioprotective effect on anoxic myocardial regions.

The authors report a case of myocardial infarction in a 27 year old patient by simultaneous thrombosis of the left anterior descending and right coronary arteries in an angiographically normal coronary circulation. The young age of the patient, the absence of the usual risk factors and a normal angiographic network after arterial recanalisation by angioplasty led to the search for a risk factor of thrombosis. This showed a qualitative deficiency of protein S and the absence of any other abnormality of coagulation or fibrinolysis. This case raises the question of a causal relationship between a hereditary protein S deficiency and thrombotic arterial occlusion.

Reversible ventricular fibrillation occurred in a 35 year old multiparous woman after the administration of the association mifepristone (Mifegyne) and sulprostone (Nalador) for therapeutic abortion. A coronary spasm induced by the analogue of the prostaglandin PGE 2x was though to be the causative mechanism and was reproduced by the Ergonovine test. The evolution of the ECG and myocardial scintigraphy suggested a slowly regressive stunned myocardium.

An analysis of factors predictive of mortality was undertaken in a group of 201 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (163 men, 38 women; average age 46 +/- 11 years) using a multivariate analysis (Cox's model) of 51 clinical electrocardiographic, echocardiographic and haemodynamic parameters. The average follow-up period was 57.1 +/- 29.9 months. Fifty-six patients died and the probability of 5-year survival was 77 +/- 3 per cent. The best predictive factor of survival was determined by the combination of the following parameters: presenting symptom: pulmonary oedema, peripheral oedema, syncope; duration of symptoms before inclusion into the study; left ventricular end diastolic volume; left ventricular end diastolic dimension; systolic pulmonary artery pressure. A quantitative score "S" was calculated which enabled identification of 3 subgroups: A (S less than 4.5); B (4.5 less than S less than 6); C (S greater than 6). The probability of 5-year survival was 90 +/- 5 per cent in Group A, 84 +/- 4 per cent in Group B and 53 +/- 7 per cent in Group C.global survival was relatively long in this patient population with dilated cardiomyopathy at different stages of evolution; the combination of factors related to clinical severity, left ventricular dilatation, systolic pulmonary artery pressure and duration of symptoms allows identification of a subgroup of patients with a poor prognosis.

Fifteen patients with severely damaged coronary circulation required temporary intraaortic balloon counterpulsation for pharmacologically uncontrollable chest pain and poor haemodynamic state (hypotension or shock) in connection with the transluminal coronary angioplasty procedure. Twenty-five angioplasties were attempted (1.75 artery stem/patient) with a primary success rate of 96%. Emergency surgery was performed only once (6.6%) and no death occurred after the percutaneous therapeutic procedures. One patient died due to a cerebrovascular accident, two other patients suffered sudden death 1 and 3 months later. Two patients finally required coronary bypass surgery, and one patient a repeated angioplasty. In the follow-up period (mean = 11 months), two patients presented moderate symptoms of stable angina pectoris, and 10 patients (83%) remained in satisfactory condition. Temporary diastolic counterpulsation provided in patients with pharmacologically refractory myocardial ischaemia and hypotension or shock an important protection for performing transluminal angioplasty in a good condition, with improved remaining coronary circulation and haemodynamic state, assuring a favourable hospital survival.

A series of 134 patients with left main coronary stenosis was followed up for an average of 18 months. The majority of patients presented with unstable angina and per-critical ECG changes. Coronary angiography showed that left main coronary stenosis is rarely an isolated entity but generally associated with diffuse coronary atherosclerosis. Left ventricular function is usually normal. Treatment is surgical whenever the coronary lesions, left ventricular function and general condition of the patient allow it. The medium-term surgical results are excellent on clinical symptoms and quality of life at the price of low perioperative mortality and morbidity.

Over a period of 13 months, 33 male patients, under the age of 72 years, admitted in the cardiology department following a myocardial infarction within 5 hours after painful onset, and treated with intravenous fibrinolytic agents, were included in this study. A coronary angiography with right anterior oblique ventriculography at 30 degrees was performed. Within the first 72 hours. The informations provided by this examination resulted in a coronary angioplasty performed in patients, a by-pass in 4 patients and medical treatment in 13 patients. After a mean delay of 8 months, a new control was performed using iodine ventriculography study of radial and segmental shortening fractions, Leighton's rotation). The results expressed, concern the sub-group of non-surgical patients: regardless of the site of the infarction, the percentage of akinesis (% AK) goes from 15.0 +/- 12.0 p. cent to 8.3 +/- 10.3 p. cent (p less than 0.01). The stroke volume (SV) is not significantly improved. In the group of inferior necroses, the global SV goes from 58.4 +/- 10.1 p. cent to 62.9 +/- 10.8 p. cent; p less than 0.05 and the % AK goes from 13.9 +/- 11.5 p. cent to 5.0 +/- 5.6 p. cent; p less than 0.001). Segmental kinetics in the inferior and infero-basal territories is significantly improved at eight months. In the anterior necrosis group, the study of the same parameters does not demonstrate any significant difference (too limited population). The imputability of the improvement of the parameters of the left ventricular function by arterial revascularization is clearly suggested by these results.

The authors report a case of severe ST elevation after defibrillation which persisted for 6 days, suggesting acute myocardial infarction. The possible mechanisms of ST elevation after cardioversion and the unusually long duration of the ECG changes in this case are reviewed. The protective role of verapamil against myocardial damage is discussed.

This study reports the results of routine evaluation to detect coronary and carotid atherosclerosis in 200 asymptomatic and hypercholesterolemic patients (48 +/- 10 years: 72.5% men). All patients underwent physical examination, blood lipid profile, an exercise test and cervical echo-doppler. If the exercise electrocardiogram was abnormal, a thallium isotope scan and/or coronary arteriography were performed. Hypercholesterolemia was severe (3.03 +/- 0.52 g/l). 77.5% of patients had pure hypercholesterolemia. Carotid atherosclerosis in the form of plaque (27.5%) or stenosis (3.5%) was found in 31% of patients. This carotid atheroma was commoner in older patients (51.9 +/- 9 years as against 47 +/- 10 years, p0.01). Twenty patients (10%) had electrical signs of ischemia provoked by exercise. Six of them had a normal thallium isotope scan and did not undergo coronary arteriography. Coronary arteriography was abnormal in 10 patients (5%): 7 had stenotic lesions and 3 showed evidence of spasm during the methylergometrine test. In total, the hypercholesterolemic patients investigated here were characterised by subclinical atherosclerosis which was frequent but certainly underestimated by non-invasive studies. The existence of an atherosclerotic lesion is an additional argument in favour of starting cholesterol-lowering treatment.

Permanent reciprocating junctional tachycardia (PRJT) is an uncommon type of Tachycardia, usually associated with a retrogradely conducting accessory pathway situated near to the ostium of the coronary sinus. This study reports the localisation of the site of atrial insertion of the accessory pathway, confirmed by the efficacy of intracardiac catheter ablation. Five patients (4 men), aged 14 to 45, experienced PRTJT at rates of 120 to 150/mn over a period of 2 to 15 years. 4 patients were normal, expected in 2 patients in whom they were 16 and 20%. One of these suffered a thromboembolic complication after pharmacological interruption of the tachycardia. The presence of an accessory pathway with decremential retrograde conduction was confirmed in all cases. Catheter ablation was successful in the medio-septal (2 cases), posteroseptal (1 case), lateral (1 case) and anteroseptal (1 case) regions. Six to 30 applications of 20 to 30 watts of radiofrequency energy were used in the 5 cases. In one case (right lateral accessory pathway), a fulguration procedure was necessary with a cathodic shock of 160 Joules. The AV conduction was preserved and retrograde conduction was normalised in all cases. All patients remained asymptomatic for a period of 10 to 43 months without antiarrhythmic therapy. The ejection fractions of the two patients with left ventricular dysfunction returned to normal. The authors conclude that the accessory pathways of PRJT may be situated in different regions of the right atrium. The efficacy of catheter ablation was 100 % in this form of tachycardia.

The aim of the ESTIM Midi-Pyrénées survey was to monitor the management of acute coronary syndrome with ST segment elevation by cardiologists and emergency departments in the Midi-Pyrénées region. Over a period of 2 years between June 2001 and June 2003, 1287 patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome within the first 24 hours were recruited prospectively. The initial management of these patients was undertaken either by a mobile medical team in the pre-hospital phase, or in a hospital emergency department, non-interventional cardiology department or an interventional cardiology department in 51.8%, 28.8%, 9.6% et 9.9% of cases respectively. Depending on these four modes of initial management, the median time for initial management was 1h30, 2h45, 4h30 et 4h respectively. Emergency coronary reperfusion was proposed in 89.6% of cases. Of the patients in whom reperfusion was attempted within the first 12 hours, 33.7% underwent pre-hospital thrombolysis (median delay of 1h48), 35.8% underwent thrombolysis in hospital (median delay 3h), and 30.4% underwent primary angioplasty (median delay 4h40). Thrombolysis was followed by angioplasty in 80% of cases. A combined approach with thrombolysis and angioplasty was applied in 41% of patients. At one month the rate of major cardiac events, death, and/or subsequent myocardial infarction was 12%. Multivariate analysis revealed that the only significant adverse prognostic features were: not offering reperfusion [Odds ratio (OR) 4, confidence interval (CI) 2.3-3.7] and age [OR 3.8, CI 2.3-6.2]. The method of reperfusion did not influence the subsequent outcome in this regional survey.pre-hospital management allows early revascularisation. In our region there was no significant prognostic difference between pre-hospital thrombolysis and primary angioplasty. It shows that the logistic and therapeutic potentials of prehospital care are not being sufficiently exploited.

The objective of this study was to compare the results of the management of dyslipidaemic patients in the community with the objectives fixed by the AFSSAPS recommendations. An observational epidemiological study was set up among 4 000 general practitioners and 527 cardiologists. This study included 22 323 patients (average age 60.6 years) affected by a documented primary dyslipidaemia. The average number of associated risk factors, according to the AFSSAPS criteria, was 1.8. The prevalence of secondary prevention in patients was 17.5%. More than 80% of patients were being treated by a lipid lowering agent (fibrate or statin) combined or not with lifestyle guidelines. In primary prevention, although the target levels of LDL-C fixed by the AFSSAPS were attained in 94.4% and 82.6% respectively for patients with no other risk factor or with one associated risk factor, the objectives were reached in only 55.4% of patients with two other risk factors and in 29.6% of patients with more than two other risk factors. In secondary prevention, the AFSSAPS objectives were attained in only 45.2% of patients. Following this lipid result, 34.8% of patients underwent therapeutic adjustment, principally the use of medication in the patients receiving lifestyle advice or reinforcement of pharmacological treatment. This study underlines the inadequate management in France of dyslipidaemic patients in the community.

To evaluate the results of the association of a percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty before a surgical revascularization of the infra-renal aorta.Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of one (n = 12) or two (n = 2) renal arteries have been performed in 14 patients (11 hypertensive and one with azotemia), 2 to 240 days (mean 54) before infra-renal aortic surgery (aneurysms: 8, occlusive disease: 6).15 of the 16 dilatations were completely technically successful (residual stenosis less than 20%), with one groin hematoma treated medically. Mean duration of the surgical intervention were 137 minutes (occlusive disease) and 147 minutes (aneurysm). In the post-operative course were noted resolutive infections in two patients, and one death because of myocardial infarction. At the end of the follow-up (3 to 60 months, mean 32), all of the 13 patients alive had improved in terms of vascular disease. Hypertension was improved for 2 patients, stable for 10, worse for 1. Creatinine serum level was stable for 12 patients, and the renal insufficient was worsened.Combined percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty and aortic revascularization seems to be reliable and safe; it can be an alternative to a simultaneous aortic and renal revascularization, notably for high-risk patients.

In the catheter laboratory, faced with a patient with unstable angina, the problem is not the diagnosis of epicardial coronary artery stenosis but rather the atherothrombotic complexity of the stenosis and the identification of other less stenotic lesions on angiographically normal or nearly normal segments. The authors describe two appearances with morphological analysis of the vulnerable or unstable plaque and functional analysis of coronary artery vasomotricity. Acute coronary syndromes due to a clearly stenotic atherothrombotic plaque on angiography pose no diagnostic problems. However, an acute coronary syndrome may be more difficult to assess when angiography shows only simple irregularities of the lumen or no lesions at all. In these cases, angiography is said to be normal and the coronary arteries are considered to be possibly "healthy". Evaluation of the vessels' vasomotricity is especially valuable in this context. Using pharmacological stress tests, endovascular ultrasonography is a complementary diagnostic tool which allows identification of the unstable atheromatous process or of a partial atherothrombosis masked by positive remodelling process. These tests may also indicate the optimal treatment.

Mixed venous oxygen saturation (SVO2) is an haemodynamic parameter of cardiovascular function. The object of this study was to measure SVO2 during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) with prolonged balloon inflation in order to evaluate haemodynamic tolerance more precisely in two groups of patients. Twenty-six patients undergoing PTCA were divided into two groups: Group I, N = 15, with single vessel disease and good left ventricular function (EF: 61.63 +/- 10.1%); Group II, N = 11, with triple vessel disease and poor left ventricular function (EF: 48.05 +/- 14%; p0.05). Continuous monitoring of SVO2 with an oximetrix fiber optic catheter was performed in all patients during PTCA. Irrespective of the duration of balloon inflation, a significant correlation was observed between the changes in cardiac output and VSO2. Given that arterial oxygen pressure, global oxygen consumption and haemoglobin concentrations remained constant during balloon inflation, SVO2 was an indicator of cardiac output.

A two-dimensional echocardiography was performed in the acute phase of myocardial infarction in 140 consecutive patients admitted to hospital for transmural infarction 12 +/- 3 days on average after necrosis was formed. The examination consisted of 4 ventricular sections, including 2 through the apex: 8 ventricular segments were individualized, to be interpreted only when 50 p. 100 of the endocardium was visualized. An echocardiographic score was devised for the kinetics of each ventricular segment, i.e.: -1:dyskinetic, 0:akinetic, +1:hypokinetic, +2: normal, +3:hyperkinetic. The maximum score corresponding to normal contraction of all segments was 16. The hospital results were a mean score of 6.52 +/- 2.90 for 73 anterior and/or lateral infarctions and a mean score of 12.5 +/- 2.38 for 67 inferior infarctions (p less than 0.001). Correlations between echographic scores and angiographic ejection fractions were studied in 99 of the 140 patients. Good correlation between the two examinations was found in 91 cases, with a less than or equal to 6/16 score corresponding to a less than or equal to 40 p. 100 ejection fraction, and a greater than or equal to 7/16 score to a less than or equal to 40 p. 100 ejection fraction. This showed that echocardiography can be relied upon to detect abnormalities of left ventricular kinetics in myocardial infarction. 137 patients were followed up for a mean period of 16.4 months (range: 12 to 25 months). The follow-up was clinical and included angina, recurrent or extended infarction, heart failure, aorto-coronary bypass and mortality.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A 41-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus anticoagulant developed aortic thrombosis. The patient was receiving low dose aspirin. Aortography showed a complete obliteration of the infrarenal aorta. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed no evidence of aortitis. The patient improved with medical treatment. Six other published cases are reviewed.

In addition to the assessment of the arterial lumen and coronary stenosis, endocoronary ultrasonography also provides information in vivo on the nature of atheromatous plaque. This study reports the preliminary correlations between the echographic appearances, the functional status of the patients and histological data of tissue obtained by directional atherectomy. The appearances of atheromatous infiltrations help distinguish stable forms of coronary disease with "hard", hyperreflective plaques, from acute forms with "soft" hyporeflective plaques. Ultrasonography confirms the clinico-pathological relationship of myocardial infarction and unstable angina with, in the acute forms, a similarity of the culprit plaques which appear vulnerable, hyporeflective and often complicated by the association of fissures and thrombus. The correlations with histological data are still incomplete. However, the "soft" nature of the plaque is an expression of its cellularity and lipid content whereas "hard" plaques correspond to increased fibrous tissue. These associations have no correlative values as yet. Nevertheless, they establish a parallelism which may eventually explain the functional variability and evolutivity of coronary artery disease. In the same way that visualisation of coronary stenosis led to the development of coronary artery surgery and later to angioplasty, observation of the plaque by ultrasonography should promote the development of pharmacological agents to treat the atheromatous lesions.

Latrogenic fistula between the aorta and coronary vein is a rare complication of coronary bypass surgery due to accidental venous or arterial graft onto a coronary vein. The authors report a case of a patient admitted to hospital 2 months after coronary bypass surgery for cardiac failure due to a iatrogenic fistula by implantation of the left internal mammary artery on the great coronary vein. This presentation led to the choice of percutaneous embolisation of the fistula by the release of 6 coils. Based on a review of the literature, this clinical case illustrates the feasibility and value of percutaneous embolisation of iatrogenic fistulae.

Between October, 1985 and June, 1987, 125 patients aged 70 years or more were admitted to the Cardiology Department of Purpan Hospital, Toulouse for unstable angina pectoris. 107 of these patients have been followed up, i.e.: 76 men and 31 women aged from 70 to 85 years (mean 74.5 +/- 3.2 years). 49 patients (46 p. 100) had angina at rest of the intermediate syndrome type; 46 (43 p. 100) had rapidly progressive effort angina, and 12 (11 p. 100) had effort angina de novo. The patients' general condition was preserved in 85 p. 100 of the cases and altered in 15 p. 100. ECG was normal in only 10 p. 100 of the patients; it showed signs of established ischaemia in 70 p. 100 of the cases and sequelae of infarction in 23 p. 100. The mean cardiothoracic ration was 49.9 +/- 4.8 p. 100. The ejection fraction was 62 +/- 14.6 p. 100, the end-diastolic volume 86.9 +/- 32.2 ml/m2 and the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure 15.8 +/- 7.2 mmHg. 69 patients (64.5 p. 100) had calcifications in their coronary arteries. At coronary arteriography 21 patients (19.6 p. 100) showed stenosis of the main stem, 11 patients (10.3 p. 100) had a single vessel disease, 28 (26.2 p. 100) a two-vessel disease and 47 (43.9 p. 100) a three-vessel disease. Treatment was medical in 41 patients (38.3 p. 100) and surgical in 44 patients (41.12 p. 100); transluminal coronary angioplasty (TCA) was performed in 23 patients (21.5 p. 100).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

This study reports two cases of acute severe Coxsackie virus B4 myocarditis in which the immediate clinical signs suggested the acute phase of myocardial infarction, apparently antero-lateral in the first case in a context of cardiogenic shock and infero-lateral in the second case, in the context of acute pulmonary edema. Both cases were characterized by the severity of the initial signs. Numerous other cases of acute Coxsackie virus B myocarditis, simulating myocardial infarction, have been reported in the literature and these contexts deserve to be recognized earlier as they call for specific treatment. The immediate outcome was favorable in both cases but required massive cardiological intensive care in the first patient. Long term follow-up was excellent.

Among 498 patients hospitalised for myocardial infarction during a three year period, 194 (39%) were aged over 70 (mean age: 78.6 +/- 6), including 99 women and 95 men. Comparison of this group of patients with those aged under 70 showed a significantly higher hospital mortality (17.5% v. 6.5%) (p0.01) and a higher acute complication rate (60.8% v. 23.7% (p0.01), in particular after the age of 75. Twenty-eight patients were treated by thrombolysis (14.4% v. 50.6%) (p0.05), with a 79.2% patency rate in follow-up angiography at 48 h, and only one non-fatal hemorrhagic complication. Eighty-six patients were investigated by coronary arteriography (44.9% v. 87.2% (p0.05) without any complication. Mean ejection fraction was 57.3 +/- 13.5%. Fifty patients were treated by angioplasty (24.6% v. 57%) (p0.01) including 15 during the acute phase, with primary success in 40 of them (80%). Ten patients underwent coronary bypass following their infarction (5.1% v. 6.25%) (NS) with two per- or postoperative deaths (20%). Follow-up study revealed high secondary mortality with an overall survival rate at one year of 59.6% v. 81% in patients aged under 70 (p0.01). In total, infarction in the elderly is characterised by high mortality and morbidity as compared with infarctions in patients aged under 70, and requires active management during the acute phase, assessed according to the physiological status and age of the patient.

To determine if impairment of left ventricular filling is influenced by acute myocardial infarction in patients with arterial hypertension, left ventricular diastolic function was assessed by pulsed doppler echocardiography in 46 patients (pts) subdivided into four groups (Gr): G.1 (n = 12 pts) with acute myocardial infarction and hypertensive heart disease. G.2 (n = 12 pts) acute myocardial infarction without arterial hypertension. G.3 (n = 10 pts) arterial hypertension without history of coronary artery disease. G.4 (n = 12 pts) healthy subjects. Coronary angiography and left ventricular cineangiogram was performed in 24 pts (G.1 + G.2). Peak mitral flow velocity (cm/s) in early diastole (E), atrial systole (A), A/E and int A/int E ratios were measured by pulsed doppler. Age and heart rate were statistically similar in all groups. No difference was found among G.1 and G.2 in ejection fraction, and left ventricular segmental kinetic. (tables; see text) Conclusion left ventricular filling is impaired in pts with arterial hypertension and in pts with acute myocardial infarction; acute myocardial infarction increase the impairment of left ventricular diastolic function in pts with hypertensive heart disease.

Linear renal pelvis calcifications in a native kidney due to Corynebacterium urealyticum are described. These micro-organisms have an opportunistic behaviour and can be responsible for nosocomial urinary tract infection. Alkaline incrusted cystitis with linear vesical calcifications are considered as the most typical pattern. Renal pelvis may also be concerned, with parietal calcifications.

Many enzyme systems such as glutathione peroxidase (GPx) or superoxide dismutase (SOD) neutralise the oxygen derived free radicals produced during myocardial reperfusion by thrombolysis. Erythrocytic SOD, plasma and erythrocytic GPx and their cofactor selenium, substances reacting with thiobarbituric acid (TBARS) were analysed by repeated sampling between T0 and 48 hours in 24 patients treated by thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction. Angiographic control was undertaken systematically between 60 and 180 minutes after initiating thrombolytic therapy: 18 patients had a patent vessel and 6 patients had an occluded vessel recanalised in 5 cases by angioplasty. Biological analysis was performed in the 23 patients successfully revascularised by thrombolysis, eventually completed by angioplasty. The plasma GPx decreased non-significantly between T0 and 2 hours from 246.8 +/- 53.3 to 233 +/- 39 U/ml with a significant increase between 2 and 48 hours from 233 +/- 39.2 to 294 +/- 76 U/ml, whereas the erythrocytic GPx rose significantly and constantly between T0 and 48 hours from 34.8 +/- 7.1 to 37.6 +/- 7.5 U/gHb with significant consumption of selenium between T0 and 4 hours from 81.2 +/- 14 to 68.5 +/- 12.6 micrograms/l. The erythrocytic SOD increased significantly between T0 and 48 hours from 318.9 +/- 40.8 to 337 +/- 59 U/gHb. Finally, the analysis of plasma TBARS showed a non-significant rise between T0 and 30 minutes from 1.59 +/- 0.30 to 1.71 +/- 1.43 mm/l with a return to the basic line values after about 2 hours. These results show a significant increase in the activity of enzymes protecting against the liberation of oxygen free radicals, such as erythrocyte or plasma GPx and erythrocyte SOD between T0 and 48 hours with consumption of selenium, cofactor of GPx, and an increase in circulating lipid peroxydes in acute myocardial infarction treated by thrombolysis. They also illustrate the oxidative stress which occurs in this situation.