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A persistent ductus arteriosus was occluded with an Ivalon plug via a catheter delivery system, introduced through the femoral artery, in 38 patients, aged 11-72 years (mean 39). The mean diameter of the ductus was 4.5 +/- 1.2 (2-9) mm, mean pulmonary artery pressure 30/12 (15/5-70/27) mm Hg. In two patients the plug became dislocated after two and seven weeks, respectively, without serious consequences. In all others the occlusion was successful and permanent. There were only a few complications and none was serious. During a follow-up period of up to four years there were no instances of recanalization or further plug dislocation.

Because of the beneficial effects of estrogen, premenopausal women are normally protected against coronary heart disease (CHD) and are at lower risk for myocardial infarction; consequently, CHD occurs very rarely in menstrually active women. Given this background, the aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that decreased concentrations of estrogen are associated with CHD in premenopausal women.Fourteen premenopausal women with CHD were investigated and compared with a healthy control group comparable for age and cardiovascular risk factors. Relevant characteristics of patients and controls were assessed: age, blood pressure, body mass index, total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, former pregnancies, ovariectomy and related surgical interventions, smoking history and former use of oral contraceptives. To ensure the premenopausal status of the participants, the regularity of the menstrual cycle and the follicle-stimulating hormone concentrations were also assessed. Plasma estradiol and progesterone and urine estrone concentrations (24 h urine collection) were measured at day 6 after estimated ovulation to assess the relative increase in plasma estradiol and progesterone during the second half of the menstrual cycle.Compared with the control group, premenopausal women with CHD had significantly lower concentrations of plasma estradiol (408.9 +/- 141 pmol/l and 287.8 +/- 109 pmol/l respectively; P = 0.0228) and total estrogen (2061 +/- 693 pg/mumol creatinine and 1607 +/- 448 pg/mumol creatinine respectively; P = 0.025) in the urine. However, the progesterone concentrations were not significantly different between the groups. These findings might be explained by a partial ovarian dysfunction, as the patient group had a significantly higher number of tubal sterilizations (eight compared with one).Our data provide support for the hypothesis that decreased concentrations of estradiol might be an additional pathogenetic factor for the development of CHD in menstrually active premenopausal women.

Laser and catheter technology have been considerably improved within the first 2 years of the clinical use of coronary excimer laser angioplasty. Furthermore, patient selection has changed due to increasing operator experience. We report on the acute- and long-term results achieved in 163 patients in three subgroups with different system parameters and catheter technology. In the initial series 1 (N:60) a prototype catheter with a diameter of 1.4 mm was used. In series 2 and 3, we employed improved transmission devices with 1.3, 1.5 or 1.8 mm. In series 3 the pulsewidth was increased from 60 ns to 115 ns. The target vessel was the LAD in 68%, the LCX in 10%, and the RCA in 21%. According to the AHA/ACC Lesion classification there were 13% type A, 26% type B1, 55% type B2, and 5% type C lesions. Stand-alone laser angioplasty was performed in 23/60 (38%), 24/40 (60%), and 34/64 (53%) in series 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Additional balloon angioplasty was necessary in 32, 11, and 21 interventions. Failure of laser angioplasty occurred in five patients of series 1 and 2, and nine patients of series 3. Frequently observed complications included coronary spasm in 18 to 32%, dissections in 16% to 33%, and vessel closure in 18 to 27%. Myocardial infarction occurred in three patients in the first and one patient of the second and third series. There was one in-hospital death in series 1 and 2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Bei 38 Patienten im mittleren Alter von 39 (11–72) Jahre wurde ein Ductus arterious persistens mit einem transfemoral eingefuhrten Ivalon-Pfropfen verschlossen. Der Durchmesser des Ductus betrug im Mittel 4,5 ± 1,2 (2–9) mm, der Druck in der Pulmonalarterie im Mittel 30/12 (15/5–70/27) mmHg. Bei zwei Patienten kam es ohne schwerwiegende Folgen nach 2 bzw. 7 Wochen zu einer Pfropfdislokation. In allen anderen Fallen konnte der Ductus erfolgreich verschlossen werden. Die Komplikationsrate war niedrig, schwere Komplikationen traten nicht auf. Im Langzeitverlauf kam es bei einer Nachbeobachtungszeit bis zu 4 Jahren zu keiner Rekanalisation des Ductus oder Dislokation des Pfropfes.