Serial changes in left ventricular diastolic indexes derived from Doppler echocardiography after anterior wall acute myocardial infarction.

Restrictive ventricular filling pattern derived from Doppler echocardiography after anterior wall AMI may serve as an indicator of diastolic dysfunction due to initial myocardial stiffness and complications such as extension of the infarction, Dressler syndrome, septal rupture, or myocardial failure. Later changes, such as prolongation of deceleration time, may indicate remodeling process, healing of the complications of AMI, or improved revascularization.

Cardiovascular, skeletal and ophthalmologic manifestations in patients with Marfan's syndrome.

Cardiovascular, skeletal and ophthalmologic manifestations of Marfan's syndrome were evaluated in 36 patients with Marfan's syndrome, including 22 females and 14 males whose ages ranged from 3 to 70 years. The patients complained mainly of palpitations and chest pain. Mitral clicks and/or systolic murmurs were heard in 31 patients (86%); skeletal findings were found in 35 patients (97%) and ECG T-wave changes in 11 (30%).

Acute rheumatic fever in the young: changing prevalence and pattern.

Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is rare in young people. A group of 28 patients is described who were hospitalized during the years 1960-1984. Patients were divided into two groups: children who were admitted between 1960 and 1966 and those admitted between 1966 and 1984.

Prevalence of mitral valve prolapse in chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis and nongoitrous hypothyroidism.

An increased prevalence of mitral valve prolapse has been found in Graves' disease and a common autoimmune etiology has been suggested for both disorders. We investigated the prevalence of mitral valve prolapse in 87 patients with autoimmune chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, 50 patients with nongoitrous hypothyroidism and 111 healthy control subjects. Mitral valve prolapse was found in 16.

Captopril as a replacement therapy in hypertension improving quality of life--a multicentre study.

A multicentre study was undertaken to determine whether side effects induced by hypotensive drugs could be reduced by replacement with low dose captopril. There were 100 patients on combinations of drugs, including diuretics, beta-blocking agents, methyldopa, clonidine and vasodilators. A questionnarie to obtain information on quality of life was completed by the patients.

Mitral valve prolapse in hyperthyroidism of two different origins.

The prevalence of mitral valve prolapse was investigated in 126 patients with hyperthyroidism due to Graves' disease or toxic nodular goitre and that of hyperthyroidism in 64 patients with mitral valve prolapse. One hundred and eleven asymptomatic healthy subjects comprised a control group. The patients with hyperthyroidism were divided into those with Graves' disease and those with toxic nodular goitre.

Unexpected cardiac pathology in pregnant women treated with beta-adrenergic agents (ritodrine).

Premature uterine contractions were treated by intravenous beta-mimetics in 190 patients during a 2-year period. History and physical examination were directed toward identification of patients with cardiac problems. Unexpected cardiac pathology was discovered in 14 patients, all of whom exhibited severe and continuous nausea, retrosternal pain, or dyspnea during beta-mimetic administration.

Cardiac tamponade in Dressler's syndrome. Case report.

A case of Dressler's syndrome with cardiac tamponade is presented. 19 days after an acute lateral myocardial infarction, the patient, 46 years old, was admitted the second time with a characteristic clinical picture of cardiac tamponade. The patient did not receive at any time during his admission an anticoagulant treatment.

Autosomal recessive sudden unexpected death in children probably caused by a cardiomyopathy associated with myopathy.

The propositus, who died suddenly at the age of 22 months, was investigated because of an unusual myopathy. Family history revealed two sisters and four cousins who had also died suddenly and unexpectedly. The finding of asymmetric septal hypertrophy by echocardiography in the propositus suggested that the cause of the sudden death in the relatives was an undetected cardiomyopathy accompanying a mild and often subclinical myopathy.

An unusual form of mitral insufficiency accompanying atrial septal defect.

An unusual case of atrial septal defect secundum type, associated with intermittent severe mitral insufficiency due to billowing anterior mitral leaflet, in a 56-year old female is described. The degree of mitral insufficiency ranged from severe to none. This phenomenon manifested itself by an intermittent systolic apical thrill and intermittent mitral regurgitation on angiocardiography.