Clinical experience with the S-Flex coronary stent.

Objective: Restenosis and the risk of sub-acute thrombosis still compromise the advantages of coronary stenting. This report aims to present a clinical audit of the first 100 patients to receive the South African-developed 'low injury' S-Flex coronary stent at Groote Schuur Hospital.

Methods: From September 1999 to March 2001, 102 patients received one or more S-Flex stents.

Antihypertensive effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition by lisinopril in post-transplant patients.

Background: It is not known whether strict control of blood pressure (BP) in mild post-transplant hypertension gives any benefit. Our primary objective was to test the antihypertensive effects of lisinopril added to standard therapy on ambulatory BP (ABP) of post-transplant patients. The secondary objective was to monitor echocardiographic and hemodynamic end points.

Fixed-dose versus adjusted-dose warfarin in patients with prosthetic heart valves in a peri-urban impoverished population.

Background And Aims Of The Study: Patients with mechanical heart valves are critically dependent upon adequate anticoagulation. The present patients are young, geographically dispersed and socioeconomically deprived. Hospital attendance is erratic, and compliance with conventional anticoagulation difficult.