Regression of left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive patients treated with indapamide SR 1.5 mg versus enalapril 20 mg: the LIVE study.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of indapamide sustained release (SR) 1.5 mg and enalapril 20 mg at reducing left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).

Design: The LIVE study (left ventricular hypertrophy regression, indapamide versus enalapril) was a 1 year, prospective, randomized, double-blind study.

Phenotypic and genetic study of a family with hereditary sensory neuropathy and prominent weakness.

We report the clinical and electrophysiological features of six members of a French family with a dominantly inherited motor and sensory neuropathy. Mean age at onset was 33.6 +/- 9.

Familial dilated cardiomyopathy: clinical features in French families.

Unlabelled: The aims of the study were to analyze the clinical features, the penetrance and the mode of inheritance of 13 French families with dilated cardiomyopathy using diagnostic criteria recently established by a European collaboration.

Methods: Screening consisted of physical examination, ECG and Echo of all the probands first degree relatives (n = 118). Using major Echo criteria [ejection fraction (EF) < 45% or FS < 25% and left ventricular diameter (LVD) > 117% of the predictive value], or combined minor Echo/ECG criteria, relatives were classified as affected, unknown or healthy.

Homozygotes for a R869G mutation in the beta -myosin heavy chain gene have a severe form of familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Unlabelled: Familial Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (FHC) is an autosomal dominant disease characterised by ventricular hypertrophy, with predominant involvement of the interventricular septum. It is a monogenic disease with a high level of genetic heterogeneity (nine genes and more than 110 mutations reported so far). We describe a family with a new R869G mutation in the beta -myosin heavy chain gene (MYH7).

[Bronchial and pulmonary vaso-occlusions].

The technique of vaso-occlusion (or embolisation) consists in occluding one or several vessels which are causing haemoptysis. Either of the pulmonary circulations (systemic bronchial or pulmonary) may be the cause and sometimes both are. In systemic pulmonary hypervascularization the pathological issues are affected by high pressure vascularisation at the expense of functional vascularisation and are the source of frequent episodes of bleeding.

[Leiomyosarcoma of the superior vena cava: diagnosis by endovascular biopsy].

We report the case of a 69-year-old woman with leiomyosarcoma of the superior vena cava presenting with acute superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS). CT and MRI failed to fully characterize the endovascular process. Percutaneous endovascular biopsy, followed by metallic stent placement to treat the SVCS, confirmed the diagnosis.

Diagnosis of saphenous coronary graft aneurysm by spiral computed tomography.

We report two cases of coronary saphenous vein graft aneurysms diagnosed by spiral computed tomography.

First description of germline mosaicism in familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous disease caused by mutations in seven sarcomeric protein genes. It is known to be transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait with rare de novo mutations.A French family in which two members are affected by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was clinically screened with electrocardiography and echocardiography.

Cyclic changes in right ventricular output impedance during mechanical ventilation.

In a context such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, where optimum tidal volume and airway pressure levels are debated, the present study was designed to differentiate the right ventricular (RV) consequences of increasing lung volume from those secondary to increasing airway pressure during tidal ventilation. The study was conducted by combined two-dimensional echocardiographic and Doppler studies in 10 patients requiring mechanical ventilation in the controlled mode because of acute respiratory failure. Continuous monitoring of airway pressure on echocardiographic and Doppler recordings provided accurate timing of each cardiac event during the respiratory cycle, with particular attention being paid to end-expiratory and end-inspiratory atrial diameters, RV dimensions, and pulmonary artery and tricuspid flow estimated by the velocity-time integral (PA(VTI) and T(VTI), respectively).

[Evaluation of a specific French scale of activity in chronic heart failure. A national multicenter study. Group for Cardiac Insufficiency and Cardiomyopathy of the French Society of Cardiology].

Many systems have been proposed to evaluate the functional incapacity caused by chronic cardiac failure. The classification of the New York Heart Association (NYHA) is the best known. It is subjective, poorly reproducible and has a poor predictive value on effort.

Identification of a genetic risk factor for idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Involvement of a polymorphism in the endothelin receptor type A gene. CARDIGENE group.

Background: Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy is a frequent cause of heart failure, a major concern of public health. Although idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy may be familial, most cases are sporadic and the disease is considered to be multifactorial, for which genetic factors may account for a significant part.

Methods And Results: We hypothesized that genetic abnormalities of the endothelin pathway may be involved in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy pathophysiology and therefore examined the possible association between idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and polymorphisms in genes encoding endothelin 1, endothelin type A and type B receptors, in a case-control study (433 patients and 400 age- and sex-matched control subjects).

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery arising from the pulmonary trunk: report of an adult case with long-term follow-up after surgery.

An anomalous origin of the left coronary artery arising from the pulmonary artery is a congenital malformation rarely described in adults. We report the case of a 65-year-old patient with this anomaly. Clinical presentation, imaging identification (coronary angiogram, MRI and electron-beam CT), surgical treatment and angiographic long-term follow-up are described.

[Helical computed tomography of the aorta and its branches].

Imaging of the aorta has greatly benefited from the recent development of helical computed tomography. This noninvasive and widespread imaging technique could be considered as a viable alternative to invasive modalities in aortic disease assessment, especially in the acute onset. Radiologists should be familiar with the principles of this technique and its clinical applications.

[Semi-automatic measurement of the left ventricular mass from tomodensitometric traces of the left ventricle].

To improve the standardisation and reproductibility of echocardiographic left ventricular mass (LVM) measurements we developed a specific software for automated measurements of LV diameter (EDD) and wall thickness (ST&PWT) from M mode recordings on SVHS videotapes using a dedicated computer system lô 3.3 (lôDP, Paris, France). Images are digitalised into 640 x 580 pixels with 256 grey levels.

Double heterozygosity for mutations in the beta-myosin heavy chain and in the cardiac myosin binding protein C genes in a family with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a genetically heterogeneous autosomal dominant disease, caused by mutations in several sarcomeric protein genes. So far, seven genes have been shown to be associated with the disease with the beta-myosin heavy chain (MYH7) and the cardiac myosin binding protein C (MYBPC3) genes being the most frequently involved. We performed electrocardiography (ECG) and echocardiography in 15 subjects with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy from a French Caribbean family.

Central pulse pressure is a major determinant of ascending aorta dilation in Marfan syndrome.

Background: In patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS), brachial pulse pressure (PP) has been recognized as a risk factor for aortic dilatation, leading to aortic dissection, the main cause of premature death. However, the relationships between aortic PP, aortic stiffness, and aortic root dilation have not been investigated. Our main objective was to determine whether central PP, which takes into account wave reflections and aortic stiffness, is a better determinant of ascending aorta diameter than brachial PP in MFS patients.

[The CAPITOL study (Captopril Post Infarction Tolerance). A trial of progressive titration of captopril after myocardial infarct with left ventricular dysfunction].

The objective of CAPITOL (Captopril Post Infarction Tolerance) multicentre open trial was to study the tolerance of a protocol of titration of Captopril in patients with recent myocardial infarction complicated by left ventricular dysfunction. Five hundred and four patients, with a mean age of 62 +/- 12 years, were included during the hospital period in the 74 participating intensive care units, 9 +/- 6 days after myocardial infarction (ejection fraction 34 +/- 6%). After a 6.

Spectrum of clinical and electrophysiologic features in HNPP patients with the 17p11.2 deletion.

Objective: To study the clinical and electrophysiologic features of a large series of carriers of the 17p11.2 deletion.

Background: The 17p11.

[Positional occlusion of the descending scapular artery in transverse thoraco-brachial syndrome with neurologic symptoms].

We report a thoracic outlet syndrome revealed by neurological complications. Angiography of the subclavian artery depicted an isolated positional occlusion of the descending scapular artery. This side branch of the subclavian artery is anatomically located close to and supplies the brachial plexus.

[Contribution of doppler imaging of the myocardium to the study of cardiomyopathies].

Colour Doppler imaging (CDI) is a recent method of evaluation of cardiomyopathy based on intra-myocardial abnormalities. CDI provides quantitative assessment of myocardial wall motion both circumferential by studying the movements of the myocardium and longitudinal by studying the movements of the mitral annulus. The harmonious decrease in velocity between the endocardium and epicardium disappears in pathological conditions, showing disorganisation of wall motion within the myocardium.

[Contribution of doppler echocardiography in the evaluation of ventricular filling in cardiac insufficiency and estimation of filling pressures].

The study of diastolic function is an essential step in Doppler echocardiographic investigation of cardiac failure. Although the recording of transmitral flow remains the basis of analysis of diastolic function, it should be completed by other Doppler parameters. In fact, the simple analysis of transmitral flow is not sufficient because of the interplay of other factors, especially the preload.

[The echocardiographic examination in adult cardiomyopathy].

Echocardiography allows distinction between the diastolic dysfunction of hypertrophic or restrictive cardiomyopathies and the systolic dysfunction of dilated cardiomyopathy. The diagnosis and prognosis may be deduced from echocardiographic parameters. In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy systolic function is normal and there is asymmetric left ventricular hypertrophy (> 13 mm) associated with a reduced diastolic dimension and atrial dilatation resulting from diastolic dysfunction.