Beta adrenergic stimulation and blockade in cirrhosis: effects on azygos vein blood flow and portal hemodynamics.

It is unknown whether beta adrenergic stress has adverse hepatic hemodynamic effects. Therefore, the authors studied the hemodynamic effects of beta adrenergic stimulation and subsequent blockade in 10 patients with cirrhosis (6 Childs A, 3 Childs B, and 1 Childs C) with known or suspected portal hypertension. Free and wedged hepatic vein pressures, hepatic venous pressure gradient, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, cardiac output, and azygos vein blood flow were measured at rest and after isoproterenol infusion (mean dose = 7.

Percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty following surgical repair of sinus venosus atrial septal defect.

Mitral valvuloplasty performed 5 y after repair of a sinus venosus ASD was difficult because of a thickened septum, but resulted in improved mitral valve opening and did not lead to ASD. Thus, prior repair of a sinus venosus ASD may not be an absolute contraindication to mitral valvuloplasty.

Coronary sinus lysophosphatidylcholine accumulation during rapid atrial pacing.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) release from the myocardium could be detected in patients with pacing-induced ischemia. We measured LPC levels in plasma obtained from the coronary sinus in 20 patients undergoing diagnostic atrial pacing stress tests. In 14 patients with pacing-induced ischemia, coronary sinus LPC concentration rose from 69.

Potentiation of the depressant effects of lysophosphatidylcholine on contractile properties of cultured cardiac myocytes by acidosis and superoxide radical.

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) accumulates in the heart during myocardial ischemia. This amphiphile accelerates Ca++ flux in cardiac myocytes and may mediate ischemic cell injury. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of LPC on the contractility of cultured neonatal rat heart cells.