Genetic polymorphisms and coronary artery disease in the south of France.

Vascular disease is a multifactorial disease that involves atherosclerotic and thrombotic factors. Genetic polymorphisms have been associated with myocardial infarction and angina pectoris. The aim of the present study was to assess the relationship between some genetic polymorphisms and myocardial infarction (MI) or vasospastic angina pectoris in a population from southern France.

Fatal cerebral hemorrhage and severe thrombocytopenia during abciximab treatment.

We describe the case of a fatal cerebral hemorrhage associated with a severe thrombocytopenia (4.0 x 10(9)/l), occurring only 90 min after starting treatment with abciximab, in a patient undergoing primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) for an acute myocardial infarction. Cathet.

[Splenic involvement in infectious endocarditis. Association for the Study and Prevention of Infectious Endocarditis].

Introduction: Splenic involvement in the course of endocarditis consists in either splenic infarct or abscess. Pathophysiological examinations suggest the existence of a continuum between the two types of lesion. Signs and symptoms are usually poor or aspecific.

Direct evidence of endothelial injury in acute myocardial infarction and unstable angina by demonstration of circulating endothelial cells.

Circulating endothelial cells (CECs) have been detected in association with endothelial injury and therefore represent proof of serious damage to the vascular tree. Our aim was to investigate, using the technique of immunomagnetic separation, whether the pathological events in unstable angina (UA) or acute myocardial infarction (AMI) could cause desquamation of endothelial cells in circulating blood compared with effort angina (EA) and noncoronary chest pain. A high CEC count was found in AMI (median, 7.