Effects of two antihypertensive agents on lipids, lipoproteins, and apoproteins A and B. Comparison of prazosin and atenolol.

To compare the effects of prazosin and atenolol on plasma lipid concentrations, 60 patients with arterial hypertension (diastolic 90 to 120 mm Hg, systolic 160 to 200 mm Hg) were allocated at random to one of two treatment groups. The lipid profile included the determination of total cholesterol and triglyceride levels by ultracentrifugation, and assays of apoproteins A1 and B by laser immunonephelometry. Determinations were performed 30 days before and on the first, 90th, and 180th days of treatment.

[Comparative study of the effects of prazosin and atenolol on plasma lipids of hypertensive patients].

In order to investigate comparatively the effects of prazosin and atenolol on plasma lipid concentrations, 60 patients from two centres, presenting with arterial hypertension (diastolic 90-120 mmHg, systolic 160-200 mmHg), were allocated at random to one or the other of these drugs. The lipid profile, stable during the period of observation, included total cholesterol and triglycerides, study by ultracentrifugation, and assays of apoproteins A1 and B by laser immunonephelometry. Determinations were performed 30 days before, and on the 1st, 90 th and 180 th days of treatment.

Type IIa hyperlipoproteinemia and HLA-A and B antigens: no association.

One hundred unrelated patients with type IIa hyperlipoproteinemia have been investigated for their HLA-A and B antigens and compared to 171 normal controls. This study does not support the significant increase of HLA-B17 and Bw35 previously reported by others.

Comparative effects of prazosin and atenolol on plasma lipids in hypertensive patients.

Adverse modifications of blood lipid fractions are thought to be an additional risk factor in hypertensive patients treated with some antihypertensive drugs. The purpose of this study was to compare the changes in concentrations of lipid fractions in patients treated with either the cardioselective beta blocker atenolol or the selective alpha 1 blocker prazosin. When used in approximately equipotent doses for antihypertensive effect, prazosin and atenolol demonstrated different effects on lipid metabolism.

[Value of the analysis of lipoproteins after myocardial infarction].

Lipid and apoprotein constituents of plasma lipoproteins were determined in survivors of myocardial infarction in relation to a control population. Compared to controls, the patients had significantly higher concentrations of total triglycerides, VLDL + LDL - cholesterol and apo-B, but lower concentrations of HLD-cholesterol, HDL2-cholesterol, HDL3-cholesterol, apo A-I and A-II. Survivors with normal lipaemia also had perturbations in HDL and subfractions (HDL2 and HDL3).

[Behçet's disease and vascular malformations: double etiology of recurrent thrombophlebitis].

Repeated thrombophlebitis with pulmonary embolism in a 28-year-old female led to the discovery of a complex malformation of the inferior vena cava which required the insertion of a clip. Three years later, recurrence of phlebitis with appearance of bipolar aphthae, arthritis and a meningeal syndrome led to the diagnosis of Behçet disease. Despite various medications for this disorder and heparin or oral anticoagulant therapy, the thromboembolic disease remained active, accompany with new exacerbations of Behçet disease.

[Necrotizing angiitis after serous otitis. 2 cases].

Two cases of systemic necrotizing angeitis are reported because of their very unusual presenting symptom: serous otitis media responsible for bilateral deafness. After this "invasion phase", typical polyarteritis nodosa developed. Cardiac involvement, with auriculoventricular block, and cranial neuritis were observed in both cases.

[Circulating anticoagulant, recurrent abortions and venous thrombosis: a new entity or a pre-lupus syndrome? 2 cases].

The authors report the presence of a circulating anticoagulant in two patients who had suffered multiple abortions. The circulating anticoagulant was discovered during evaluation of repeated phlebothromboses in the first case and of a chronic inflammatory syndrome in the second. While the apparently paradoxical relationship between the circulating anticoagulant and venous thrombosis is relatively well-known, that between the circulating anticoagulant and repetitive abortions is more difficult to establish.

Changes in the fatty acid patterns of brain phospholipids during development of rats fed peanut or rapeseed oil, taking into account differences between milk and maternal food.

The nature and amount of essential fatty acids in dietary fat play a leading part in the repartition of brain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 and n-6). In order to determine precisely the respective roles of linolenic and linoleic acids in the diet on rat brain development, we used two diets in which the percentage of linolenic acid (18:3 n-3) was different. The animals were fed peanut oil (group A) or rapeseed oil (group B) during pregnancy and throughout lactation.

[Arterial complications of estrogen-progestogen contraception].

Large prospective British and American studies have shown a significant increase in the relative risk of systemic arterial complications in women taking oral contraceptives. The risk increases with age and the association of other principal risk factors including cigarette smoking; the duration of oral contraception does not seem to be closely related; the incidence does not seem to have decreased since the introduction of the minipill. The synthetic oestrogens are the main causative factor; however, the role of progesterone cannot be totally excluded.

[Insulin and the metabolism of lipoproteins].

In normal individuals, insulin regulates lipoprotein metabolism. It increases hepatic triglycerides (TG) secretion and makes VLDL and chylomicrons post prandial removal easy by stimulating adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase (LPL). Insulin activity and cholesterol rich lipoprotein is more complicated: by its action on VLDL and chylomicrons turn-over, it influences LDL and HDL formation.

[Congestive cardiomyopathy associated with a stiff spinal column. "Rigid spine syndrome"].

The "rigid spine syndrome" is a rare form of myopathy characterised by rigidity of the dorso-lumbar spine, hyperextension of the neck and muscular retraction limiting mobility, especially of the upper limbs with elbows fixed in semi-flexion. This condition, which was first described relatively recently, has been little studied: only 8 cases have been published to this day. We report the case of a 20 year old man with this syndrome, associated with a severe diffuse non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

[Circadian meal-related changes in serum lipoprotein levels in normal subjects (author's transl)].

Circadian variations in serum lipoprotein levels in relation to meals were investigated in 10 healthy subjects on a normal diet. Lunch and dinner produced a concomitant increase in triglycerides and the apo-B of very low density lipoproteins (d less than 1.006).

[Plasma levels of apoproteins B and A in relation to blood cholesterol and triglycerides. Distribution according to age and sex and influence of various risk factors (author's transl)].

Plasma levels of apoproteins B and A, triglycerides, VLDL + LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol were simultaneously measured in an ambulatory population of 477 subjects (206 male and 271 female). VLDL + LDL-cholesterol and apo B values were similar in males and females and significantly increased with age. Conversely, HDL-cholesterol and apo A values were higher in females than in males and remained stable with age.

Plasma levels of VLDL- + LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and apoproteins B and A-I in a healthy population--influence of several risk factors.

Plasma apo B and apo A-I were determined in 477 subjects (206 males and 271 females) by laser immuno-nephelometry. Measurements of VLDL- + LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides were done simultaneously. VLDL- + LDL-cholesterol and apo B values were similar in males and females and increased with age.