[Effectiveness of pravastatin and bezafibrate in primary hypercholesterolemia].

The efficacy and safety of pravastatin and bezafibrate (in retard form) were compared in a randomised double-blind trial comprising 96 patients (48 men, 48 women; mean age 52.5 [20-68] years) with primary hypercholesterolaemia types IIa and IIb. After four weeks' treatment 6 out of 38 patients (400 mg/d bezafibrate) and 27 out of 58 patients (20 mg/d pravastatin) reached a LDL cholesterol level of 190 mg/dl or less.

[Acute and long-term effect of captopril in severe chronic heart failure].

In nine patients with severe, treatment-resistant heart failure (stages IV in the NYHA classification) the acute and long-term effect of captopril were studied. In the acute experiment, peripheral resistance fell by 27% after administration of 25 mg captopril, cardiac index rose by 25%, arterial pressure, pulmonary arterial pressure and mean right atrial pressure fell by a similar amount. This haemodynamic improvement increased slightly in the course of longterm treatment (cardiac index +30%, peripheral resistance -30%, mean pulmonary arterial pressure -42%).

[Acute polyneuritis in non-A, non-B hepatitis].

Neurologic involvement may occur in the course of acute viral hepatitis; acute polyneuritis is an extremely infrequent manifestation. Hepatic failure, leading to death on the 10th day of disease, became manifest in a 26-year-old man on the 6th day of postinfectious polyneuritis Guillain-Barré-Strohl requiring ventilation. Clinical aspects, additional diagnostic assessment and post mortem findings supported diagnosis of nonA-non-B hepatitis.

[Hemodynamics in ventricular and atrioventricular sequential stimulation in patients with bradycardia arrhythmias. Is differentiated stimulation meaningful?].

In order to assess the effects of on-time atrial contraction on haemodynamics, the appropriate investigations were done in 16 patients with bradycardic arrhythmias before and two weeks after implantation of a pacemaker. Eight patients received a ventricular stimulating pacemaker (group A) and eight a sequentially stimulating atrioventricular pacemaker (group B). Haemodynamic data of both groups were identical before implantation of the pacemaker.

Influence of ipratropiumbromide on heart rate and hemodynamics in patients with sinus bradycardia.

In 13 patients with sinus bradycardia, heart rate and hemodynamics were recorded before and 3, 30, 60, and 120 minutes following intravenous administration of 0.5 mg ipratropiumbromide (Itrop by C. H.

[Heart rate behaviour and hemodynamics after oral therapy with ipratropium bromide in patients with sinus bradycardia (author's transl)].

Haemodynamic parameters were measured in 11 patients with sinus bradycardia before and 2.5, 4, 6 and 10 h following p.o.

[Clonidine in the management of hypertensive crisis (author's transl)].

Haemodynamic data were obtained by means of Swan-Ganz balloon catheters in eight patients during hypertensive crisis. After obtaining control values, 150 microgram clonidine in 10 ml isotonic sodium chloride was administered intravenously over ten minutes. During the hypertensive crisis there was a moderate rise in pulmonary artery and right ventricular pressures, in addition to a rise in systemic arterial pressure.

[Concomitant infarction of the right ventricle in patients with acute transmural myocardial infarction (author's transl)].

In 56 patients with acute transmural myocardial infarction hemodynamic parameters were studied. 21 patients proved to suffer from anterior infarction and 35 patients an inferior infarction. By clinical as well as by hemodynamic findings 10 patients out of the group of the 35 patients with inferior infarction were suspect of having a concomitant infarction of the right ventricle.

[Treatment of rhythm disorders of ventricular origin with KO 1173 (Mexiletin) (author's transl)].

In 52 patients, KO 1173 (Mexiletin) administered intravenously and/or orally has been used for the treatment of rhythm disorders of ventricular origin. The disturbances of rhythm studied included ventricular extrasystoles, ventricular tachycardia and by DC-cardioversion abolished ventricular fibrillation. By intravenously administered KO 1173, 31 of the 32 patients had a more than 75% reduction of their ventricular extrasystoles or complete abolition of the arrhythmia.

[Dopamine in patients with cardiogenic shock (author's transl)].

The effect of dopamine was tested in 20 patients with cardiogenic shock. 14 patients suffered from acute myocardial infarction, 6 patients from severe heart failure. In the beginning the dosis of dopamine was 200 to 300 microgram/min.

[Fundamentals of parenteral feeding in internal diseases].

A review of parenteral infusion therapy in internal medicine is given. The principles of total parenteral nutrition with fatty acids, ethanol, glucose, non-glucose-carbohydrates (fructose, sorbitol, xylitol) and amino acids are discussed. Problems such as indication and contraindication, metabolism and utilization of the applied substances as well as adverse effects are dealt with.

[Mendelson's syndrome (author's transl)].

It is reported on 10 patients with the features of Mendelson's syndrome; 4 patients died. Diagnosis, therapy, course and prognosis of this severe complication following aspiration of gastric hydrochloric acid are discussed.