Characterization of left ventricular diastolic function in hypertension by use of Doppler tissue imaging and color M-mode techniques.

Background: Abnormalities in left ventricular (LV) relaxation and/or increased filling pressures are indicators of LV diastolic dysfunction in patients with hypertension (HTN). The purpose of this study was to assess clinical use of pulsed wave Doppler, Doppler tissue imaging (DTI), and color M-mode (CMM) indices for determination of diastolic function in patients with HTN.

Methods: In all, 278 ambulatory patients with normal LV systolic function were grouped according to the presence of HTN with and without LV hypertrophy (LVH) (determined by the 2-dimensional area-length method) as follows: healthy control subjects (NC, n = 122), HTN without LVH (HTN, n = 70), and HTN with LVH (HTN+LVH, n = 86).

Long-term outcomes of allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients after calcineurin inhibitor-induced neurotoxicity.

Calcineurin inhibitor-induced central nervous system toxicities are uncommon and often resolve after discontinuation of the offending drug. The long-term outcome of these patients is, however, unknown. Resolution of symptoms occurred in 70% of 30 allografted recipients who developed calcineurin inhibitor-induced neurotoxicity.