Dobutamine in left heart failure after acute myocardial infarction.

Dobutamine, a new positive inotropic drug, was given as i.v. infusion at a rate of 2.

Early mobilization and discharge of patients with acute myocardial infarction. A prospective study using risk indicators and early exercise tests.

Consecutive patients (n=184) surviving 48 hours in a coronary care unit were divided into one rapidly (RM) (n=55, 30%) and one conventionally mobilized (CM) group (n=129, 70%). The selection of RM patients was based on the absence of five early risk indicators (RI), reflecting electrical and mechanical heart dysfunction. During after-care, five late RIs were evaluated, including a submaximal bicycle exercise test to 50 W, which excluded nine (16%) additional patients from the RM group.

Cardiac filling pressures in acute inferior myocardial infarction with and without right ventricular involvement.

Right heart and pulmonary artery pressures were measured in 28 patients with inferior acute myocardial infarction, 12 of whom also had ECG evidence of right ventricular involvement (RVI). Those with RVI had significantly higher mean right-sided filling pressures 9.3 mm Hg, SD +/- 4.

Prognostic implications of ventricular arrhythmias registered before discharge and one year after acute myocardial infarction.

The prognostic weight of ventricular ectopic beats (VEBs) was evaluated in 160 patients discharged after a CCU-treated acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and followed for two years. VEBs were registered prior to discharge by 6 hours of telemetry (3 hours during daytime including exercise and 3 hours at night) and again one year after the AMI. During the first year of follow-up, 11 patients died suddenly and 20 suffered reinfarction.

The relationship between QT interval and ventricular arrhythmias in acute myocardial infarction.

Out of a total of 947 patients admitted to the CCU at Serafimerlasarettet during 2 years, all those with AMI and vintricular fibrillation (VF) or ventricular tachycardia (VT) during the CCU stay were selected. The QT interval could be measured in 15 patients with VF and 12 with VT before the event. The QT interval was also measured in two control groups; one consisted of 27 consecutively admitted patients with AMI without ventricular arrhythmias (VA), the other of 27 non-AMI patients treated in the CCU.

Pleuroperimyocarditis caused by immunization with anticatarrh vaccine. A case report.

A case of pleuroperimyocarditis caused by immunization with anticatarrh vaccine is described. During the most acute phase, circulating immune complexes were demonstrated in the patient's serum. The possibility that these complexes represent a pathogenic mechanism in the illness and the value of anticatarrh vaccination are discussed.

A survey for circulating immune complexes in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Use of a C1q-binding assay with soluble protein A as indicator.

A new assay for the detection of circulating C1q-binding immune complexes (IC) is described. The assay makes use of solid-phase C1q and iodinated soluble protein A, extracted from the cell wall of Staphylococcus aureus. In a model system the assay could detect heat-aggregated IgG down to a concentration of about 50 ng/ml.

Death-discordant twins--a new method to evaluate genetic factors in chronic diseases.

One of the most important lines of research on unselected large scale twin registries are mortality followups. Death-specific concordance rates have been calculated using different measures of concordance. These estimates are of great importance but they only reflect an "all or-none" classification of the genetic effect.

Mortality pattern among initial survivors of acute myocardial infarction using a life-table technique.

The 5-year pattern of mortality among 475 immediate survivors of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (mean age 65 years on entry) is described by a life-table technique. The risk of death was highest during the early part of the follow-up. After 3-4 years, the prognostic influence of the AMI seemed to be overshadowed by the age effect.

A validation of cause-of-death certification in 1,156 deaths.

Swedish twins have been followed for mortality since 1961, when the Swedish Twin Registry was formed. During the years 1961-73 there were 1290 deaths among twins born in 1901-25. In 1156 cases the cause of death could be established from collected records and classified according to the 1965 revision of ICD.

Prediction of sudden death in patients discharged after acute myocardial infarction.

A follow-up was made of 475 patients discharged after an acute myocardial infarction. Sudden death, i.e.

Initial serum potassium level in relation to early complications and prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

During two years 450 patients with AMI have been treated in the CCU at Serafimerlasarettet. Serum potassium level was determined in 444 patients on admission. Hyperkalaemia was a rare finding associated with a bad state on admission and a poor prognosis.