[Social costs of syncope]

Syncope is a common syndrome that increases in prevalence with the aging of the population. The causes of this common symptom are multiple and the costs for the evaluation and treatment of syncope are enormous, especially with the use of highly technological approaches. Even when syncope is the expression of benign diseases, it may be the cause of significant morbidity for injuries, fractures and subsequent functional impairment, which particularly for elderly patients, matches that of other common chronic diseases. Finally, we cannot ignore the social costs caused by the reduction of working hours for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and the subsequent loss of productivity.

Methodology of head-up tilt testing potentiated with sublingual nitroglycerin in unexplained syncope

Shortened head-up tilt testing (HUT) potentiated with sublingual nitroglycerin (60 degrees passive standing for 20 minutes followed, if negative, by 400 microg of sublingual nitroglycerin spray with the test continuing for another 20 minutes) differs from conventional nitroglycerin HUT for a shorter drug-free phase (20 vs 45 minutes). To compare the positivity rate of the 2 protocols, both tests were performed in a randomized sequence in 10 patients with unexplained syncope (study 1), and another 42 patients were randomly assigned either to conventional or to shortened nitroglycerin HUT (study 2). To evaluate the reproducibility of the shortened nitroglycerin HUT, another 38 patients with unexplained syncope underwent 2 consecutive tests within a 7+/-8 day interval (study 3). Finally, to evaluate the specificity of the test, 47 control subjects underwent shortened nitroglycerin HUT (study 4). Seven positive responses were observed during shortened nitroglycerin HUT, and there were 8 positive responses during conventional nitroglycerin HUT (p = NS) in the study 1 group. Fifteen positive (71%) responses, 5 negative responses, and 1 exaggerated response were observed during shortened nitroglycerin HUT; 16 positive (76%, p = NS vs. shortened nitroglycerin HUT), 3 negative, and 2 exaggerated responses were observed during conventional nitroglycerin HUT in the study 2 group. During the first test, 21 patients (55%) had a positive, 15 patients had a negative, and 2 patients had an exaggerated response in study group 3. During the second test, 15 positive (39%), 19 negative, and 4 exaggerated responses were observed. Thus, the reproducibility was 67% for a positive and 94% for a negative test. In control subjects, 2 positive (4%) responses, 38 negative, and 7 exaggerated responses were observed with a specificity of 96% in study group 4. In patients with unexplained syncope, shortened nitroglycerin HUT allowed a positivity rate similar to that of the conventional test. Moreover, the shortened test provided a high specificity and adequate reproducibility for both the positive and the negative responses.

Shortened head-up tilt testing potentiated with sublingual nitroglycerin in patients with unexplained syncope

BACKGROUND

Head-up tilt testing is extensively used to determine the vasovagal origin of syncope in patients with otherwise unexplained loss of consciousness, although issues remain regarding the method of the test. The diagnostic value of a shortened head-up tilt test potentiated with sublingual nitroglycerin was assessed in patients with unexplained syncope.

METHODS

Two hundred two patients (mean age 49+/-19 years) with syncope of unknown origin and 34 subjects in a control group (mean age 45+/-17 years) were studied. The patients and the subjects in the control group were tilted upright to 60 degrees for 20 minutes. If syncope did not occur, sublingual nitroglycerin (400 microg) was administered, and observation was continued for 25 more minutes.

RESULTS

During the unmedicated phase syncope occurred in 22 (11%) patients and in one member of the control group. After nitroglycerin was administered, syncope occurred in 119 (59%) patients and in 1 (3%) member of the control group. False-positive response (exaggerated response) was observed in eight (4%) patients and in four (12%) subjects in the control group. The total positivity rate of the test was 70% with a specificity rate of 94%.

CONCLUSIONS

Short-duration head-up tilt test potentiated with sublingual nitroglycerin provides an adequate specificity and positivity rate in patients with unexplained syncope.

Pheochromocytoma crisis caused by contemporary ergotamine, caffeine, and nimesulide administration

Pheochromocytoma is a rare tumor that secretes excess catecholamines. Pheochromocytoma crises may be precipitated by the use of several drugs. This article describes the case of a patient affected by pheochromocytoma in whom multiple organ failure developed after contemporary administration of ergotamine, caffeine, and nimesulide. The patient recovered completely long after surgical intervention.

[Experimental liver transplantation in pigs. Surgical technique and complications]

Only recently, in our laboratory of experimental surgery, we started with a protocol for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in a pig model. This was felt as mandatory for experimental purposes as well as for future clinical applications at our center. We report herein our own experience with 41 OLTx. Intraoperative "lethal" complications occurred in up to 32% (14/41) whereas postoperative complications occurred in the remainders at different intervals of time with a maximum survival of 30 days. No attention was paid to prevent rejection-infection episodes. The main cause of death was the primary non-function (PNF) or dis-function (PDF) manifested either intra or postoperatively in 16 out the 41 OLTx (39%). Intraoperative technical errors accounted for up to 9% (4/41 OLTx). Acute hemorrhage gastritis and gastric perforations occurred postoperatively in 6 animals (14%) and represent one of the peculiar aspects of OLT in pig model.

[Unstable angina in coronary intensive care units without hemodynamics: is admissible a strategy limiting the indications for coronarography?]

In coronary care units (CCU) without cardiac catheterization facilities, coronary angiography is rarely carried out when a successful medical treatment in the acute phase of unstable angina has been obtained. However, the unstable angina still has an uncertain prognosis when the remission of pain is obtained with drugs. This study presents a follow-up of 147 consecutive patients (aged 66.8 +/- 10.4 years) admitted to our CCU in 1991 and 1992 for unstable angina; 33 of them (22.4%) were in Braunwald class I. 2 (1.4%) in class II and 112 (76.2%) in class III. The patients were treated according to the usual therapy protocols and class III patients received i.v. heparin. In selected cases we used thrombolysis (10 patients) and intra-aortic balloon pump (5 patients). During hospitalization 1 patient died (0.7%), 5 patients (3.4%) suffered an acute myocardial infarction and 9 patients (6.1%) had angina. Stabilization of unstable angina was achieved in 132 patients (89.9%): in 113 (76.8%) during the first 48 hours, and in 19 (12.9%) later. Coronary angiography was carried out in non-stabilized patients and in 46 (34.8%) of the 132 with successful treatment (Group I). Eighty-six patients, without indication to coronary angiography were discharged in medical therapy (Group II). During the follow-up (mean of 15.0 +/- 9.0 months) Group I 10 patients (18.2%) had cardiac events (death, myocardial infarction, or recurrent angina) vs 26 of Group II (p < 0.05). In Group I coronary angiography together with clinical criteria of high risk allowed the identification of candidates to coronary revascularization (61.8% of Group I patients while). These data show that the initial success of treatment during the acute phase of unstable angina should not be considered as a favourable prognostic index. Coronary angiography appears to be indicated for clinical evaluation and therapeutical decision.

Combination therapy with G-CSF and erythropoietin after autologous bone marrow transplantation for lymphoid malignancies: a randomized trial

Previous studies have shown that, unlike in patients submitted to allogeneic BMT, administration of recombinant erythropoietin (Epo) after autologous BMT (ABMT) had no significant effect on erythroid recovery and transfusional requirements. On the other hand, it has also been shown that combining Epo with recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and with myelodysplastic syndromes resulted in additive effects on erythropoiesis. To test the effects of combined G-CSF + Epo therapy on erythroid recovery after autologous bone marrow transplantation a pilot randomized, three-arm trial was designed. Thirty patients suffering from lymphoid malignancies submitted to ABMT were randomly assigned to receive G-CSF alone (5 micrograms/kg, from day + 1 up to reaching an ANC > or = 10(9)/1), G-CSF + Epo (150 U/kg, from day +1 to +21), or neither of these (controls). Patients receiving G-CSF + Epo had significantly more reticulocytes on day +21 and reached 30 x 10(9)/1 reticulocytes earlier when compared to both G-CSF and control patients; however, the number of red blood cell (RBC) transfusions was not modified by the addition of Epo to G-CSF, although both groups had significantly fewer units transfused than controls. No effect on platelet recovery or platelet transfusional requirements was observed. Myeloid recovery was comparable in the G-CSF and G-CSF+Epo groups, and significantly accelerated as compared to controls. We conclude that the addition of Epo to G-CSF causes a slight acceleration of erythroid recovery after ABMT, but is not associated with transfusional benefits. Therefore, the present data do not support the use of Epo in association with G-CSF to hasten erythroid recovery after ABMT.

[Right atrial metastasis as an initial clinical manifestation of adenocarcinoma of the colon]

We report the case of a young woman suffering from colonic mucinous adenocarcinoma with the unusual clinical presentation as a right atrial metastasis. The tumor was successfully resected, and after histopathological characterization, the primary lesion was searched for and discovered. The tumor had the clinical appearance and echocardiographic pattern of a pedunculated atrial myxoma. The aspects of echo-patterns useful for differential diagnosis are discussed.

The role of extraplatelet thromboxane A2 in unstable angina investigated with a dual thromboxane A2 inhibitor: importance of activated monocytes

BACKGROUND

The role of thromboxane A2 (TxA2) in unstable angina has not yet been defined. TxA2 receptor antagonists may be of value in studying this role.

METHODS

To investigate whether TxA2 has a pathogenetic effect on the occurrence of myocardial ischemia and from what source TxA2 originates, we studied TxA2 formation by unstimulated monocytes from patients with unstable angina (n = 40), stable effort angina (n = 20), and controls (n = 20). We also compared the effects of picotamide (1200 mg/day), a TxA2-synthase inhibitor and TxA2-receptor antagonist, with those of aspirin (325 mg/day) on myocardial ischemia and TxA2 formation by monocytes and platelets. The double-blind randomized study was performed on patients with unstable angina on continuous Holter monitoring.

RESULTS

In the presence of autologous lymphocytes, unstimulated monocytes from patients with unstable angina formed significantly (P < 0.001) more TxA2 than those from controls or from patients with effort angina. Although TxA2 formation by circulating monocytes and platelets was inhibited to a greater degree by aspirin than by picotamide (88 +/- 6 and 98 +/- 2%, respectively, versus 65 +/- 2 and 74 +/- 1%, P < 0.001), aspirin failed to affect the occurrence of myocardial ischemia whereas picotamide significantly (P < 0.001) reduced the number of anginal attacks (84.8%), silent ischemic episodes (64.2%), and overall duration of ischemia (69.8%), in comparison to the run-in period.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that TxA2 formed by monocytes contributes to the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia in unstable angina. TxA2 formation occurs mainly in extravascular spaces, probably within the coronary vascular wall. Picotamide appears to control myocardial ischemia effectively in patients with unstable angina.

[Verapamil poisoning for suicidal purposes. A case report]

We report the case of an 82-year-old woman who developed bradyarrhythmia with A-V dissociation and shock, followed by an acute pancreatitis, after ingestion of 2400 mg of verapamil per os for suicidal purposes. Despite her advanced age, the patient promptly improved by a conventional therapy even though started several hours after ingestion of the drug.

[Myocardial scintigraphy with 99mTc MIBI. The use of a single-day protocol in a multiregional center: a comparison between planar and tomographic imaging]

The use of a single-day protocol for 99mTc MIBI myocardial scintigraphy is particularly well-suited for the nuclear medicine departments that are the referral centres for the cardiology departments of several community hospitals. The aim of the study was to compare, in the same patient population, the diagnostic accuracy of planar and SPECT imaging with 99mTc MIBI using a single-day protocol. Thirty-nine patients (31 males and 8 females, age range 32-69 years) were studied because of effort chest pain. Of them, 7 had a pre-test probability of coronary artery disease less than 2.5%; coronary angiography demonstrated significant coronary obstructions in the remaining 32 subjects and 21 of them also had a history of previous myocardial infarction. All patients underwent 99mTc MIBI myocardial scintigraphy with acquisition of planar and SPECT images after injection of a low dose (370 MBq) at rest and after a second higher dose (1110 MBq), injected approximately four hours later during exercise stress testing. The normalcy rate in the 7 patients with low pre-test probability was 100% using both imaging techniques. For the diagnosis of previous infarction, the sensitivities of planar and SPECT images were 71% and 96% respectively. For the diagnosis of effort ischemia the sensitivity values were 34% and 88%, respectively, using planar and SPECT imaging. With regard to the classification of the diseased coronary arteries, the sensitivities of planar and SPECT studies were 42% and 79% respectively, and the related specificities were 91% and 77%. We may conclude that using a single-day protocol planar imaging seems to allow lower levels of diagnostic accuracy both for the diagnosis of effort ischemia and the classification of the diseased vessels as compared to SPECT, which appears therefore in a similar setting the imaging technique of choice.

Use of Doppler flow velocity waveform analysis in detection of initial diabetic microangiopathy

Doppler flow velocity waveform analysis (FVWFA), recorded from the dorsalis pedis artery (DPA) and the radial artery (RA), was performed on 36 women in attempting to detect an initial diabetic microangiopathy (DM). The study comprised two groups of women affected by non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, 6 patients (pts) of reproductive age (1), 12 pts in menopause (II), and two groups of age-matched healthy controls (C) (III and IV). Clinical signs of initial DM were present in group I. All the examined pts were nonsmokers and normotensive and without cardiopathy, signs of diabetic macroangiopathy, collagen vascular disease and/or Raynaud's phenomenon, and renal failure. Four waveform dimensions capable of separating different degrees of peripheral obstructive arteriolar disease were determined on velocity tracing and the results used in a single best discriminant equation. The resultant discriminant score (DS), derived by FVWFA on DPA, showed a highly accurate rate of separating the young pts with DM from both C and the pts in menopause without DM. Furthermore, the resultant DS was statistically not different in groups II, III, and IV. In conclusion, FVWFA on DPA, in this experience, has proved to be an accurate and sensitive method in the detection of initial DM.

Effect of heparin, aspirin, or alteplase in reduction of myocardial ischaemia in refractory unstable angina

399 out of 474 inpatients with unstable angina were monitored for 48 h and 97 of these were found to be refractory to conventional antianginal treatments and entered a randomised double-blind study. With the initial protocol heparin infusion or bolus were compared with aspirin; with a modified protocol, heparin infusion, the best of these three treatments, was compared with alteplase. Patients were monitored for 3 days after starting treatment and then observed clinically for 4 more days. On the first days of treatment heparin infusion significantly decreased the frequency of angina (by 84-94%), episodes of silent ischaemia (by 71-77%), and the overall duration of ischaemia (by 81-86%). Heparin bolus and aspirin were not effective. Alteplase caused small (non-significant) reductions on the first day only. Only minor bleeding complications occurred.

[Comparison of lidoflazine and quinidine in the conversion to sinusal rhythm in atrial fibrillation of recent onset]

In order to compare the efficacy of oral lidoflazine (240 mg/die) and oral quinidine (1200 mg/die) in re-establishing sinus rhythm, we studied 115 patients (mean age 63.8 years; range 32-91) with atrial fibrillation of recent onset (less than 3 months). Patients with cardiac failure, acute myocardial infarction, severe intraventricular conduction disturbances, kaliemia less than 3.8 mEq/L or digoxinemia greater than 2 ng/ml were not included. Patients were randomly given one of the 2 drugs, until conversion to sinus rhythm was achieved, severe side effects occurred or for a maximum therapy of 5 days. No significant differences were present between the 2 groups in terms of age, male/female ratio, duration of atrial fibrillation, presence of an enlarged left atrium, presence of organic heart disease (or arterial hypertension) or digitalis therapy. Sinus rhythm resumption was obtained in 41/58 (71%) patients treated with quinidine and in 47/57 (82%) patients treated with lidoflazine (p = ns). In successful cases, the mean treatment time was 79 +/- 33 (SD) hours for quinidine and 66 +/- 36 hours for lidoflazine (p = ns). Both drugs showed the same efficacy in 3 subgroups of patients in whom the arrhythmia had different duration (less than 24 hours; between 24 hours and 3 days; more than 3 days). Treatment was stopped in 5 patients receiving quinidine (gastrointestinal side effects) and in 3 patients receiving lidoflazine (frequent premature ventricular beats in 2 and polymorphic ventricular tachycardia of the "torsade de pointes" type in 1).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Assessment of captopril and nicardipine effects on chronic occlusive arterial disease of the lower extremity using Doppler ultrasound

The effects of two potent vasodilating drugs, captopril (C) (25 mg tid), nicardipine (N) (20 mg tid), and placebo (P) were evaluated and compared, in 10 men (mean age of sixty-five years) with intermittent claudication from moderate to severe multilevel chronic occlusive arterial disease (COAD) of the lower extremity, by use of the Doppler ultrasonic method, at rest and after Carter's exercise test. All the examined subjects were normotensive, without diabetes or cardiopathy; all have been smokers. The eight-week total protocol consisted of an initial two-week placebo run-in period followed by two active drug phases and a two-week placebo phase, according to a double-blind, randomized, crossover design. At the end of each two-week period, ankle-arm index (AAI) and, following exercise, onset of lower extremity discomfort time (ODT), duration of exercise (ET), decrease of ankle systolic pressure after test (APD), and recovery time (RT) were determined. Moreover, at rest, just after exercise, and after recovery, simultaneous common femoral artery velocity waves were recorded and analyzed by a quantitative approach to detect the peripheral vasomotor adjustments. None of the patients required the withdrawal of the active treatments. Compared with P, C significantly reduced APD and RT, and N reduced RT and AAI; furthermore N caused a significant decrease in ODT, whereas C showed a trend, although not statistically significant, to increase ODT. Neither active therapy modified ET. These results suggest that C and N have different short-term effects on peripheral circulation in COAD. During exercise, C induces hemodynamic improvement in the ischemic lower extremity probably by inhibition of the sympathetic system and consequent reduction in collateral vessel vasoconstriction.

[Duplication of the mitral valve associated with aneurysm of the interventricular septum and isthmic coarctation of the aorta. Description of a case]

The case presented concerns a patient of whom the double mitral valve diagnosis was made by means of both the M-mode and two dimensional echocardiography. Diagnosis was not pronounced after the first cineangiocardiography test, but it was confirmed by the following test. The double mitral valve was associated with an aneurysm of the interventricular septum, bicuspid aortic valve, and isthmic coarctation of the aorta.

Efficacy of mexiletine in the medium-term treatment of ventricular arrhythmias. A randomized, double-blind, crossover trial against placebo in ambulatory patients

A double-blind, crossover study was designed to compare the safety and efficacy of mexiletine with that of placebo in reducing premature ventricular complexes (PVC) in ambulatory patients and to find out the dose which gives a good therapeutic response with a minimal incidence of side-effects. Twenty-six patients, who had on average 427.9 PVCs/hour, were admitted to the study. The doses given were designed to reduce the frequency of PVCs by 50% or more from the baseline value. Two out of the twenty-six patients stopped treatment because of major side-effects. In the remaining twenty-four patients the 3 weeks of treatment with mexiletine significantly reduced the rate of PVCs by comparison with placebo (-63.8% versus +7.5%). In the nineteen responders (per cent reduction of PVCs over 50%) the dose of mexiletine was 600 mg daily (200 mg every 8 hours). In the non-responders plasma levels of mexiletine proved to be in the therapeutic range, not in any way different from responders. The most frequent side-effects were digestive difficulties (fifteen patients taking mexiletine and six taking placebo). These results show that mexiletine is an effective anti-arrhythmic drug in the management of ventricular arrhythmias occurring in ambulatory patients. In the majority of patients mexiletine was found to be effective even at the lowest dose studied of 600 mg/day.

Abnormal diastolic motion of interventricular septum during inspiratory phase. Echocardiographic study

We report on a patient without heart disease who had pulsus paradoxus, associated with echocardiographic evidence of abnormal and exaggerated diastolic motion of interventricular septum. Both phenomena appeared at the peak of the inspiratory phase of respiration, and seemed to be produced from the same haemodynamic variations, of which the echocardiographic pattern appears to be a more sensitive index than the sphygmographic one.