Assessing the efficacy of danshenform compound in patients with stable angina pectoris

To assess the efficacy of danshenform compound in patient with angina pectoris already on optimal dose of anti anginal therapy assessed by exercise tolerance test. Thirty eight patients with stable angina were included in the study. Patients were exercised on treadmill according to Bruce protocol at baseline and one week later. At second week, Danshenform compound 500 mg was prescribed bid for four weeks. At the end of 4 weeks, exercise tolerance test was performed. Duration and number of anginal episodes before and at the end of 4[th] week recorded. Total exercise time, onset of chest pain during exercise, onset of ST segments depression before and after treatment with Danshenform compound was recorded. The number of anginal episodes after 4 weeks treatment with danshenform was reduced significantly from 4.2 +/- 2.4 to 1.4 +/- 1.6/ week [p=0.001]. Time of onset of chest pain improved from 4.63 +/- 2.4 to 5.4 +/- 3.7 minutes [p=0.35] on exercise tolerance test. Duration of exercise increased from 6.52 +/- 1.9 minutes to 8.32 +/- 2.3 [p=0.001]. Time of onset of ST depression increased from 5.8 +/- 1.7 to 7.7 +/- 1.6 minutes [p=0.001] on stress test. Anginal class improved significantly after 4 weeks of treatment with danshenform compound [p=0.001] with no significant effect on resting heart rate [p=0.58] and systolic blood pressure [p=0.07] respectively. Danshenform compound is useful in reducing anginal episodes, increasing exercise duration, improving functional anginal class, delaying the onset of ST depression on exercise tolerance test in patient with ischemic heart disease

Study of pericardial disease with ten year follow up in a tertiary care hospital

To study etiology, morbidity and mortality of pericardial disease and frequency of constrictive pericarditis with long term follow up of ten years. This descriptive study was conducted at Cardiology Unit Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar. All serial cases with moderate and large pericardil effusions presenting to Echo Room were enrolled in the study after fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The cases were worked-up etiologically for the causes of pericardial effusion and planned to be followed up for ten years. 102 cases of moderate and large pericardial effusions were studied etiology wise in detail and were followed up for ten years. End points were death or 10 years of follow-up. On work-up it was observed that 36% were having proven tuberculous, another 26% cases were highly suggestive of tuberculosis. Contribution of other etiologies was pyogenic 8%, idiopathic 8%, rheumatic heart disease 5%, cardiomyopathies 5%, malignancy 4%, uremia 3%, rheumatoid arthritis 2%, pneumonia 1%, Dressler 1%, post cardiotomy 1%. Follow-up revealed that over all mortality was 21.56% at one year. Mortality and constriction was most common in the group with proven tuberculosis 30% and 27% respectively. Similarly malignant and uremic pericardial effusions had also a worst prognosis soon after the diagnosis. Mortality after one year and follow up was not found to be related to the initial disease process. Pericardial constriction mostly occurred in the group with proven tuberculosis so was the mortality. After the initial one year period, none developed constriction in the 10 years period