A Clinical Study for the Captopril Effects on Hypertensive Patients

Catopril, an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, was administrated in 30 hypertensive patients(mild 8, moderate 12, severe 10 cases)for 12 weeks or longer in order to observe the hypertensive effects. Changes in quality of life, side effects, electrocardiogram and left ventricular mass index(LVMI) by 2D-guided M-mode echocardiography were also evaluated before and after captopril. 1) After 12 weeks treatment with 25 to 150mg of captopril alone, blood pressures were lowered markedly in 16(53%), moderatly in 5(17%) and midly in 2(7%), while the addition of 25mg hydrochlorthiazide to captopril in the patients who showed no satisfactory responses the blood pressure were lowered markly in 21(70), moderately in 6(20%) and mildly 3(10%) out of 30 patients studied. The average of blood pressure of the 30 subjects were systolic 180.7+/-20.7mmHg(M+/-SD) and diastolic 113.2+/-12.5 before treatment, which were lowered to 148+/-15.8 and 92.5+/-8.0mmHg respectively after 12 weeks(P<0.005). 2) Heart rates were not changed with captopril and/or hydrochlorothiazide. 3) Quality of life improved markedly in 5(17%) and slightly in 12(40%) out of 30 subjects. 4) Complete blood cell count, urinalysis and serum enzymes followed revealed no significant changes. 5) By electrocardiographic follow-up studies 1 out of 13 subjects with LVH, 1 out of 4 LAH, 1 out of 2 ST-T changes were revealed to improved to normal. 6) In 25 out of 30 cases left ventricular mass indices(LVMI) were above 125g/m2 before treatment, among which 15 cases were followed with satisfactoriness good quality of the echocardiographic recorings and the LVMI was reduced from 169.6+/-40.7 to 141.7+/-40.9g/m2(P<0.01). 7) Undesirable side effects were dry cough 3, skin rash 2, dysgeusia 1 and renal dysfunction 1. 8) Considering the blood pressure lowering effects, life quality changed and side effects together the captopril was considered very useful in 8(27%) and useful in 16(53%) out of 30 subjects. Above results suggest that captopril can be prescribed as an effective initial single agent or with in combinations with thiazide for the treatment of hypertensive of various severities with acceptably low side effects.

Therapeutic Effect of Nicorandil on Angina Pectoris

The antianginal effect of oral nicorandil was examined on 15 subjects with angina pectoris who had not been improved by previous treatment with beta blocker and/or calcium antagonists. Nicorandil, 5mg tid, was added to their previous regimen which were composed of beta blocker and/or calcium antagonists, and patients were followed up at least for 6 weeks. The following results were obtained; 1) Frequences of anginal attack were markedly reduced in 11(73%) of 15 patients after the use of nicorandil. 2) After the use of nicorandil, ST segment depression and T wave inversions were improved in 10(66.7%) of 15 patients. 3) In 10 patients who had been taken nicorandil over 12 weeks, 9 patients showed sustained improvement in clinical status, but no significant side effect was noted. 4) In two patients who had undergone exercise tolerance test, significant prolongation in exercise duration were noted. 5) The adverse effects of nicorandil were as follows; headache in 3, insomnia in 3, excessive perspiration, dizziness, thirst, constipation and facial fiushing in 1, respectively.

Transient Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in the Course of Acute Rheumatic Myocarditis: Report of a Case

A 15 year-old boy who was supposed to have had rheumatic myocarditis manifested acute heart failure and transient left ventricular hypertrophy in the early phases of the disease process. Serial echocardiographic examination was very helpful to follow the clinical course and observe the anatomic and functional changes of the heart in conjunction with the clinical status.

A Study for the Left Ventricular Diastolic Function in Mild to Moderate Hypertensive Patients without Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

For the evaluation of the left ventricular diastolic function in mild to moderate hypertensive patients without left ventricular hypertrophy, 15 hypertensive patients (group A) and 15 normotensive subjects (group B) were examined by 2-D guided M-mode echocardiography. Various systolic and diastolic indices were derived from computer-assissted analysis of differential curves of left ventricular dimension and posterior wall thickness. The systolic and diastolic function indices of each of the two groups were compared. The results were as follows : 1) There were no significant differences in ejection fraction, left ventricular peak ejection rate and posterior wall thickening rate between two groups. 2) There were no significant differences in % ventricular A wave, left ventricular peak filling rate and posterior wall peak relaxation rate between two groups. 3) One third filling rate was 2.07+/-0.41 EDD/sec in group A and which was significantly lower than 3.29+/-0.88 EDD/sec of group B. Above result suggests that computer-assisted analysis of differential curves of left ventricular dimension and posterior wall thickness could be helpful in the early detection of diastolic dysfunction, and that left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in its early filling period may develop in the mild to moderate hypertensive patients even before left ventricular hypertrophy develops.

A Clinical Study on the Antihypertensive Effects of Enalapril

A new angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, enalapril, was administered in 20 hypertensive patients (7 mild, 6 moderate and 7 severe hypertensives) for 8 weeks or longer in order to see the blood pressure lowering effects. Additionally the left ventricular mass index was measured by 2-D guided M-mode echocardiography before and after enalapril therapy, and subjective symptoms and laboratory findings were also followed. The results were as follows: 1) After 8 weeks of enalapril treatment (the doses form 10 mg to 20mg once a day) blood pressure were lowered markedly in 10, moderately in 4, mildly in 4 cases, but the blood pressures were not lowered in 2 cases with severe hypertension. The means of the blood pressures of the group were lowered form 182.1+/-19.2 to 148.0+/-26.0mmHg in systolic and from 111.9+/-14.7 to 95.1+/-17.1mmHg in diastolic after 8 weeks of treatment (p<0.001). 2) Heart rates were not changed significantly with enalapril. 3) The symptoms of insomnia and headache were reported to be improved after enalapril in 13 cases. 4) No discernable changes in CBC and serum level of creatinine were observed. But the random urine protein was decreased in 6 cases with proteinuria in routine urinalysis. The serum lipid profile was not significantly changed, but in the 2 cases in which the ratio of total to HDL-cholesterol was above 5.0, the ratio fell to below 5.0. 5) There was no significant EKG change after enalapril. 6) In 9 cases out of 13 cases with the left ventricular mass index (LVMI) above 125g/m2 BSA, LVMI was followed by echocardiography after enalapril. LVMI was significantly decreased in 8 of 9 cases and mean values after enalapril was decreased from 183.1+/-88.0g/m2 BSA to 150.8+/-61.3g/m2 BSA (p<0.0025). 7) Side effects after enalapril administration were transient dizziness in 4 cases and ageusia in 2 cases. Above results suggest that the enalapril could be an initial choice in the treatment of essential hypertension as a single oral agent in once a day regimen resulting in good antihypertensive effects, improvement of subjective symptoms, regreassion of the left ventricular hypertrophy and few side effects.

A Case Report of Arteriovenous Fistula between the Right Renal Artery and the Inferior Vena Cava

Fistula between the right renal artery and the infereior vena cava is a rare disorder, of which only 7 cases were reported in so far as the authors have reviewed. A 34-year-old man, who had got a stab wound on the abdomen and undergone an abdominal surgery 12 years ago during his military service, visited the hospital because of occipital headache and known hypertension for 5 years. On examination, his blood pressure was 200/140mmhg, and a thrill and loud continuous vascular bruits over the paraumbilical and right loin region were noted. his blood pressure was refractory to usual antihypertensive regimens. The chest X-ray film showed cardiac enlargement and pulmonary congestion. With the aids of abdominal ultrasonogram, static and dynamic renal scanning with (99m)T-DTPA, excretory urogram, aortogram and selective right renal angiogram, he was diagnosed as right renal artery inferior vena cava fistula. After fistulectomy and repair of walls of both vessels, his blood pressure was successfully controlled with drugs.

A Case of Myocardial Bridge in the Left Circumflex Coronary Artery

Myocardial bridge is not a rare congenital malformation of the coronary artery which takes an intramural course. Most of the lesions are found in proximal half of the left anterior descending coronary artery, but one which occurs in the left circumflex artery is extremely rare. During systole, the intramural coronary artery is compressed by contraction of over bridging ventricular muscle, therefore blood flow distal to the lesion in impaired and angina pectoris or acute myocardial infarction may occur. We experienced a 54-year-old man who complained of severe precordial pain during exercise and at rest for several months, and was diagnosed as myocardial bridging in the left circumflex coronary artery by coronary arteriography. Thus we report this case with literature review.

Assessment of Left Ventricular Diastolic Function in Mild to Moderate Hypertension by Radionuclide Ventriculography

To determine whether are significant diastolic left ventricular dysfunctions in mild to moderate hypertensive patients with normal systolic function, radionuclide ventriculography by in vivo red cell labelling technique using 20 mCi of (99m)Tc pertechnetate was performed in 24 hypertensive patients(mean age: 50.6+/-12.4, mean blood pressure: 156.9+/-11.8/100.6+/-7.1 mmHg) and in 11 normal subjects (mean age: 42.7+/-13.5, mean blood pressure: 123.2+/-6.8/82.3+/-3.9 mmHg). The results were as follows: 1) Ejection fraction was similar in both hypertensive and control groups (0.70+/-0.06 versus 0.70+/-0.08). 2) Mean of the peak filling rate (PFR) was significantly lower in hypertensive group (2.07+/-0.45 EDV/sec) than in control group (2.42+/-0.30 EDV/sec) (p<0.05). 3) Mean of the time to peak diastolic filling (TPDF) in hypertensive patients was 189.0+/-30.4 msec and which was significantly longer than that of control subjects (164.5+/-22.4 msec)(p<0.02). 4) Mean of the first third filling fraction (1/3 FF) in hypertensive patients was 0.22+/-0.07 and which was significantly lower than that of control subjects (0.32+/-0.09)(p<0.01). 5) Decreased PFR and delayed TPDF were also demonstrated with advances in age in both groups. Above results suggest that the diastolic evaluation of left ventricle might be necessary in the hypertensive patients with normal systolic function, and that diastolic dysfunction may precede the systolic dysfunction and clinical deterioration.