[Protein S, C and antithrombin deficiency: Association to myocardial infarction and thromboembolism in young]

The pathogenesis of myocardial infarction [MI] in young involves new factors including constitutional or acquired thrombophilia. To determine in patients

[Cardiac conduction disorders in atheletes: diagnosis and management]

The sino-atrial or atrio-ventricular conduction disturbances are commonly seen in athletes. They are due to predominant effect of the parasympathetic tone. To describe the physiological cardiac adaptation to physical exercises and to specify the limits of this activity in front of persons with conduction abnormalities. Review of literature and lecture of recommendations. Conduction disturbances in athletes disappear during physical activities. Their frequency is variously reported in literature. These disorders should be well considered particularly when they are priors to sport practice and need definitive implantable devices. Such decision must be taken after a detailed evaluation of the nature of the physical activity wished and the conduction disturbance type. The decision to allow competition should be take after a careful evaluation of the conduction disorder and the type of sport

Chronic heart failure: place of œchocardiographie-doppler in the evaluation of the risk of mortality

Chronic heart failure [CHF] is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Despite recent improvements in the management of this condition, the overall prognosis remains poor. Echocardiography is the most useful test in the evaluation of systolic and diastolic function and has also a prognostic value. The aim of this study is to determine echocardiographic predictors of mortality in patients with CHF. We followed 100 patients with a diagnosis of CHF over an average period of 44 +/- 40.5 months. We compared echocardiographic parameters in survivors and non survivors. Four variables predicted death: LVEF <35% [p=0.001], TDE <150ms [p=0.001], E/A ratio >2 [p=0.05] and E/Ea ratio >10 [p=0.008]. Doppler echocardiography has a central role in the evaluation of patients with CHF. It provides valuable prognostic information by combination of several parameters