[Echocardiographic changes in patients with polycystic nephropathy]. / Alterazioni ecocardiografiche in pazienti affetti da nefropatia policistica.

We have studied with the echocardiography M-Mode, 2-D, Doppler three groups of 15 subjects for testing the presence of cardiac abnormalities probably related to primary collagen defect in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) The first group was made up of patients with ADPKD and normal renal function, the second of patients with ADPKD in hemodialysis (HD), the last one of patients in HD for other renal disease. In the first group we found no cardiovascular abnormalities while we found an increased incidence of valvular disease (p = 0.016) in patients with ADPKD in HD and an increased incidence in valvular disease (p = 0.016) and left atrial dilatation (p = 0.006) in patients in HD for different renal disease. When we estimated the cases on the ground of dialytic age uncorrelated with the initial renal disease, only the incidence of valvular calcifications was increased in patients on HD more than 3 years (p = 0.034). In our group of patients the echocardiographic abnormalities seem to be related more to uremic cardiomyopathy even if we cannot deny the existence of primary cardiac disease in patients with ADPKD.

[Evaluation of different electrocardiographic scores (QRS score) for estimating the ejection fraction of the left ventricle after acute myocardial infarct]. / Valutazione di differenti punteggi elettrocardiografici (QRS score) per la stima della frazione d'eiezione ventricolare sinistra dopo infarto miocardico acuto.

We calculated the QRS score using both the simplified Selvester's method and the Hills' one, extended to the 12 standard leads, from the electrocardiograms registered on the fifth and thirtieth day from the ischemic event from 50 infarcted patients whose radionuclide left ventricular ejection fraction was known. The analysis of our results showed a very good correlation existing between the early and the late scores (r = 0.91 Hillis's method) as well as the equivalence of the two methods as witnessed by a correlation coefficient of 0.86 on the fifth day electrocardiogram and of 0.84 on the thirtieth day E.C.G. However the correlation between QRS score and left ventricular ejection fraction was quite weak ranging from -0.36 to -0.48 depending upon the method and the moment selected for the acquisition of the data. Even the attempt to correctly select patients with a higher risk identifying a QRS score able to predict a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (i.e. less than 40%) failed because of the low sensitivity and specificity of the method. We therefore believe that the QRS score or, at least the simplified one, is not useful to assess the residual left ventricular function after a myocardial infarction and its use should be reduced to the evaluation of the infarct size.

[Methods of determination of stroke volume from M-mode echocardiogram of the aortic valve and aortic root. A comparative evaluation]. / Metodi di determinazione della gettata sistolica dall'ecocardiogramma M-mode della valvola aortica e della radice aortica. Una valutazione comparativa applicata.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate four methods of determining left ventricular stroke volume (SV) from aortic valve (AV) and aortic root (AR) M-mode echocardiogram (Table I, formulas 1-4); secondly, to study relations between echocardiographic aortic variables and SV. We studied 20 patients (Pts) in our Coronary Unit, 14 men and 6 women; their ages ranged from 38 to 76 (mean 53.4) years. Seventeen Pts had acute myocardial infarction; two Pts had previous myocardial infarction and heart failure; one Pt had dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Three out of the twenty Pts, had mitral insufficiency (Table II, clinical and hemodynamic data). Patients were studied with high quality M-mode echocardiography. Immediately after the examination repeated measurements of cardiac output by thermodilution technique (TD) were carried out, and values of SV calculated (SV-TD). Twenty-five complete procedures were accomplished. The formulas were applied to every patient's echocardiographic data, and results (SV-ECHO) compared with SV-TD (Table III). Echocardiographic variables, whether single or multiple (terms), were also studied with regard to their relation with SV-TD (Table IV). Mean +/- SD value of SV-TD of the study group was 60.3 +/- 24.7 ml; range 22.7 to 108 ml. Mean +/- SD values of SV-ECHO were as follows: Yeh's formula, based on squared mean AV opening and LVET, 56 +/- 22.6 (ml), r = 0.8278, SEE 12.98; Jacobs' formula, based on aortic box planimetry, 68 +/- 32.5 (ml), r = 0.7129, SEE 23.31.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Results of therapy in Hodgkin's disease with special reference to polychemotherapy (MOPP)]. / Risultati della terapia del morbo di Hodgkin con particolare riguardo alla polichemioterapia (MOPP)

In patients with I and II stage Hodgkin's disease good results have been obtained with radiotherapy alone (complete remission in 100% of cases for 27.5 to 71.5 months; 9 years survival in 86.5%). In stage III combination chemotherapy was used with complete remission in 68.7% (9-31 months) and 4 years survival in 66.9%. In stage IV prognosis was poor in spite of combination chemotherapy and radiotherapy (3 years survival was 11.2% only).