Left ventricular free-wall rupture, a potentially lethal mechanical complication of acute myocardial infarction: an unusual and illustrative case report.

BACKGROUND: There are three major mechanical complications after acute myocardial infarction: left ventricular free-wall rupture, ventricular septum rupture and acute mitral valve regurgitation. The left ventricular free-wall rupture is a serious and often lethal complication following an ST elevation myocardial infarction. However, very rarely this rupture can be contained by the pericardium, forming a pseudoaneurysm. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a 66-year-old man with multiple cardiovascular risk factors and previous ST elevation myocardial infarction, complaining of atypical chest pain. His electrocardiogram was in normal sinus rhythm, with the presence of Q wave in inferior leads and T-wave inversion in lateral leads. A transthoracic echocardiogram showed a left ventricular pseudoaneurysm. In the coronary angiography, multi-vessel disease was found. On-pump CABG was performed and a posterolateral left ventricular giant pseudoaneurysm were observed. Due its "petrous" consistency it was impossible to perform an aneurysmectomy. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of left ventricular pseudoaneurysm can be difficult, as patients often present either asymptomatic or with non-specific symptoms attributed to other causes. A multimodality imaging diagnostic approach can be necessary. Immediate surgery is considered the treatment of choice because untreated pseudoaneurysms have a high risk of rupture leading to cardiac tamponade, shock and death.

Safety and efficacy of fimasartan in Mexican patients with grade 1-2 essential hypertension / Seguridad y eficacia de fimasartán en pacientes mexicanos con hipertensión esencial de grados 1-2

Abstract: Objective: To evaluate efficacy and safety of 60 mg and 120 mg Fimasartan (FMS) alone or combined with 12.5 mg hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) in a Mexican population. Methods: A six month, treat-to-target, open study was conducted on subjects with grade 1-2 hypertension. The subjects were initially treated with 60 mg FMS once daily. In week 8, those with Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) <90 mmHg continued on the same FMS dose during the rest of the study, while those with DBP ≥90 mmHg were randomised to either 120 mg FMS or 60 mg FMS + 12.5 mg HCTZ once daily. In week 12, randomised subjects with DBP ≥90 mmHg received 120 mg FMS + 12.5 mg HCTZ, while those achieving target continued with their assigned treatment until the end of the study. Results: FMS 60 mg (n = 272) decreased both DBP and Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) by 11.3 ± 8.9 (p<.0001) and 16.0 ± 14.1 (p<.0001) mmHg, respectively, with 75.4% of subjects reaching the treatment target. Subjects assigned to FMS 120 mg, FMS 60 mg + HCTZ 12.5 mg, or FMS 120 mg + HCTZ 12.5 mg once daily, showed significant reductions in DBP and SBP with their assigned treatment. At the end of the study, 237/272 subjects (87.1%) achieved a DBP < 90 mmHg and an SBP<140 mmHg. The most frequently reported adverse reactions included headache (3.7%), dry mouth (1.1%), transient liver enzyme increase (1.1%), and dizziness (0.7%). Conclusion: Fimasartan is safe and effective in Mexican subjects with grade 1-2 essential hypertension.

Resumen: Objetivo: Evaluar la eficacia y la seguridad de 60 y 120 mg de fimasartán (FMS) solo o combinado con 12.5 mg de hidroclorotiazida (HCTZ) en población mexicana. Métodos: Estudio abierto, de 24 semanas, con tratamiento escalado hasta el objetivo terapéutico en sujetos hipertensos grados 1-2. Tratamiento inicial: FMS 60 mg una vez al día; en la semana 8, los sujetos con presión arterial diastólica (PAD) <90 mmHg mantuvieron su tratamiento inicial durante el estudio, mientras que los sujetos con PAD ≥90 mmHg fueron aleatorizados a 120 mg de FMS o a 60 mg de FMS + 12.5 mg de HCTZ. En la semana 12, los sujetos aleatorizados con PAD ≥90 mmHg recibieron 120 mg de FMS + 12.5 mg de HCTZ; quienes alcanzaron el objetivo terapéutico mantuvieron su tratamiento asignado hasta finalizar el estudio. Resultados: FMS 60 mg (n = 272) disminuyó la PAD y la presión arterial sistólica (PAS) en 11.3 ± 8.9 (p < 0.0001) y 16.0 ± 14.1 (p < 0.0001) mmHg, respectivamente, con logro del objetivo de tratamiento en el 75.4% de los sujetos. Los sujetos asignados a 120 mg de FMS, a 60 mg de FMS + 12.5 mg de HCTZ 12.5 y a 120 mg de FMS + 12.5 mg de HCTZ mostraron reducciones significativas de PAD y PAS; al final del estudio, 237/272 sujetos (87.1%) lograron PAD <90 y PAS <140 mmHg. Las reacciones adversas más frecuentemente reportadas fueron: cefalea (3.7%), boca seca (1.1%), incremento de enzimas hepáticas (1.1%) y mareo (0.7%). Conclusión: FMS es seguro y eficaz en sujetos mexicanos con hipertensión esencial de grados 1-2.

Safety and efficacy of fimasartan in Mexican patients with grade 1-2 essential hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate efficacy and safety of 60mg and 120mg Fimasartan (FMS) alone or combined with 12.5mg hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) in a Mexican population. METHODS: A six month, treat-to-target, open study was conducted on subjects with grade 1-2 hypertension. The subjects were initially treated with 60mg FMS once daily. In week 8, those with Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) <90mmHg continued on the same FMS dose during the rest of the study, while those with DBP ≥90mmHg were randomised to either 120mg FMS or 60mg FMS + 12.5mg HCTZ once daily. In week 12, randomised subjects with DBP ≥90mmHg received 120mg FMS+12.5mg HCTZ, while those achieving target continued with their assigned treatment until the end of the study. RESULTS: FMS 60mg (n=272) decreased both DBP and Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) by 11.3±8.9 (p<.0001) and 16.0±14.1 (p<.0001)mmHg, respectively, with 75.4% of subjects reaching the treatment target. Subjects assigned to FMS 120mg, FMS 60mg+HCTZ 12.5mg, or FMS 120mg+HCTZ 12.5mg once daily, showed significant reductions in DBP and SBP with their assigned treatment. At the end of the study, 237/272 subjects (87.1%) achieved a DBP<90mmHg and an SBP<140mmHg. The most frequently reported adverse reactions included headache (3.7%), dry mouth (1.1%), transient liver enzyme increase (1.1%), and dizziness (0.7%). CONCLUSION: Fimasartan is safe and effective in Mexican subjects with grade 1-2 essential hypertension.