[Hemodynamic effects at rest and exertion of a new partial beta-agonist (cicloprolol) in moderated cardiac failure]. / Effets hémodynamiques au repos et à l'effort d'un nouvel agent bêta-agoniste partiel (cicloprolol) dans l'insuffisance cardiaque modérée.

The haemodynamic effects of cicloprolol, a new partial beta 1-adrenoceptor agonist, were investigated at rest and during exercise in 10 patients with moderate heart failure. At rest, cicloprolol (0.10 mg/kg i.v.) increased heart rate by 8 p. 100 (80.6 +/- 5.7 vs 74.7 +/- 11.9 beats/min; p less than 0.05), cardiac index by 17 p. 100 (3.74 +/- 0.57 vs 3.20 +/- 0.41 l/min/m2; p less than 0.001) and stroke index by 6 p. 100 (46.3 +/- 8.3 vs 43.7 +/- 8.8 ml/beat/m2; p less than 0.05). Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure was reduced by 35 p. 100 (9.9 +/- 5.0 vs 15.2 +/- 7.4 mmHg; p less than 0.01). There were no significant changes in aortic pressure. Systemic vascular resistance decreased by 15 p. 100 (1,030.8 +/- 234.6 vs 1,209.6 +/- 319.7 dynes.s.cm-5; p less than 0.01). During moderate exercise (114 +/- 13 watts) in supine position, cicloprolol induced a 10 p. 100 reduction of tachycardia (99.7 +/- 10.2 vs 112.2 +/- 16.5 beats/min; p less than 0.01), a 6 p. 100 decrease of mean aortic pressure (112.4 +/- 19.7 vs 119.5 +/- 19.2 mmHg; p less than 0.01) and an 8 p. 100 decrease of cardiac index (5.42 +/- 0.63 vs 5.88 +/- 0.75 l/min/m2; p less than 0.001). There were no significant changes in left ventricular filling pressure and stroke index. When data obtained at rest and during exercise were pooled, an inverse linear relationship (p less than 0.01) was found between heart rate before treatment with cicloprolol and cicloprolol-induced variations in heart rate and cardiac index.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Retrograde catheterization of left ventricle through mechanical aortic prostheses.

Twenty-three patients who had undergone aortic valve replacement with a mechanical aortic valve prosthesis (ball-valve: 17, tilting-disc: 6) were investigated by retrograde left ventricular catheterization using a 6 F pigtail catheter. Twelve of these 23 patients also had had combined aortic and mitral valve replacement. To assess the magnitude of the catheter-induced aortic regurgitation and its effect on left ventricular and mitral valve function, 10 patients (group 1) were simultaneously investigated by the transseptal route (8 patients) or direct left ventricular puncture. The 13 other patients (group 2) were studied only by the retrograde crossing of the aortic valve prosthesis. In group 1, placement of the catheter across the valve induced an increase in heart rate (+12%), in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (from 17.2 +/- 9.6 to 33.3 +/- 12.0 mmHg), a decrease in aortic systolic (-19%) and diastolic (-25%) pressures, and left ventricular systolic pressure (-10%). Transvalvular aortic pressure gradient increased from 15.4 +/- 8.2 to 23 +/- 12.1 mmHg. Pre- and post-crossing pressure gradients were linearly correlated (r = 0.93). Left ventricular end-diastolic volume increased slightly but significantly (+9%), ejection fraction remained unchanged. Pre- and post-crossing regurgitation fractions were linearly related (r = 0.98). Hence, the magnitude of catheter-induced aortic regurgitation averaged 27% whether or not a pre-crossing regurgitation was noted. In group 2, retrograde crossing of the aortic valve prosthesis induced similar hemodynamic changes. There were no catheterization-related complications.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Combined modality therapy for mediastinal Hodgkin's disease. Prognostic significance of constitutional symptoms and size of disease.

Combined modality therapy was used in an attempt to increase the complete remission rate and survival of previously untreated patients with Hodgkin's disease. MOPP (nitrogen mustard, vincristine, procabazine, prednisone) chemotherapy was followed by radiotherapy. The median duration of follow-up exceeded 5 years. Complete remissions were achieved in 63 of 71 patients (89%) with mediastinal masses. The actuarial survival of 10 years was 72% for patients with small mediastinal masses (mediastinal mass ratio less than 0.35) and 46% for patients with large mediastinal masses (P less than 0.05). The corresponding disease-free survival figures were 69% and 46%, respectively (P less than 0.05). A small mediastinal mass did not affect prognosis. Systemic symptoms especially affected the prognosis in patients with a large mediastinal mass, since in symptomatic patients the actuarial survival and freedom from relapse were 19%, whereas all asymptomatic patients survived without relapse. In patients with a small mediastinal mass, systemic symptoms had no significant effect on the actuarial survival or disease free survival. Age and stage did not affect the prognosis in patients with large mediastinal masses. It was concluded that MOPP chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy was an adequate treatment for asymptomatic patients with large mediastinal disease. However, in symptomatic patients with large mediastinal masses, this treatment was clearly inadequate.