Myocardial perfusion abnormalities in asymptomatic patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Accelerated coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction in young patients with systemic lupus erythematosus is well documented; however, the prevalence of coronary involvement is unknown. Accordingly, 26 patients with systemic lupus were selected irrespective of previous cardiac history to undergo exercise thallium-201 cardiac scintigraphy. Segmental perfusion abnormalities were present in 10 of the 26 studies (38.5 percent). Five patients had reversible defects suggesting ischemia, four patients had persistent defects consistent with scar, and one patient had both reversible and persistent defects in two areas. There was no correlation between positive thallium results and duration of disease, amount of corticosteroid treatment, major organ system involvement or age. Only a history of pericarditis appeared to be associated with positive thallium-201 results (p less than 0.05). It is concluded that segmental myocardial perfusion abnormalities are common in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Whether this reflects large-vessel coronary disease or small-vessel abnormalities remains to be determined.

Changes in lipid and lipoprotein levels after weight training.

Lipid and lipoprotein levels were prospectively studied in previously sedentary men (mean age, 33 years) and women (mean age, 27 years) undergoing 16 weeks of weight-training exercise. Women demonstrated a 9.5% reduction of cholesterol, 17.9% decrease in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and 28.3% lowering of triglycerides. The ratios of total cholesterol-high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and LDL cholesterol-HDL cholesterol were reduced 14.3% and 20.3%, respectively. Among men, LDL cholesterol was reduced 16.2%, while the ratios of total cholesterol-HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol-HDL cholesterol were lowered 21.6% and 28.9%, respectively. Weight-training exercise appears to result in favorable changes in lipid and lipoprotein levels in previously sedentary men and women.

Late exercise test results from a prospective randomized study of bypass surgery for stable angina.

A prospective randomized study comparing coronary bypass surgery (group 1, 51 patients) to drug therapy (group 2, 49 patients) was initiated in 1981. Supine graded exercise testing (SGXT) was performed initially, at 6 months, and annually with a bicycle ergometer. The presence or absence of ischemic ST segment changes (positive or negative SGXT) and chest pain were recorded. Initially, 63% of all patients had positive SGXT. For group 2, the frequency of positive SGXT results did not change significantly at 6 months (58%) or at 5 years (52%). At 6 months the number of patients without chest pain increased in group 1 compared with group 2 (28/41 vs 13/41, respectively; p less than .002), but there was no difference in the frequency of positive SGXT results (20/41 vs 24/41, respectively; p = NS). This occurred because a majority of the group 1 patients with positive SGXT no longer had associated chest pain (group 1, 11/20, group 2, 3/24; p less than .007). This response was associated with incomplete revascularization in eight of these 11 group 1 patients and may result from "silent ischemia." At 5 years, no significant difference existed in the incidence of positive SGXT (group 1, 10/32 vs group 2, 12/23; p = NS), but group 1 patients continued to have a reduction (although not statistically significant) in the number of patients without chest pain (group 1, 19/32 vs group 2, 7/23). The incidences of death and myocardial infarction were not significantly different between groups. Fewer episodes of unstable angia occurred in group 1 (10/51 vs 19/49; p less than .05). The prognosis of group 1 patients with positive SGXT and no chest pain and incomplete revascularization was not different from that of the entire group.

Coronary bypass for stable angina: a prospective randomized study.

To evaluate the effects of coronary-artery bypass, 100 patients with stable, disabling angina were randomized to medical (49) or surgical (51) therapy. There was no statistical difference in major cardiac events after three years (death in five medical vs. four surgical, infarction in eight vs. 10, and unstable angina requiring operation or reoperation in eight vs. three cases). Surgical patients with three-vessel disease had fewer major events (P less than 0.05) than the comparable medical group and less unstable angina requiring operation (P less than 0.02). All unstable angina was less frequent in the surgical group (15 vs. six, P less than 0.01). Functional classification improved more in surgical patients at six months (P less than 0.01) and at late followup examination (P less than 0.05). After six months, surgical patients achieved significantly higher exercise work loads (P less than 0.01), exercise heart rates (P less than 0.05), maximum paced heart rates (P less than 0.01) and myocardial lactate extraction (P less than 0.01). On the basis of this interim report of a relatively small group of patients, we conclude that bypass results in greater functional improvement and less unstable angina than medical therapy. The likelihood of death and myocardial infarction is unchanged by operation.

Natural history of asymptomatic coronary arteriographic lesions in diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease.

Arteriosclerotic heart disease is a major cause of death in insulin-requiring juvenile diabetic patients treated for end-stage renal disease. Eleven consecutive diabetic patients without clinical evidence of coronary artery disease underwent complete cardiac evaluations, including coronary arteriography, as part of transplant recipient work-ups. Seven were women and four were men; their mean age was 32 (21 to 50 years). Angiographically, every patient had multifocal atherosclerotic coronary disease. Four of seven patients tested had positive-stress electrocardiograms. In this group of patients followed for a mean of 19.8 months, eight died. Of these deaths, six were due to coronary heart disease and another due to a stroke. In two patients who became clinically symptomatic, serial angiograms revealed progressive disease of the coronary circulation; in one case, despite normal renal allograft function and serum lipid levels. The mode of end-stage renal disease treatment, serum lipids or blood pressure control could not be linked to mortality. It is concluded that arteriosclerotic heart disease is common in diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease even when angina is absent. The natural history in this high risk population is an important consideration in the selection of patients for end-stage renal disease treatment.

Hemodynamic characteristics of the composite strut ball valve prostheses (Starr-Edwards track valves) in patients on anticoagulants.

The hemodynamic characteristics of the composite strut ball valve prostheses (Starr-Edwards Model 2400 aortic track valve and Model 6400 mitral track valve) were evaluated in anticoagulated patients. The peak systolic gradient (mean +/- SE) for the aortic valve in 16 patients was 18.1 +/- 3.9 mm Hg; the mean gradient was 17.0 +/- 2.7 mm Hg; the prosthetic valve area was 1.7 +/- 0.1 cm2; and the valve area index was 1.0 +/- 0.1 cm2/m2. In the 19 patients with the mitral valve, the mean diastolic gradient (mean +/- SE) was 5.2 +/- 0.7 mm Hg. The prosthetic valve area was 2.0 +/- 0.1 cm2, and the valve area index was 1.3 +/- 0.1 cm2/m2. These hemodynamic parameters are helpful in evaluating the catheterization findings in patients with composite strut prosthetic valves who are suspected of having prosthesis dysfunction. They also demonstrate the satisfactory in vivo hemodynamics in anticoagulated patients with these prostheses.

Valvular heart disease in osteogenesis imperfecta.

Aortic and mitral valve abnormalities have been reported which clearly appear to be related to the underlying connective tissue disorder in two patients, a father and daughter, with osteogenesis imperfecta. Although this appears to occur with a much lower prevalence and lesser severity than in the Marfan syndrome, the true prevalence of cardiac connective tissue involvement is not known, and the orthopedic complications of osteogenesis imperfecta may have overshadowed attention to cardiovascular abnormalities. In evaluating patients with osteogenesis imperfecta, careful attention should be paid to cardiovascular findings and if valvular lesions are noted, patients should be instructed regarding the need for antibiotic prophylaxis for dental and surgical procedures. The valvular lesions can progress, and regular follow-up cardiovascular evaluation should be planned. Finally, despite potential problems with tissue friability and healing and a possible tendency for increased bleeding, successful valve replacement can be carried out if necessitated by cardiac disability.

Aortic root dilatation and mitral valve prolapse in Marfan's syndrome: an ECHOCARDIOgraphic study.

Echocardiographic and phonocardiographic findings in 35 patients with Marfan's Syndrome and ten patients without Marfan's or other clinically apparent connective tissue disorders but with angiographic and echocardiographic evidence of mitral prolapse are reported and compared. Echocardiography revealed aortic root dilatation and/or mitral valve prolapse in 97% of the patients with Marfan's Syndrome. Aortic root dilatation was found in 60% of this group (74% of males, 33% of females) while mitral valve prolapse was found in 91% (87% of males, 100% of females). The incidence of aortic dilatation and mitral prolapse in patients with Marfan's syndrome was essentially equal in children and adults of the same sex. None of the nine adults or one child with mitral prolapse but without evidence of Marfan's Syndrome or other clinically apparent connective tissue disorder had aortic root enlargement. Ausculatory examination and phnocardiography revealed abnormalities in 54% of the patients with Marfan's Syndrome. Aortic regurgitation was found in 23% of this group (35% of males, 0% of females) while mitral regurgitation and/or mitral clicks were found in 46% (39% of males, 58% of females). Aortic regurgitation was much more frequent in adult males with Marfan's Syndrome (7/14, 50%) than male children (1/9, 11%), while the incidence of abnormal mitral sounds was essentially the same in adults (33% of males, 60% of females) and children (43% of males, 57% of females) of the same sex with Marfan's Syndrome. Abnormal mitral sounds were more frequent in patients without Marfan's who had mitral prolapse (90%) than in those with Marfan's (46%). It appears that cardiac abnormalities are a consistent manifestation of Marfan's Syndrome and that ultrasound is a more sensitive indicator of these abnormalities in such patients than ausculation or phonocardiography.

Echocardiographic criteria for aortic root dissection.

Echocardiographic findings from 10 patients without clinical indications of aortic root dissection or aortic valve disease from 1 patient with angiographic confirmation of aortic root dissection are reported and compared. Previously reported echocardiographic findings were confirmed in the patient with aortic root dissection. These include (1) a widened posterior or anterior aortic wall, or both; (2) parallel motion of the separated margins of the aortic walls; and (3) aortic root dilatation (42 mm or more at end-systole). However, all three findings were also noted in 5 of the 10 patients without clinical indications of aortic root dissection or aortic valve disease, and at least two of the three findings were noted in the remaining 5 patients. Echocardiographic detection of aortic root dissection appears to be most reliable when clinical indications of the anomaly are present.

Systolic time intervals in chronic hypertension: Alterations and response to treatment.

Systolic time interval studies were performed to evaluate left ventricular performance in 28 patients with untreated systemic hypertension but without clinical heart failure. The pre-ejection period (PEP) was significantly prolonged (p smaller than 0.001) and left ventricular ejectime time (LVET) was shortened (p smaller than 0.02) when compared to rate-corrected predicted values. The PEP/LVET ratio was abnormally high in 18 of the patients and the average ratio was 0.45 ( smaller than 0.001). Eleven patients with abnormal time intervals were restudied during treatment with antilypertensive drugs. The PEP/LVET raio decreased in ten and became normal in nine. The average ratio decreased from 0.49 to 0.41 (p smaller than 0.001), due to both shortening of PEP (p smaller than 0.02) and lengthening of LVET (p smaller than 0.001). These findings indicate that alterations in left ventricular function may occur commonly in chronic hypertension in the absence of clinical heart failure, and can be reversed with appropriate therapy. This technique may be useful in evaluating hypertensive patients and in determining the efficacy of treatment.

Diagnosis and management of complications of prosthetic heart valves.

Complications after heart valve replacement remain a substantial source of morbidity and mortality despite continuing advances in surgical care and prosthetic design. Infectious endocarditis occurs in about 4 percent of patients and may appear early (within 60 days) or late after operation. Endocarditis of early onset is commonly due to staphylococcal, fungal or gram-negative organisms and is fatal in 70 percent or more of cases. Infection of late onset is more often of streptococcal origin and the mortality rate is lower, about 35 percent. With either type, prompt recognition, vigorous and appropriate antimicrobial therapy and early consideration of surgical intervention are crucial. The postperfusion and postpericardiotomy syndromes are relatively common and relatively benign syndromes associated with postoperative fever. Their recognition is important to prevent confusion with endocarditis or sepsis and thus to reassure the patient and physician. Treatment is primarily symptomatic. Intravascular hemolysis occurs with most prosthetic heart valves but is more common with certain prostheses and with paraprosthetic valve regurgitation, with significant hemolytic anemia in 5 to 15 percent. Oral iron replacement therapy is effective in the majority of patients, but occasionally blood transfusion or reoperation for leak around the prosthesis is necessary. Prosthesis dysfunction due to thrombus may be recognized clinically by recurrence of heart failure, syncope, cardiomegaly and altered prosthetic valve sounds or new murmurs. Hemodynamic studies verify the diagnosis, and prompt reoperation is indicated for this potentially lethal problem. Systemic embolization has decreased markedly with the introduction of cloth-covered prostheses and is frequently related to erratic or ineffective anticoagulant therapy. We continue to recommend anticoagulant therapy for all patients with prosthetic heart valves unless there is a major contraindication.

Improvement in left ventricular wall motion following nitroglycerin.

Coronary artery disease patients frequently have left ventricular wall motion abnormalities. Though nitroglycerin is commonly used in ischemic heart disease, its effects on wall motion abnormalities is unknown. In this study we have evaluated the effects of nitroglycerin on wall motion abnormalities and on ejection fraction in 25 patients. Sixteen had coronary artery disease (greater than 70% luminal narrowing). Six had no evidence of heart disease and three had congestive cardiomyopathies with normal coronary arteries. Left ventricular angiography was performed prior to and six minutes after administration of 0.4 mg of sublingual nitroglycerin. Twelve of the 16 coronary artery disease patients had wall motion abnormalities, and in seven of these, segmental wall motion improved after nitroglycerin. In five, all motion did not change. The initial heart rate, left ventricular systolic and end-diastolic pressure, and left ventricular end-diastolic volumes were not different for those whose wall motion improved versus those whose did not. The increase in the former and fall in the latter three hemodynamic parameters were significant (P less than 0.01) and similar for the two groups. In those whose wall motion abnormalities improved after nitroglycerin, ejection fraction (mean plus or minus se) increased significantly (P less than 0.05), from 0.47 plus or minus 0.025 to 0.62 plus or minus 0.046. In those without improvement, the ejection fraction went from 0.55 plus or minus 0.056 to 0.58 plus or minus 0.051 (NS). Three patients with congestive cardiomyopathy showed no improvement in ventricular wall motion or ejection fraction after nitroglycerin. Left ventricular wall motion abnormalities and ejection fraction improved in some coronary artery disease patients following nitroglycerin. The mechanism for this is unknown; however, ventriculography before and after nitroglycerin may be of potential usefulness for identifying areas of reversible wall motion abnormalities.