[Quality of life of patients with old myocardial infarction on prolonged therapy with atenolol].

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the influence of atenolol, a selective, beta1-adrenoblocker, on the quality of life (QL) of patients with old myocardial infarction (MI). The subjects of this 12-month open uncontrolled study were 40 male patients aged 29 to 59 years (mean age 46.8 +/- 1.19) suffering from functional class II-III stable exertional angina, which occurred 6 months after their first large-focal MI. QL was evaluated before and during the course of therapy (after 1, 3, 6, and 12 months) using EORTC QLQ CORE 30, short version of MMPI test, and Spielberg State-Trait Anxiety inventory. The patients received atenolol in effective doses selected on an individual basis (mean day dose was 67.9 +/- 4.2 mg) within one year; the study revealed increase of QL falling in all the categories of EORTC QLQ CORE 30, decrease of reactive and personal anxiety, as well as positive changes in averaged MMPI profile, which reflected lowering of anxiety and depression level in the actual psyche status.

[Influence of long-term therapy with enalapril on late postinfarction remodeling and functional state of the left ventricle in patients with diastolic heart failure.].

Enalapril (average dose 7,0+/-0.8 mg) was given for 12 weeks to 15 patients with preserved left ventricular (LV) systolic function who had survived large focal myocardial infarction small i, Ukrainian6 months before that. The use of enalapril was associated with 49% lessening of severity of clinical signs of heart failure (p<0.001) and 47% increase of tolerance to physical exercise. It also provided dose dependent 17.8% reduction of LV myocardial mass (p<0.05), normalization of initially "hypertrophic" type of transmitral flow, 21% lowering of LV end diastolic pressure (p<0.05) without effect on LV volume, geometry, global and local systolic function.

[Depression of diurnal dispersion of sinus rhythm in patients after myocardial infarct]. / Depressiia sutochnoi dispersii sinusovogo ritma u bol'nykh, perenesshikh infarkt miokarda.

AIM: To study a relationship between reduced heart rate variability and ventricular ectopic activity in patients with coronary artery disease and also efficiency of atenolol in suppression of ventricular arrhythmias and increase of heart rate variability. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 32 men with stable angina of effort (functional class II-III) after the first myocardial infarction (mean age 52.9 years). 24-h ECG monitoring was carried out in 25 patients before and 3 weeks after treatment with atenolol in the dose 50-100 mg/day for 3 weeks. RESULTS: The mean standard deviation of the R-R intervals in 24 hours was much lower in patients with ventricular arrhythmias. In the majority of the patients with frequent ventricular premature beats (> 10 VPB/hour), the changes in vegetative homeostasis manifested mainly by activation of sympathetic nervous system. Atenolol given for 3 weeks to these patients proved effective. CONCLUSION: Low heart rate variability correlated with increased frequency of ventricular premature beats. Atenolol can be recommended for the treatment of such patients.