[An often ignored complication of left heart catheterization: embolism of cholesterol crystals. Report of 9 cases]. / Une complication souvent méconnue du cathétérisme gauche: les embolies de cristaux de cholestérol. A propos de 9 observations.

Cholesterol embolism (CE) is caused by the migration of cholesterol crystals from severe atheromatous lesions. Until recently, this was considered to be a classical but rare complication of atheroma. With the upsurge in techniques of left heart catheterization there has been a regain of interest in this subject. Nine cases of cholesterol embolism occurring after left heart catheterisation are reported, 3 after coronary angioplasty, and 3 cases after associated thrombolytic therapy. Three patients developed cutaneous syndromes (livedo reticularis, the "purple toe syndrome") with a favorable outcome in a few weeks. Two patients developed segmental necrosis of the small bowel requiring surgical resection of the affected area. Finally, in 4 cases, the patients died 12 hours to 3 months after catheterization: 2 patients had polyvisceral involvement; one patient developed cardiogenic shock; one patient had intestinal necrosis involving 2/3 of the ileum and the right colon. The cases illustrate the variability of the presentation of CE and its potential gravity. At present, the only effective measures are prophylactic; curative treatment remains particularly disappointing.

Comparison of circadian blood pressure variations in hypertensive patients with renal artery stenosis and essential hypertension.

Ambulatory blood pressure measurements in 20 hypertensive patients with uni- or bilateral renal artery stenosis were compared with those in 20 essential hypertensive patients. Analysis of the 24 hour blood pressure curve of the renal artery stenosis group shows a tendency to equalization of blood pressure throughout the day. The nocturnal decrease of systolic or diastolic blood pressure was not significantly different between the two groups (9.2 vs. 15.3 mmHg). The blunted curve seems to be related more to the severity of hypertension than to its aetiology, but further studies are required to elucidate this point.

[Partial interruption of the inferior vena cava using a percutaneous endovenous filter]. / Interruption partielle de la veine cave inférieure par filtre endoveineux percutané.

Partial interruption of the inferior vena cava (IVCI) by a percutaneous endovenous filter (Günther filter n = 65, LEM filter n = 36) was undertaken in 100 patients with an average of 72 +/- 11 years for recent deep vein thrombosis. The indications were: contraindications to anticoagulant therapy (36.5%); recurrent pulmonary embolism (12%); threatening venous thrombosis with a previous embolic episode (12%); caval thrombosis (15.7%); prophylactic, with no previous pulmonary embolism (23.8%). The filters were evaluated at short and mid term. There were no technical problems. The mortality rate was 17.5%, one death being probably due to recurrent pulmonary embolism. No other recurrences of pulmonary embolism were observed, indicating an efficacy of 99 per cent. The early patency rate was 96.5%, there being no difference between the two filters used, independent of the initial site of venous thrombosis, of distal migration of the filter and associated medical treatment (anticoagulation). Distal migration was observed in 76% of IVCI by the Günther filter and 48.5% by the LEM filter (p less than 0.001); tilting was observed in 7.4% of Günther and 3% of LEM filters. Five LEM filters were incompletely opened. The IVC was transfixed by 3 Günther filters. One Günther filter had fractured spokes. There were 12 recurrences of lower limb deep vein thrombosis and 16 post-deep vein thrombosis complications were recorded. These percutaneous endovenous filters are similar to the Kimray Greenfield filter with respect to efficacy and permeability although the follow-up was relatively short. The advantages of these percutaneous filters are the facility, innocuity and rapidity of their insertion with, however, a higher incidence of distal migration.

[Arterial and venous thromboembolic complications in patients with renal transplants. Apropos of 2 cases]. / Complications thrombo-emboliques veineuses et artérielles chez le transplanté rénal. A propos de deux cas.

The study of two cases of young patients with renal transplants who, successively and a few months after the procedure, presented a thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities (with or without pulmonary embolism), then an acute coronary insufficiency, without any encouraging or triggering factor, raises the hypothesis that this is not a mere coincidence. In fact, in the literature, numerous cardiovascular risk factors) inherent in complicated chronic renal failure, dialysis, steroid therapy and immuno-suppressive treatment (Azathioprime, under these circumstances) were demonstrated. In addition, abnormalities of the platelets aggregation, hemostasis and fibrinolysis, were at the origin of thrombo-embolic accidents. Besides any specific cardiovascular risk factor or any obvious biological anomaly, there is still a predisposition of patients with renal transplants, to arterial as well as venous thrombo-embolic accidents.

[Total abnormal pulmonary venous return surgically treated in an adult]. / Retour veineux pulmonaire anormal total opéré chez un adulte.

The authors report a case of total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) draining into the innominate (brachiocephalic) vein, discovered in a 40-year old male patient and successfully treated by surgery. This type of cardiopathy is usually suspected in the neonatal period, being badly tolerated, and such a prolonged survival is quite exceptional. Survival is conditioned by the site of the TAPVR, by the size of the atrial septal defect and also by the presence or absence of an obstacle to the pulmonary venous return and of pulmonary arterial hypertension. In the absence of pulmonary vascular disease, surgical correction is mandatory and results in regression of the symptoms and of the pulmonary arterial hypertension.

[Pre- and postoperative study of arrhythmia in atrial septal defects (ostium secundum and sinus venosus)]. / Etude pré et postopératoire des troubles du rythme et de la conduction au cours de la communication interauriculaire (ostium secundum et sinus venosus).

An electrophysiological study was carried out pre- and postoperatively in 25 patients (children and adults) presenting with an atrial septal defect of the ostium secundum type (OSASD). The purposes of the study were to find out whether early electrophysiological abnormalities were present in children, to compare the results obtained in children and in adults and to evaluate the impact of surgery by comparing preoperative and late postoperative electrophysiological data. Patients were divided into two groups. Group I was composed of 11 children (mean age 8.18 +/- 1.03 years) with a mean pulmonary/systemic blood flow ratio of 2.33 +/- 0.24. Group II comprised 14 adults (mean age 36.79 +/- 4.89 years) with a mean pulmonary/systemic blood flow ratio of 3.42 +/- 0.24. Preoperatively, in group I 55 p. 100 of the patients (6/11) had sinus node dysfunction, 18 p. 100 (2/11) had disturbances of atrioventricular conduction, and none had atrial dysrhythmia. Preoperatively, in group II 43 p. 100 of the patients (6/14) had sinus node dysfunction, 36 p. 100 (5/14) had disturbances of atrioventricular conduction, and 36 p. 100 (5/14) had sustained atrial dysrhythmia (flutter or paroxysmal atrial fibrillation). The frequency of sustained atrial dysrhythmia correlated positively with the patient's age and with the presence of sinus node dysfunction. Following surgical closure of the atrial septal defect, the electrophysiological parameters were not significantly modified in both groups. This study confirmed the presence of early electrophysiological abnormalities of sinus node function and atrioventricular conduction in children with OSASD. The most significant finding in adults was the occurrence of atrial dysrhythmias in the oldest patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Diagnosis of primary hyperaldosteronism. Apropos of 3 cases]. / Diagnostic des hyperaldostéronismes primaires. A propos de 3 observations.

Primary hyperaldosteronism (HA1) represent a rare etiology of arterial hypertension (less than 1%). It concerns, most of the time, aldosterone-producing adenomas or bilateral adrenal hyperplasias although intermediate forms have been reported. The diagnosis of HA1 is based on simple examinations, especially systematic measurement of kaliemia in every hypertensive patient with a normal sodium diet before treatment. The elevation of aldosterone blood levels associated with a low plasma renin activity confirms the autonomous nature of the hormonal secretion which is dissociated from the renin-angiotensin system. Study of the ratio aldosterone blood level/ARP and the captopril test are particularly useful in borderline cases. Once the diagnosis of HA1 is made, a topographic analysis may be undertaken; tomodensitometry and adrenal scintigraphy are currently the examinations of choice in the diagnosis of adrenal tumors. Due to biological, morphological and topographic factors, aldosterone-producing adenomas may be identified with a great deal of certainty: surgical excision ensures a cure in a large majority of cases. The treatment of bilateral hyperplasias remains medical.

[Interauricular communication with severe pulmonary hypertension in children. Apropos of 9 cases]. / Communication interauriculaire avec hypertension artérielle pulmonaire sévère chez l'enfant. A propos de 9 observations.

The authors report 9 cases of atrial septal defect with sever pulmonary hypertension in 7 girls and 2 boys under 10 years of age. These cases represent 3.5% of the 255 cases of atrial septal defect in this age group seen at the Hopital Cardiologique of Lille between 1970 and 1985. Group I comprised 3 children with obstructive pulmonary hypertension from the start; two died, one is still alive after 3 years. Group II was composed of 3 children who presented, at first haemodynamic evaluation, with severe but non-obstructive pulmonary hypertension; the hypertension rapidly became obstructive in 2 of them despite digitalis-diuretic therapy; the third child died after surgical correction. The 3 children in group III had normal or slightly raised pulmonary arterial pressure at first haemodynamic evaluation; one of them initially had a right ventricle-pulmonary artery functional gradient of 45 mmHg, which did not prevent the subsequent development of obstructive pulmonary hypertension; the other 2 patients were operated upon 10 months and 4 years later respectively, as they presented with severe pulmonary hypertension; one of these 2 children died postoperatively, the third one developed obstructive pulmonary hypertension. Contrary to what is generally believed, severe pulmonary hypertension is not exceptional in children with atrial septal defect, and it has a poor prognosis. The mechanism underlying the development of this pulmonary hypertension is unclear, but individual susceptibility to excessive blood flow is probable, as is the role played by bronchopulmonary infections frequently noted in these patients' history.

[Massive hemolysis and acute mitral insufficiency one year following mitral valve repair. Apropos of a case]. / Hémolyse massive et insuffisance mitrale aiguë un an après plastie de la valve mitrale. A propos d'un cas.

The authors report a case of massive haemolytic anaemia with acute mitral valve regurgitation and left cardiac failure, which occurred one year after surgical reconstruction of the mitral valve for rupture of smaller leaflet chordae. Anaemia, mitral regurgitation and cardiac failure disappeared after mitral valve replacement, using a Carpentier Edwards No. 29 valve. Haemolytic anaemia following mitral valve reconstruction is exceptional. It seems to be due to the suture material lying in a turbulent regurgitation stream when mitral incompetence develops again.

Pulmonary vascular disease in secundum atrial septal defect in childhood: an unusual evolution.

Reported is a case of a 16-month-old girl with an isolated atrial septal defect in whom severe pulmonary hypertension has developed in 26 months in spite of an important functional gradient across the pulmonic valves at a first catheterization. Individual susceptibility to an increased pulmonary blood flow is evoked.