Cibenzoline versus flecainide in the prevention of paroxysmal atrial arrhythmias: a double-blind randomized study.

In a randomized, double-blind, parallel clinical trial, the authors tested and compared flecainide and cibenzoline, a new antiarrhythmic drug, on atrial arrhythmias. Sixty-eight patients (36 men, 32 women, mean age 62.5 +/- 1.6 years) with documented symptomatic paroxysmal atrial arrhythmias (fibrillation in 56, flutter in 12) were recruited and received either cibenzoline 260 mg/day (n = 33) or flecainide 200 mg/day (n = 35). Patients were assessed with physical examination, resting ECG, 24-hour ambulatory ECG recording, two-dimensional echocardiography, and standard biologic titrations before the inclusion day, and 3 months and 6 months after the randomization day. Sixteen patients were withdrawn (7 were lost to follow-up, 7 had side effects, 2 had another medical event). Seventeen patients had documented recurrence of atrial arrhythmia (9 in the cibenzoline group, 8 in the flecainide group) during the study. The efficacy of cibenzoline and flecainide for preventing recurrence of atrial arrhythmias was not significantly different (62.5% versus 71.4%). Eleven patients complained of one or more side effects (cibenzoline, n = 6; flecainide, n = 5), justifying leaving the trial in 6 cases (cibenzoline, n = 3; flecainide, n = 3). Two ventricular proarrhythmic effects were observed. No atrial proarrhythmic effects were reported. The efficacy of cibenzoline and flecainide for preventing atrial arrhythmia is good and similar during a follow-up period of 6 months. In view of these results, cibenzoline may be administered first to prevent atrial arrhythmia.

[Combination of oral administration of cibenzoline and digoxin in patients with supraventricular arrhythmia]. / Association de la cibenzoline et de la digoxine administrées par voie orale chez des patients ayant une arythmie supraventriculaire.

Chronic co-administration of digoxin and several antiarrhythmic drugs increases digoxin plasma levels. To determine the effects of the administration of oral cibenzoline on digoxin plasma levels and its effects on clinical and electrocardiographic parameters, we conducted a prospective multicenter study in 22 cardiac patients with a mean age of 66 +/- 12 years (39-85), who were on long term digoxin therapy (0.25 mg once daily for at least 2 weeks) and who required oral cibenzoline therapy in the prevention of recurrence of symptomatic atrial tachyarrhythmias. Cibenzoline was given for 4 weeks at a dose of 130 mg twice daily in patients aged less than 70 years (group I, n = 15) and this dosage was reduced by half in patients over 70 years of age (group II, n = 7). Evaluation of the effects of this combination on clinical and electrocardiographic tolerability as well as the drawing of blood samples for assay of cibenzoline and digoxin took place before and after 4 weeks treatment with cibenzoline. The digoxin plasma levels were (mean +/- sem) 0.96 +/- 0.1 ng.ml-1 before cibenzoline administration and remained unchanged after 4 weeks of combination therapy (1.0 +/- 0.1 ng.ml-1), p > 0.05. Digoxin plasma levels in group I varied from respectively 0.8 +/- 0.1 ng.ml-1 (0.5-1.7) to 0.8 +/- 0.1 ng.ml-1 (0.4-1.5) and in group II from 1.2 +/- 0.2 ng.ml-1 (0.6-2) to 1.4 +/- 0.3 ng.ml-1 (0.7-2.5). This therapy was well tolerated in 16 patients out of 21 evaluable patients (76%) and there was no significant change in vital signs during the study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Use of a new removable vena cava filter in order to prevent pulmonary embolism in patients submitted to thrombolysis.

The authors present a removable vena cava filter that may be introduced percutaneously, is atraumatic to the venous wall, and permits the simultaneous use of thrombolytic therapy. Sixty-five patients were studied: 42 cases of pulmonary embolism with threatening venous thrombosis; 23 cases of phlebitis associated with an ilio-caval thrombus without pulmonary embolism. The filter was introduced 38 times femorally and 27 times by a jugular approach. In 16 cases (24.6%) clots broke loose, were effectively caught by the filter, and were progressively dissolved during thrombolytic therapy. The filter remained in place on average 4.5 +/- 1.2 days. The filter was removed in all cases without provoking the recurrence of pulmonary embolism. Two deaths, not related to pulmonary embolism, occurred during hospitalization. Phlebography, performed in all cases before and after treatment, showed a significant decrease of the phlebographic score (10.88 +/- 0.82 vs 6.77 +/- 0.86, P less than 0.001). The same was observed in 40 patients who underwent a pulmonary angiography before and after treatment (Miller index = 17.04 +/- 0.73 vs 5.49 +/- 0.87, P less than 0.0001). After removal of the filter, no sign of pulmonary embolism was detected on lung scan in the 23 patients with ilio-caval thrombus alone. More than 5 g (100 ml)-1 of haemoglobin was lost by 15.38% of patients. All patients were followed-up for a mean of 7.12 +/- 1.3 months; in no case was there any clinical recurrence of pulmonary embolism. Thus this device allows an effective temporary filtering of the vena cava.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Posterior fossa arteriovenous malformations. Angioarchitecture in relation to their hemorrhagic episodes.

Classically, posterior fossa arteriovenous malformations (PF-AVMs) have been considered as lesions with high tendency to bleed. However, careful analysis of clinical and autopsy data from the literature demonstrate that in fact the incidence of hemorrhage is similar in infratentorial and supratentorial locations. The clinical perception that most of the diagnosed PF-AVMs had bled does not mean that they have a high risk of hemorrhage. It suggests that bleeding is the dominant way of expression, since other symptoms are uncommon. Furthermore, angioarchitectural analysis is similar in supra- an infratentorial locations. The causes of hemorrhage are probably related to venous anatomic and hemodynamic changes or associated aneurysms as in other intracranial AVMs.

Venous anomalies and abnormalities of the posterior fossa.

The authors report a series of 16 patients with venous anomalies or abnormalities of the posterior fossa studied by angiography, CT and/or MRI. We believe that so-called venous angiomas are extreme anatomic variants that drain normal territories, and we prefer to call them developmental venous anomalies (DVAs). Posterior fossa DVAs, like the supratentorial ones are classified according to their drainage into deep and superficial types. They are exclusively located in the cerebellum or tectum. In 4 cases DVA was an incidental finding; in 3 an associated cerebral venous malformation (CVM) was found and felt to be the cause of the symptoms; and only in one (with trigeminal pain) was a link between both suspected. Cavernous venous malformations (CVMs) were found in frequent association with DVA (27%). Four cases were single and 2 multiple. Five CVMs were located in the brain stem and 3 in the cerebellum. The clinical and radiological files were reviewed and a direct relationship between symptoms and localization was found in all patients with CVM. In 2 cases venous dysplasia was found: 1 Sturge-Weber and 1 first branchial arch syndrome. Both posterior fossa venous abnormalities were incidental findings.

[Benign pulsatile cranial bruit in children. Apropos of 6 cases]. / Souffle pulsatile crânien bénin chez l'enfant. A propos de 6 cas.

The authors report a series of 6 patients aged 8-25 months, without any intracranial vascular pathology, presenting with an objective intracranial bruit associated with visible veins in the naso-orbital region. These bruits, frequent in children between 4 months and 5 years, become rare when patients grow older and disappear in adulthood. Naso-orbital veins are frequently normally detected until the age of 3 years. An intracranial bruit and visible facial veins may be clinical signs indicative of an underlying intracranial vascular malformation (IVM). Enhanced CT scanning should be performed when these two symptoms are associated. If the scan is abnormal, a selective angiography should be performed.

[Predictive value of exercise-induced ST depression in the diagnosis of restenosis after coronary angioplasty]. / Valeur prédictive du sous-décalage de ST à l'effort dans le diagnostic de la resténose après angioplastie coronaire.

Exercise tests systematically performed during coronary arteriography in patients who had undergone coronary angioplasty show a very large number of ST depressions in the absence of significant coronary lesion. This could be ascribed either to electrocardiographic traces of chronic ischaemia or to a reduced predictive value of exercise tests due to a combination of low prevalence of coronary disease and poor specificity and/or sensitivity. In order to confirm or infirm these hypotheses, the values observed in a study group of 122 patients who had undergone angioplasty for single lesion of the anterior interventricular artery were compared with the values calculated by Bayes' theorem from a 30 p. 100 theoretical restenosis rate and a sensitivity and specificity calculated from a group of control patients who did not have coronary angioplasty but showed the same coronary arteriographic characteristics as the study group. In the study group as in the control group, sensitivity (60 versus 67 p. 100) and specificity (56 versus 54 p. 100) were low. Positive predictive values were also very low (33 versus 38 p. 100), whereas negative values were acceptable (78 p. 100 in both groups). Differences between groups were not significant. The predictive value of ST depression in the diagnosis of post-angioplasty restenosis is too low to be used alone. This low predictive value can be ascribed to the low prevalence of restenosis and to the extremely low specificity observed in the presence of non significant lesions. However, the finding of a negative exercise test in asymptomatic patients enables coronary arteriography to be avoided with a low risk of error (7.7 p. 100).

Treatment of vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation.

The authors report the case of a vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation in a 1-year-old baby presenting with an enlarging head. The lesion was a direct arteriovenous fistula in a dilated vein of Galen and was treated by complete embolization in one session. Four months after occlusion of the shunt, the ectatic vein of Galen and torcular were normal, and the head circumference had stabilized. This case serves as an opportunity to emphasize the quality of results that can be obtained with endovascular techniques. Proper analysis of the vein of Galen angioarchitecture allows planning for appropriate treatment with the lowest possible risk of morbidity and mortality.

[Cardiac manifestations of Lyme disease. Apropos of a case]. / Manifestations cardiaques de la maladie de Lyme. A propos d'un cas.

A new case of heart involvement in Lyme's disease is reported. Its originality lies in its strictly isolated nature, therefore revealing the disease; in its typical picture of myocardopericarditis combining, in various stages, infra-hissian conduction disorders, bouts of left ventricular insufficiency, pseudoischemic repolarisation disorders and finally a moderate pericardial shift; in the demonstration, during two successive heart explorations by NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance), of a diffuse myocardial hypertrophy, subsiding in time, as the other symptoms of this patient.

[True and false cerebral venous malformations. Venous pseudo-angiomas and cavernous hemangiomas]. / Vraies et fausses lésions veineuses cérébrales. Pseudo-angiomes veineux et hémangiomes caverneux.

The authors report their classification of venous anomalies and abnormalities within the central nervous system. The so-called venous angiomas are developmental venous anomalies (D.V.A.). The different forms encountered express the extreme variations in the transcerebral venous system. Their symptomatic character depends on the aging changes that the cerebral venous system undergoes or the frequent association of D.V.A. with cavernomas of the central nervous system. The cavernous hemangiomas are true tumors that present a proliferative character. They are localized in the dura or in the extradural space intracranially or at the spinal level. They must be considered as tumors and can be seen at angiography as they present a fine parenchymatous stain. The cavernomas of the central nervous system are true vascular malformations of the venous type; they are locally multiple, but can also be disseminated within the intracranial space. Some familial forms have been reported. They are often associated with D.V.A. They have a high bleeding potential, which does not carry a high morbidity or mortality incidence. However, the natural history of this lesion is poorly known at present. The spinal cord posterior fossa and paraventricular localizations present probably the least favorable localizations. Only the cavernomas deserve to belong to the vascular malformation group. The same comments and observations apply to spinal cord venous lesions.

Vein of Galen aneurysmal malformations. Report of 36 cases managed between 1982 and 1988.

The authors report a series of 36 vein of Galen aneurysmal malformations (VGM) diagnosed in the paediatric (78%) and adult (22%) populations that were referred to them for therapeutic management between 1982 and 1988. The clinical signs leading to the diagnosis were variable: 36% of systemic manifestations, 22% of neurological symptoms, 17% of hydrocephaly and 11% of intracranial haemorrhage. 30 angioarchitectural analyses could be obtained and allowed to classify these VGMs into 5 different types: 44% parenchymatous AVMs, 20% mural AVFs, 30% choroidal arteriovenous fistulas, 3% dural AVFs, 7% vein of Galen varices. This series demonstrates that the paediatric population is most sensitive to shunt effect whatever its type. Systemic manifestations and hydrocephaly are the most common signs encountered in the newborn and infants; whereas neurological signs and symptoms and haemorrhage belong mostly to the adult symptomatology. Because of the poor outcome of VGMs, all authors believe that these malformations have to be treated aggressively. However, we found contra-indications to be represented by pretherapeutic demonstration of cerebral tissue damage, or uncontrollable systemic failure, thus treatment is indicated to compensate for cardiac failure previously responding (even partially) to medical treatment. Secondly, appearance of sub-cortical calcifications, resistance to medication or clinical deterioration will also lead to urgent treatment. The endovascular method represents at present the best treatment with an overall low mortality (13%) and a 0% technical morbidity in children compared to the surgical one of (91% mortality in newborns and 38% in infants). The results achieved by embolization in this series were as follows: 27% satisfactory results with complete or almost complete occlusion of AV Shunt, 53% significant clinical improvement, 7% of patients were unchanged. The authors believe fundamentally that these patients (specially those belonging to the paediatric population) have to be treated in a centre where a paediatric intensive care unit, neurological, neurosurgical and surgical neuro-angiographic departments coexist, in order to assure the best possible management of these children.

Chest radiography with a shaped filter at 140 kVp: its diagnostic accuracy compared with that of standard radiographs.

The effectiveness of a shaped filter in the detection of mediastinal and retrocardiac abnormalities on 140-kVp posteroanterior chest radiographs was measured by observer-performance testing. A set of 100 radiographs (the filtered and nonfiltered radiographs of 50 patients) were randomly selected from 1000 radiographs obtained from 500 outpatients or hospitalized patients. Five observers independently interpreted the set of radiographs, with one observer interpreting the set twice. Observer performance in detecting abnormalities in the mediastinum and the retrocardiac lung were analyzed by using receiver-operating characteristic techniques. The results indicate that the use of a filter has no significant overall diagnostic advantage (areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curves were 0.90 for the filtered radiographs and 0.89 for the unfiltered radiographs). No significant differences were found in the analysis of the various types or locations of lesions in the mediastinum.

[New inotropic drugs in chronic cardiac insufficiency: progress or wrong track]. / Les nouveaux inotropes dans l'insuffisance cardiaque chronique: progrès ou faux pas.

The first results of the long-term treatment of chronic heart failure with inotrope positive medications are disappointing, especially in that survival is not prolonged and even a greater mortality is suggested. Is it because of the regular failure of specific medications, of a class of medications or because the overall concept of inotropism stimulation during chronic heart failure should be condemned? The mechanisms of inotropism of normal muscles or muscles in human chronic heart failure are reviewed as well as the various pharmacological means available to stimulate inotropism.

Cerebral micro arteriovenous malformations (mAVMs). Review of 13 cases.

In a personal series of 152 cerebral vascular malformation, 13 patients had small (less than 1 cm) parenchymal arteriovenous malformations (mAVMs) with small nidus or fistula and a single normal-sized feeding artery and draining vein. All 13 patients presented with intracerebral haematomas (ICHs). The average age in this group was 31 years with no sex dominance; 8 patients had no antecedent symptoms. In 11 patients the small AMV could be demonstrated angiographically, with the remaining 2 malformations evident at surgery. In addition, all these mAVMs, being superficial (95% cortical), were surgically removable with no perioperative morbidity. They were not accessible by endovascular approach. This population group narrows the concept of occult vascular lesions if high quality angiographic studies are performed. mAVMs are by nature CT and MRI occult.

Brain arteriovenous malformations: analysis of the angio-architecture in relationship to hemorrhage (based on 152 patients explored and/or treated at the hopital de Bicêtre between 1981 and 1986).

The authors studied the charts and angiograms of 178 patients with cerebral vascular lesions. The angiographic features of these malformations could be grouped into the following categories: arterial variations, arterial aneurysms, arterial infundibulum, arterial stenosis, venous variation, venous stenosis, venous ectasia, arteriovenous fistula, transcerebral vascularization and external carotid supply. The age and sex of the patients as well as the topography and angiographic features were correlated with the incidence of hemorrhage. We found that deep and posterior fossa malformations, as well as temporal, insular and callosal localizations, were more likely to have bled. We also found that older males (40-50 years) with associated aneurysms and younger females (20-30 years) with venous stenosis were more likely to have bled.

Enhanced efficacy of computerized exercise test by multivariate analysis for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. A study of 558 men without previous myocardial infarction.

Multivariate analysis has been proposed to enhance diagnostic accuracy of the exercise test in coronary artery disease. To quantify the improvement given by multivariate analysis in comparison with ST segment depression alone during exercise test, 558 men without previous myocardial infarction were studied retrospectively. All the patients underwent a symptom-limited Bruce protocol with computer-averaged recordings in V5, aVF, V2. Coronary angiography was performed within the following 90 days. Prevalence of coronary artery disease (diameter narrowing of 50% or greater) was 0.56. Among 12 clinical and exercise parameters studied by stepwise multivariate analysis, five were found to reach the maximal accuracy: (1) exercise duration, (2) history of typical angina, (3) typical angina during the test, (4) age, (5) maximal heart rate. In comparison with ST depression, multivariate analysis significantly improves accuracy (74.6 vs. 66.8%, P less than 0.01) by increasing sensitivity (0.68 vs. 0.59, P less than 0.05) without affecting specificity (0.83 vs. 0.76, NS). Thus, in a group of men without infarction and a low prevalence of coronary artery disease, multivariate analysis with five easily collected variables is more accurate than ST segment depression alone during exercise. In addition, ST depression did not appear as discriminant as exercise duration for diagnostic purposes. This finding emphasises the importance of performing a symptom-limited exercise test.

[Probability of coronary lesions evaluated by the discriminant analysis of clinical and ergometric parameters]. / Probabilité de lésion coronaire évaluée par l'analyse discriminante de paramètres cliniques et ergométriques.

It has been suggested that multivariate analysis can be used to improve the diagnostic value of the conventional exercise tests. In order to evaluate the usefulness of this method in clinical practice, we have conducted a retrospective study of 558 male subjects without history of infarction who had undergone an exercise test and, less than 90 days later, a coronary arteriography. All exercise tests were performed according to Bruce's procedure and with an equipment which provided continuous averaging of ST segment values on V5, V2 and VF leads. The prevalence of significant coronary lesions (more than 50% luminal narrowing) was 56%. The values of 12 clinical and electrocardiographic parameters at rest and during exercise were subjected to a step-by-step multivariate analysis. Compared with the quantitative analysis of ST alone, the multivariate analysis increased the sensitivity (68% vs 59%, p less than 0.05) and specificity (83% vs 76%, NS) of the tests and the percentage of well-classified subjects (74.6% vs 66.8%, p less than 0.01). The best combination was obtained with the first 5 parameters of the final classification, viz.: (i) duration of exercise; (ii) clinical history of angina; (iii) anginal pain during exercise; (iv) age, and (v) maximum heart rate. The validity of the method was demonstrated on a recent series of 200 consecutive patients where the prevalence of coronary lesions was 58%. The discriminant function score enabled 74% of these patients to be correctly classified and improved the sensitivity of their exercise test.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)