Comparison of dobutamine electrocardiographic stress test and exercise test in two different groups of patients with unstable angina.

Exercise testing is a well known means of evaluating patients with unstable angina, but in recent years, alternative methods have been proposed. We prospectively compared standard exercise testing with dobutamine electrocardiographic stress testing for patients who were admitted with a diagnosis of unstable angina. A total of 43 patients were studied, divided into two different groups, according to the presence (group A n = 26) or absence (group B n = 17) of a previous history of coronary artery disease and/or electrocardiographic changes compatible with ischemia on admission. Dobutamine electrocardiographic stress testing was performed in a standard manner at 3 +/- 1 days after admission in group A and at 16 +/- 8 hours after admission in group B. Exercise testing was performed, on average 5 +/- 1 days following the event in group A and 2 days after admission in group B. Agreement between both tests was observed in 39 (91%) cases, Kappa value: 0.81. The dobutamine test predicted the result of the exercise test with a sensitivity of 79% (95% CI 54-90), and a specificity of 100% (95% CI 86-100), with a positive predictive value of 100% and a negative predictive value of 86%. It can be concluded that dobutamine electrocardiographic stress testing is an objective and reliable procedure that accurately predicts the results of standard exercise testing in patients with a diagnosis of unstable angina. If this result were confirmed with a greater number of patients, it would be a good option for definitive diagnosis and risk stratification, in addition to being inexpensive and easy to perform. It can also be particularly useful for patients who cannot perform exercise.

[Elevation of ST segment and Bezold Jarisch reflex as evidence of early post-thrombolysis reperfusion]. / Supradesnivel del segmento ST y reflejo de Bezold Jarisch como evidencias de reperfusión precoz post-trombolisis.

The prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) depends on the patency of the infarct-related coronary artery. This is the reason why the early recognition of the result of thrombolysis is very important in order to implement more aggressive studies and more complex treatments in case of failure. A clinical syndrome of "early coronary reperfusion" with an excellent correlation with angiographic data has been identified, characterized by: 1) pain decrease in more than 50%, 2) descent of ST segment elevation of more than 50%, 3) early elevation of creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) enzyme; other signs of reperfusión described are the Bezold Jarisch reflex (bradycardia and arterial hypotension) in patients with inferior AMI, an additional elevation of ST segment during thrombolytic infusion. These two signs of successful thrombolysis were seen early and together in our patient. He was a 41 year old male who had an anterior AMI 4 months before admission to our Coronary Care Unit with diagnosis of unstable angina (rest angina). After 10 hours he began with intensive precordial pain of 30 minutes with 2 mm of ST segment elevation in inferior leads. Streptokinase (STK) (1,500,000 units) by infusion was administered during 45 minutes; at 30 minutes of infusion the patient had an increase of ST segment elevation in the same leads which reached 3 mm and decreased to basal line after 2 hours. He also had bradycardia and hypotension which improved with atropine 1 mg IV. An episode of acute heart failure (confirmed by clinical, radiological and hemodynamic data) resolved just before the end of STK infusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Supradesnivel del segmento ST y reflejo de Bezold Jarisch como evidencias de reperfusion precoz post-trombolisis / Elevation of ST segment and Bezold Jarisch reflex as evidence of early reperfusion post thrombolysis

El prognóstico de los pacientes con IAM depende en parte de la permeabilidad de la arteria "culpable". Es por lo tanto esencial reconocer precozmente el éxito de la terapia trombolítica. A los elementos clásicos de reperfusión, se han agregado otros indicios adicionales de éxito trombolítico como la activación del reflejo de Bezoid Jarisch (bradicardia e hipotensión arterial en pacientes con IAM inferior) y la sobreelevación adicional del segmento ST durante la infusión del trombolítico. Se describe el caso de un paciente de 41 años, que presentó IAM hiperagudo de cara inferior y que recibió precozmente tratamiento trombolítico. Durante la infusión de Estreptoquinasa (STK) se constataron estos indicios de reperfusión exitosa, además de los criterios tradicionales. La angiografía coronaria efectuada a los 6 días, corroboró la validez de estos hallazgos al encontrar la arteria responsable permeable. Se descartó isquemia por lo que se dio de alta al paciente, con tratamiento médico. La activación del reflejo de Bezold Jarisch en enfermos con IAM inferior repermeabilizados con trombolíticos y la elevación transitória adicional de segmento ST intrainfusión de STK son hallazgos precoces, que no han sido reportados en asociación o combinados con los demás elementos clásicos y pueden resultar de utilidad para predecir el éxito del tratamiento trombolítico en el IAM

Supradesnivel del segmento ST y reflejo de Bezold Jarisch como evidencias de reperfusión precoz post-trombolisis. / [Elevation of ST segment and Bezold Jarisch reflex as evidence of early post-thrombolysis reperfusion]

The prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) depends on the patency of the infarct-related coronary artery. This is the reason why the early recognition of the result of thrombolysis is very important in order to implement more aggressive studies and more complex treatments in case of failure. A clinical syndrome of [quot ]early coronary reperfusion[quot ] with an excellent correlation with angiographic data has been identified, characterized by: 1) pain decrease in more than 50

, 2) descent of ST segment elevation of more than 50

, 3) early elevation of creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) enzyme; other signs of reperfusión described are the Bezold Jarisch reflex (bradycardia and arterial hypotension) in patients with inferior AMI, an additional elevation of ST segment during thrombolytic infusion. These two signs of successful thrombolysis were seen early and together in our patient. He was a 41 year old male who had an anterior AMI 4 months before admission to our Coronary Care Unit with diagnosis of unstable angina (rest angina). After 10 hours he began with intensive precordial pain of 30 minutes with 2 mm of ST segment elevation in inferior leads. Streptokinase (STK) (1,500,000 units) by infusion was administered during 45 minutes; at 30 minutes of infusion the patient had an increase of ST segment elevation in the same leads which reached 3 mm and decreased to basal line after 2 hours. He also had bradycardia and hypotension which improved with atropine 1 mg IV. An episode of acute heart failure (confirmed by clinical, radiological and hemodynamic data) resolved just before the end of STK infusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Supradesnivel del segmento ST y reflejo de Bezold Jarisch como evidencias de reperfusion precoz post-trombolisis / Elevation of ST segment and Bezold Jarisch reflex as evidence of early reperfusion post thrombolysis

El prognóstico de los pacientes con IAM depende en parte de la permeabilidad de la arteria "culpable". Es por lo tanto esencial reconocer precozmente el éxito de la terapia trombolítica. A los elementos clásicos de reperfusión, se han agregado otros indicios adicionales de éxito trombolítico como la activación del reflejo de Bezoid Jarisch (bradicardia e hipotensión arterial en pacientes con IAM inferior) y la sobreelevación adicional del segmento ST durante la infusión del trombolítico. Se describe el caso de un paciente de 41 años, que presentó IAM hiperagudo de cara inferior y que recibió precozmente tratamiento trombolítico. Durante la infusión de Estreptoquinasa (STK) se constataron estos indicios de reperfusión exitosa, además de los criterios tradicionales. La angiografía coronaria efectuada a los 6 días, corroboró la validez de estos hallazgos al encontrar la arteria responsable permeable. Se descartó isquemia por lo que se dio de alta al paciente, con tratamiento médico. La activación del reflejo de Bezold Jarisch en enfermos con IAM inferior repermeabilizados con trombolíticos y la elevación transitória adicional de segmento ST intrainfusión de STK son hallazgos precoces, que no han sido reportados en asociación o combinados con los demás elementos clásicos y pueden resultar de utilidad para predecir el éxito del tratamiento trombolítico en el IAM (AU)

Supradesnivel del segmento ST y reflejo de Bezold Jarisch como evidencias de reperfusión precoz post-trombolisis. / [Elevation of ST segment and Bezold Jarisch reflex as evidence of early post-thrombolysis reperfusion]

The prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) depends on the patency of the infarct-related coronary artery. This is the reason why the early recognition of the result of thrombolysis is very important in order to implement more aggressive studies and more complex treatments in case of failure. A clinical syndrome of [quot ]early coronary reperfusion[quot ] with an excellent correlation with angiographic data has been identified, characterized by: 1) pain decrease in more than 50

, 2) descent of ST segment elevation of more than 50

, 3) early elevation of creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) enzyme; other signs of reperfusión described are the Bezold Jarisch reflex (bradycardia and arterial hypotension) in patients with inferior AMI, an additional elevation of ST segment during thrombolytic infusion. These two signs of successful thrombolysis were seen early and together in our patient. He was a 41 year old male who had an anterior AMI 4 months before admission to our Coronary Care Unit with diagnosis of unstable angina (rest angina). After 10 hours he began with intensive precordial pain of 30 minutes with 2 mm of ST segment elevation in inferior leads. Streptokinase (STK) (1,500,000 units) by infusion was administered during 45 minutes; at 30 minutes of infusion the patient had an increase of ST segment elevation in the same leads which reached 3 mm and decreased to basal line after 2 hours. He also had bradycardia and hypotension which improved with atropine 1 mg IV. An episode of acute heart failure (confirmed by clinical, radiological and hemodynamic data) resolved just before the end of STK infusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Miocarditis chagásica: observación de un caso / Chagasic myocarditis: observation of a case

Se describe el cuadro clínico de un paciente masculino, de 67 años de edad, derivado de un Hospital de la provincia de Buenos Aires, que presentaba un cuadro de insuficiencia cardíaca congestiva con dilatación predominante de las cavidades derechas, alteraciones electrocardiográficas progresivas (ritmo auricular errático, fibrilación auricular, BCRD, BAV de ler. grado y finalmente BAVC), y reacción de Machado Guerreiro positiva, falleciendo con una bronconeumonía bilateral y embolias pulmonares múltiples. El estudio anatomopatológico demostró la presencia de cardiomegalia con dilatación de las cuatro cavidades, en especial del lado derecho y la microscopía óptica reveló la existencia de edema infiltrado mononuclear y nidos de amastigotes compatibles con la enfermedad de Chagas en etapa aguda. Se observó también un trombo en la orejuela derecha y la presencia de embolias múltiples en vasos pulmonares. La miocarditis aguda o subaguda Chagásica, aunque rara, debe sospecharse en presencia de insuficiencia cardíaca con dilatación predominante de cavidades derechas, arritmias, bloqueos y serología positiva, para la enfermedad de Chagas. En estos casos debería buscarse el parásito mediante examen microscópico (gota gruesa) y xenodiagnóstico y eventualmente realizarse una biopsia endomiocárdica para su diagnóstico y tratamiento

Miocarditis chagásica: observación de un caso / Chagasic myocarditis: observation of a case

Se describe el cuadro clínico de un paciente masculino, de 67 años de edad, derivado de un Hospital de la provincia de Buenos Aires, que presentaba un cuadro de insuficiencia cardíaca congestiva con dilatación predominante de las cavidades derechas, alteraciones electrocardiográficas progresivas (ritmo auricular errático, fibrilación auricular, BCRD, BAV de ler. grado y finalmente BAVC), y reacción de Machado Guerreiro positiva, falleciendo con una bronconeumonía bilateral y embolias pulmonares múltiples. El estudio anatomopatológico demostró la presencia de cardiomegalia con dilatación de las cuatro cavidades, en especial del lado derecho y la microscopía óptica reveló la existencia de edema infiltrado mononuclear y nidos de amastigotes compatibles con la enfermedad de Chagas en etapa aguda. Se observó también un trombo en la orejuela derecha y la presencia de embolias múltiples en vasos pulmonares. La miocarditis aguda o subaguda Chagásica, aunque rara, debe sospecharse en presencia de insuficiencia cardíaca con dilatación predominante de cavidades derechas, arritmias, bloqueos y serología positiva, para la enfermedad de Chagas. En estos casos debería buscarse el parásito mediante examen microscópico (gota gruesa) y xenodiagnóstico y eventualmente realizarse una biopsia endomiocárdica para su diagnóstico y tratamiento (AU)