[J curve: when lowering blood pressure becomes a hazard?]. / J-Kurve: Wann wird die Blutdrucksenkung zur Gefahr?

Very low diastolic blood pressure is known to be associated with increased cardiovascular risks. The risk of low systolic pressure, however, is disputed. This survey analyses the bulk of recent studies on this topic. In hypertensive individuals without comorbidity, neither a systolic nor a diastolic J curve could ever be detected. In contrast, in patients with coronary heart disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or left ventricular hypertrophy, most studies document diastolic pressure < 70 mmHg (range 60-80 mmHg) as well as systolic pressure < 120 mmHg (range 110-130 mmHg) to be associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Data on primary prevention of stroke are inconsistent. A large secondary prevention study found a higher risk of recurrent stroke in old patients (> 75 years) with an in-study systolic pressure < 120 mmHg. Because the majority of studies in hypertensive patients show the optimal blood pressure to be 130-140/70-80 mmHg with a trend to higher values in old patients, there is no need for further lowering. Further decline of hitherto controlled blood pressure should prompt screening for an occult disease.

[Hypertension and nutrition. Position paper of the Austrian Nutrition Society]. / Hypertonie und Ernährung. Positionspapier der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Ernährung (ÖGE).

Arterial hypertension is one of the leading causes of overall mortality and is responsible for a high proportion of deaths due to stroke as well as coronary heart disease. It is defined as a pathological elevation of blood pressure which leads to damage of the cardiovascular system. Cut-off values for hypertension are defined as blood pressure levels higher than 140/90 mmHg (systolic/diastolic). In the pathogenesis of hypertension genetic factors, age and sex play a role, as well as body weight and lifestyle factors, such as nutrition and physical exercise. Lifestyle optimization reduces the risk of developing hypertension and contributes to the treatment in patients with established hypertension. Nutritional factors associated with hypertension are discussed in this article and recommendations regarding diet are made based on the literature. The nutritional factors with the highest impact on blood pressure are reduction of salt intake, a diet rich in potassium, weight management, the DASH (dietary approach to stop hypertension) diet and moderation of alcohol consumption. Salt restriction is essential in the prevention and treatment of hypertension. Based on the literature, in this article recommendations for nutrition and hypertension are given.

[Kawasaki disease and its ocular manifestations]. / Kawasakiho choroba a její ocní príznaky.

The article describes one of the occurring types of vasculitis in children. Discussing the essential manifestations of the disease it focuses on ocular symptoms as one of the major criteria. The diagnosis is often done on the basis of a clinical description further specified by laboratory and instrument techniques. Awareness of the symptoms typical of the disease, frequently identifiable even macroscopically, facilitates the early diagnosis. A differential diagnosis of febrile responses may include a wide range of possibilities considered including faulty conclusions consequently causing a delay in therapy, which may be fatal. With the Kawasaki disease a bilateral injection of bulbar conjunctiva is the first signal of objectification followed by frequent acute bilateral iridocyclitis with delayed development and prolonged duration. Thus the problem of a red eye and febrile responses may suggest the above-mentioned serious diagnosis, which is at present, however, well-curable and recognisable with stress put on the time factor.

[A rare complication of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in young patients]. / Neobvyklá komplikace akutní lymfoblastické leukémie u detských pacientu.

The paper presents one of the rather rare complications related to the malignant blood disease in young patients. The treatment of this extremely serious disease should be accompanied not only with number of already described complications which are thus expected but also with rare ones, whose control and treatment is demanding and rather long-term. The immense progress in medical research makes it possible to cope with a variety of serious diseases including leukaemia in young patients with one-year intensive therapy and an overall exhaustion of their organisms, where in spite of a perfect therapeutic protocol new challenges need to be met. The present study describes one of such rare complications, which appeared in two three-year-old girl patients, accidentally during the same time period: namely benign oesophagus stenosis. The condition was caused by several factors - first mycotic infection, histologically proved as Candida Albicans - which in one of the girls lead to septic states and the condition was generalised with more affected organs. Due to the location of the stenosis in the lower third of oesophagus, gastrooesophagus reflux played its role, too and last but not least there was a negative effect of one of the cytostatics - methotrexate - causing mycotic infections (here stomatitis and oesophagitis). For the proper development and overall well-being of a healthy organism, an optimal, sufficient and appropriate per oral reception of food is necessary. Satisfying this need becomes even more crucial in the case of young patient otherwise affected by an immunodeficient condition and an overall impoverishment of their organism. The oesophagus stenosis presents an obstacle manageable using either endoscopic methods or surgery. Although in the cases discussed the treatment was very demanding due to the age of the patients, continuous cytostatic therapy in progress, the primary disease, and the general anaesthesia - it was finally effective and successful.

Is left ventricular hypertrabeculation/ noncompaction a cardiac manifestation of Fabry's disease?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Some types of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are due to cardiac Fabry's disease. Since left ventricular hypertrabeculation/noncompaction (LVHT) is regarded a subtype of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, we looked for the alpha-galactosidase levels in blood leukocytes of LVHT patients. METHODS: Included were male patients in whom LVHT was diagnosed between June 1995 and September 2002. Echocardiographic criteria for LVHT were 1) >3 trabeculations protruding from the left ventricular wall, apically to the papillary muscles, visible in 1 image plane, and 2) intertrabecular spaces perfused from the ventricular cavity, as visualised on colour Doppler imaging. Trabeculations were defined as structures with the same echogenicity as the myocardium and moving synchronously with the ventricular contractions. Excluded were patients with known neuromuscular disorders. All patients were asked for systemic manifestations of Fabry's disease and blood tests were taken. The alpha-galactosidase-A activity was determined by means of an established fluorometric assay in blood leukocytes. RESULTS: Forty-one patients were invited and 26 accepted the invitation. The remaining patients had died (n=5), lived abroad (n=5) or were unwilling (n=5). Among the 26 patients, aged 28-78 years, who followed the invitation, one had renal failure due to renal shrinkage and one had suffered from a stroke 3 years previously. Leukocyte alpha-galactosidase levels ranged from 70 to 188 nM/mg Prot/h (normal: > or =42 nM/mg Prot/h). In none of the patients was the alpha-galactosidase level reduced. CONCLUSION: LVHT does not seem to be a manifestation of cardiac Fabry's disease. To definitively exclude Fabry's disease, however, endomyocardial biopsy is required.

[Muscle cell proteins are selectively released into the blood stream by marathon running]. / Marathonlaufen lässt intrazelluläre Proteine aus Muskelzellen selektiv in das Plasma austreten.

In 19 marathon runners of both sexes, plasma concentrations of total creatine kinase (CK) activity, CKMB mass, myoglobin and troponin I were determined before and immediately after the race. Total CK activity and myoglobin increased significantly in all runners and showed neither a correlation with the individual age of the runners nor with the time they needed to reach the goal. In 12 of the runners, CKMB mass increased during the race to a level suggesting myocardial necrosis. However, the runners did not show any detectable deterioration of cardiac function after the race. The appearance of considerable amounts of muscle proteins in plasma precipitated by the muscle strain during the race seems explained by damage of skeletal muscle detected by histological studies. These phenomena may also be a consequence of profoundly disturbed cellular permeability, perhaps due to a kind of local stunning of muscle tissue by prolonged muscular strain.

Left atrial appendage morphology: comparison of transesophageal images and postmortem casts.

BACKGROUND: Aim of the study was to compare 1) transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) measurements of the left atrial appendage (LAA) with postmortem casts and 2) the TEE with the postmortem diagnosis of LAA thrombi. METHODS: From the TEE images and LAA casts length, orifice, diameter and number of branches were assessed. LAA area was measured by TEE and LAA volume from the cast. RESULTS: In 12 patients who underwent TEE and autopsy, measurements of LAA length and area correlated well with the cast volume ( r=0.6 to r=0.93). The agreement between TEE and LAA casts, concerning the number of branches, was only moderate. In one patient, a false positive diagnosis of a LAA thrombus occurred. CONCLUSIONS: LAA size and orifice diameter can be assessed reliably by TEE. The complex LAA morphology hampers measurements of LAA length, branches, course and diagnosis of thrombi.

[Stroke management on general medical departments. A multicenter study in Austria]. / Insultbehandlung an Internen Abteilungen. Eine österreichische Multizenterstudie.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Despite the claimed superiority of Stroke Units a majority of patients with acute stroke is still treated on general medical departments in many countries. In Austria 90 % of 121 medical departments state that they take care of stroke patients routinely or at least sometimes. Therefore, our aim was to evaluate whether stroke management on medical wards meets up-to-date standards. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 55 medical departments all over Austria participated in a prospective multicenter registry documenting diagnostics, treatment and the in-hospital course of unselected patients admitted with an acute stroke according to a standardised protocol. RESULTS: 1100 patients, 56 % female, with a median age of 75 years were assessed. Median hospital stay was 14 days. In 96 % a cranial computer tomogram was performed. 81 % of cerebral lesions were ischemic, 10 % haemorrhagic. Only 10 % had no risk factor or accompanying medical disease. 31 % suffered at least one medical and 18 % one neurological complication (p = 0.00000003). In-hospital mortality was 17 %, functional outcome was poor in 27 % (Rankin scale [RS] 4 or 5) and good in 56 % (RS 0-3). 74 % of discharged patients could leave to their home, 13 % were transferred to a nursing home and 13 % to a rehabilitation center. 95 % of surviving patients left on either an antiplatelet or an anticoagulant medication and 73 % received antihypertensives. CONCLUSION: Outcome of stroke patients treated on general medical departments seems to be fairly comparable to that commonly reported by neurological Stroke Units. Further improvements may be obtained by implementation of integrated "mixed assessment" units into medical departments.

Multivariate analysis-based prediction rule for pulmonary embolism.

The diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) is still an unresolved problem. The aim of this prospective observational study was to derive and validate a prediction rule (PEscore) by which PE can be diagnosed by easily obtainable and rapidly available investigations. Included were consecutive patients with a clinical suspicion of PE admitted to a community hospital. Risk factors and clinical and instrumental investigations were registered. PE was diagnosed by angiography, scintigraphy, or autopsy. In 168 patients, PE was either diagnosed (angiography, n = 28; autopsy, n = 18) or excluded (angiography, n = 12; scintigraphy, n = 99; autopsy, n = 11). Based on the results of clinical and instrumental findings, a PEscore was derived by a multiple regression analysis, calculated as: [0.29 x proven leg vein thrombosis (0 = no, 1 = yes)] + [0.25 x ECG right heart strain (0 = no, 1 = yes)] + [0.22 x neck vein distension (0 = no, 1 = yes)] + [0.20 x dyspnoea (0 = no, 1 = yes)] + [0.13 x suspicious chest X-ray (0 = no, 1 = yes)] - [0.17 (constant)]. The PEscore was tested further in 139 subsequent cases. In these patients, the PEscore was 0.65+/-0.17 (diagnosed PE, n = 47) and 0.18+/-0.17 (excluded PE, n = 92), respectively (p = 0.0001). Depending on a given PE-score, the level of probability of PE can be assessed. Calculation of the PEscore can be helpful in clinical decisions when PE is suspected.

Outcome in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage: predictors of survival.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aim of this retrospective study was to determine in-hospital mortality and morbidity secondary to intracerebral hemorrhage and to analyse variables considered to be significantly associated with survival in these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study cohort consisted of 135 consecutive patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, admitted to a large community hospital in the urban area of Vienna. The diagnosis of intracerebral hemorrhage was established in all cases with axial computed tomography. The following variables were analysed: age, sex, Glasgow coma score on admission, location of hematomas, intraventricular hemorrhage, neurosurgical interventions and medical complications. RESULTS: Sixty-seven (49.6%) of the 135 patients died, 50 (37%) of them during the first 4 days after the acute event, 13 within the 1st week and 4 within one month. In a multivariate analysis the risk of death was significantly increased by the presence of intraventricular hemorrhage (p < 0.01), a Glasgow coma score of 6 or less (p < 0.0001) and age greater than 60 years (p < 0.001). Gender, medical complications and surgical removal of hemorrhage with or without additional ventriculostomy did not correlate significantly with outcome while an infratentorial location of hematoma showed a trend (p < 0.15) towards a higher mortality. CONCLUSION: A Glasgow coma score of 6 or less on admission, age greater than 60 years and the presence of intraventricular hemorrhage appear to be predictors of mortality in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage.

[Vena cava filter for prevention of pulmonary embolism]. / Cavafilter zur Prophylaxe von Pulmonalembolien.

Vena caval filters in the prevention of pulmonary embolism All currently available caval filters can be implanted percutaneously in local anaesthesia. In the USA the FDA has approved the stainless steel Greenfield filter, the Titanium Greenfield filter, the Bird's Nest filter, the LGM or VenaTech filter and the Simon Nitinol filter. Some other caval filters are commercially available in Europe, but there exist only few clinical trials about them. The Greenfield filter is implanted since the early seventies and the greatest amount of data has been published about it. Standard indications for filter placement are recurrent pulmonary embolism despite adequate anticoagulation, in patients after pulmonary embolectomy, when there is a contraindication to anticoagulation (e.g. fresh surgical wound, active gastrointestinal bleeding, recent haemorrhagic stroke, major trauma,...) and when serious complications occur after thrombolysis or anticoagulation. In patients who suffer from severe cardiopulmonary disease both a caval filter and anticoagulation may be required. Follow-up investigations include plain abdominal radiography and duplex ultrasound, in special cases computed tomography, cavography, magnetic resonance imaging in newer filter types, and intravascular ultrasound. Complications include recurrent pulmonary embolism, caval obstruction, migration, fracture and perforation of filter struts. As clinically relevant complications are rare, in diligently selected cases the patient will benefit from implantation of a caval filter.

[Secondary prevention following coronary intervention. Survey of 13 intervention centers in Austria]. / Sekundärprävention nach Koronarintervention. Vorgangsweise an 13 Interventionellen Zentren in Osterreich.

Risk factor control has been shown to reduce the incidence of coronary events in patients with or without preceding infarction. Secondary prevention should therefore be borne in mind by every cardiologist. In order to test this concept and/or to promote secondary prevention in our country, the following survey was conducted by our working group for epidemiology and prevention. All interventional centres of the country (7 million inhabitants) were asked to report relevant data of 50 consecutive patients with PTCA in a structured questionnaire. Thirteen centres responded and we report the data of 650 patients. The mean proportion of women was 28%, the mean age 61.1 years and the mean stent rate 49.8%. The indications for PTCA varied widely: stable angina 10-74%, unstable angina 10-86%, primary PTCA 0-22%. The risk factor history was distributed as follows: diabetes 12-46% (mean 22.3%), hypertension 32-68% (mean 54.2%), current smoking 6-56% (mean 21.9%), and total cholesterol (TChol) > 200 mg/dl: 30-78% (mean 60.3%). Current lipid values were available for T chol. in 44-100% (mean 84.5%) and for LDL in 4-100% (mean 67.1%). Dietary counselling by a dietician was done in 4-100% of patients (mean 35.6%) Information concerning the hazards of smoking was given to 25-100% (mean 83.6%) of current smokers. Drug treatment at hospital discharge was as follows: 84-100% (mean 93.1%) received ASA, 24-74% (mean 49.8%) ticlopidine, 6-84% (mean 53.3%) nitrates, 34-82% (mean 60.2%) beta blockers, 10-70% (mean 39.5%) ACE inhibitors, 4-74% (mean 4 7.2%) lipid lowering drugs, 7-48% (mean 17.8%) calcium antagonists, 0-12% (mean 6.1%) digitalis and 0-28% (mean 13.6%) diuretics. Follow-up data were collected in 4 centres at 6 months post discharge and were available for 174 patients. Here we found an increase in the prescription of calcium antagonists, digitalis and statins. The following conclusions were drawn at a conference in which all centres participated: lipid values should be available for each patient at PTCA, dietary counselling should be initiated for every patient during hospitalisation (and continued by the family physician) and the national cardiac society should promote guidelines for the use of drugs in which the variation in use is too wide at present. It should be ensured that these guidelines are implemented not only in patients after AMI but also in those after PTCA.

[Antithrombotic therapy in atrial fibrillation and additional stroke/embolism risk factors. CORSurvey Study]. / Antithrombotische Therapie bei Vorhofflimmern und zusätzlichen Schlaganfall-/Embolie-Risikofaktoren. CORSurvey-Erhebung.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate 1) how many patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure were discharged from Austrian hospitals with antithrombotic therapy, 2) if the presence of risk factors for stroke/embolism (age > 65 years, arterial hypertension, diabetes, and previous stroke) influence the choice of antithrombotic therapy and if the presence of contraindications for oral anticoagulation (dementia, alcohol abuse) influence the choice of antithrombotic therapy, and 3) if there are differences among the types of departments in the use of antithrombotic therapy. PATIENTS: Included were 1566 patients (841 female, 725 male, mean age 76 years) with AF and heart failure. METHODS: At discharge, a questionnaire was completed including risk factors, contraindications for antithrombotic therapy, and antithrombotic medication. RESULTS: Oral anticoagulants (OAC) had 26% of the cases, acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) 31%, a combination of OAC and ASA 2%, and no antithrombotic therapy 41%. The risk factors age > 65 years, arterial hypertension, diabetes, and previous stroke did not influence the choice of antithrombotic therapy. Dementia but not alcohol abuse influenced the choice against OAC. The rate of OAC was higher in cardiological or cardiovascular rehabilitation clinics than in other departments. CONCLUSION: The results of this survey show that in medical practice the recommendations regarding antithrombotic therapy in atrial fibrillation are rarely considered, especially when additional risk factors are present.

Coil embolization of coronary supply to a cardiac metastasis.

Coil embolization of tumor-related coronary arteries was successful in interrupting coronary supply to a cardiac metastasis from uterine leiomyosarcoma. In patients with cardiac metastases of highly malignant tumors this may be a palliative therapeutic approach.

Transesophageal echocardiography to assess embolic risk in patients with atrial fibrillation. ELAT Study Group. Embolism in Left Atrial Thrombi.

BACKGROUND: Transesophageal echocardiography visualizes the left atrium and its appendage, thrombi, and spontaneous echocardiographic contrast. OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of transesophageal echocardiographic characteristics with stroke or embolism in atrial fibrillation. DESIGN: Multicenter observational follow-up study. SETTING: Hospitals in Austria and Slovakia. PATIENTS: 409 outpatients with nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation and without recent stroke. INTERVENTION: Patients with thrombi received anticoagulation, and patients without thrombi received aspirin. MEASUREMENTS: Primary events were stroke or embolism. Secondary events were death not caused by stroke or embolism and need for anticoagulation. RESULTS: In the left atrium or left atrial appendage, 10 patients (2.5%) had thrombi and 47 (12%) had spontaneous echocardiographic contrast. The appendage had a mean (+/- SD) length of 44+/-10 mm, a mean width of 23+/-6 mm, and a mean area of 5.8+/-2.5 cm2. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 74 months (mean, 58 months). Fifty patients had stroke or embolism, 53 died of a cause other than stroke or embolism, and 38 required anticoagulation. On univariate analysis, thrombi (risk ratio, 3.9 [95% CI, 1.4 to 10.1]; P = 0.009), length of the left atrial appendage (risk ratio, 1.6 [CI, 1.05 to 2.5]; P = 0.03), and width of the left atrial appendage (risk ratio, 2.4 [CI, 1.2 to 4.81; P = 0.01) were associated with stroke or embolism. Multivariate analysis identified hypertension (risk ratio, 3.6 [CI, 1.8 to 8.4]; P = 0.001), previous stroke (risk ratio, 3.7 [CI, 1.5 to 7.5]; P = 0.002), and age (risk ratio, 1.1 [CI, 1.0 to 1.11; P < 0.001) as risk factors for stroke or embolism and provided evidence of an association between thrombi and stroke or embolism (risk ratio, 2.4 [CI, 0.9 to 6.9]; P = 0.09). CONCLUSIONS: In outpatients with atrial fibrillation and without recent stroke, thrombi of the left atrium or left atrial appendage and length and width of the left atrial appendage were associated with stroke or embolism in univariate analysis. In a multivariate analysis, age, hypertension, and previous stroke were risk factors for stroke or embolism, and thrombi of the left atrium or left atrial appendage were possible risk factors. In these patients, history may be more useful than transesophageal echocardiography for the assessment of embolic risk.