[Normal values in Mexico of the echocardiographic measurements of the left heart]. / Valores normales en México de las mediciones ecocardiográficas del corazón izquierdo.

The M-Mode echocardiographic measurements, according to the international criteria, were done in tracings of 274 normal subjects residents of Mexico City, in order to know the normal values in its population. One hundred and thirty one males (47.8%), and 143 females (52.2%). The age varied from 1 to 73 years, the predominant group was between the third and fifth decades of the life. The age, weight and body surface area (BSA) were correlated with measurements, better correlation was found with BSA and it was the analysis base. According to the BSA, 6 subgroups were formed, the first one of 0.5 m2; increasing 0.4 m2 for each subgroup until the last one of 2.1(2) or more. Were observed proportional amount respect to BSA of D-E mitral valve excursion, aortic root diameter, aortic excursion, aortic opening amplitude, left atrium diameter, end diastolic and end systolic diameters of left ventricle, as well as interventricular septum (IVS) and posterior wall (PW) thickness. The measures were less than the reported other countries. The mean velocity of circumferential shortening (Vcf), fractional shortening (FS) and normalized velocities (NV) showed inverse proportion to BSA. The values of Vcf and NV were similar to the previous report, but the FS and the ejection fraction were higher. The study let us to know the normal echocardiographic values for people of Mexico and the differences with respect to the altitude of this city and the body frame of its population.

Hemodynamic activity of different doses of sulmazole by infusion.

By means of right heart catheterisation and thermodilution the hemodynamic response to two different doses of 2-[2-methoxy-4-(methylsulfinyl) phenyl]-1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (sulmazole, AR-L 115 BS, Vardax) (1.5 mg or 0.7 mg/min) was determined in 10 hospitalized patients with congestive cardiac insufficiency. It was found that sulmazole has a marked positive inotropic effect, increasing the cardiac output and stroke work index and decreasing the peripheral systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance, almost without altering the blood pressure values; furthermore, it reduces the right atrial pressure, the pulmonary capillary pressure and the pulmonary arterial pressure. Tolerance of sulmazole was excellent; no tachyphylaxis nor rebound reactions were observed during the 36-h period of medication.