[Retroperitoneal fibrosis, an unrecognized inflammatory disease. Clinical observations and review of the literature]. / La fibrose rétropéritonéale, une maladie inflammatoire méconnue. Observations cliniques et revue de la littérature.

Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RF) is a rare disease, typically with an insidious clinical course. The peak incidence is seen in patients 40 to 60 years of age and mostly in man. The characteristic finding in this disease is a periaortic fibrous mass that often surrounds the ureters. Although usually regarded as an obstructive uropathy, there has been growing recognition of the condition as a generalized disease. It may have a wide variety of manifestations including mediastinitis, thyroiditis and sclerosing cholangitis. The most common mode of presentation remains abdominal or flank pain with uremia, anemia and a high sedimentation rate. Although ultrasound and renal scintigraphy may contribute to the general evaluation of patients with RF, CT-scanner is the preferred imaging method. The multiplanar imaging capability of magnetic resonance may facilitate assessment of disease extent. The pathogenesis of the disease remains unknown. Steroids and, more recently tamoxifen, appear to be effective in the treatment of the RF. In most instances, RF does not lead to long-term morbidity or affect survival. The three cases of RF reported herein illustrate the varied mode of presentation and the response to the treatment.

[The effects of captopril in stable angina pectoris]. / Efectos del captopril en angina de pecho estable.

Eighteen normotensive patients with coronary disease and stable effort-induced angina were selected. The effect of captopril was studied. A Bruce stress test was obtained before and after administration of conventional treatment with captopril or placebo. The captopril induced less systolic pressure elevation during maximal exercise without modification of heart rate. By decreasing myocardial oxygen consumption, increasing the time in which angina appears during exercise. Captopril may prove to be useful adjunct to the antianginal drug regimens of patients with stable angina and systolic arterial pressure greater than 110 mm Hg.

[Statistical study of the arterial pressure in beneficiaries at the Mexican Institute for Social Security]. / Estudio estadístico de la presión arterial en derechohabientes del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social en Veracruz.

Arterial blood pressure was determined by the method of Korotkoff in 394 men and 1647 women. The mean values for men were 139/88 and for women 131/83. Arterial hypertension was found in 17.68% of the cases. A direct relationship was found between obesity and hypertension in both sexes. However, no correlation was found between obesity or cigarette smoking and mean arterial pressure. A significant interaction between hypertension and other risk factors (obesity and cigarette smoking) was found.

Estudio estadistico de la presion arterial en derechohabientes del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social en Veracruz. / Statistic study of arterial pressure in patients from the Institute Mexicano del Seguro Social in Veracruz

Se estudiaron 394 hombres y 1647 mujeres, supuestamente sanos, con edad superior a 20 anos, en el Puerto de Veracruz. La tension arterial se obtuvo por el metodo de Korotkoff; (presion sistolica en el primer ruido, o K1 y presion diastolica, en la desaparicion de ruidos en quinta fase, o K5). Las cifras promedio encontradas fueron para los hombres 139/88 e para las mujeres 131/83 respectivamente, siendo la diferencia significativa. Se encontro hipertension utilizando el criterio de la OMS, en el 17.68% de los casos. Hubo relacion directa entre obesidad e hipertension en ambos sexos pero no se encontro correlacion entre la media de la presion arterial con la obesidad o el tabaquismo. Encontramos interaccion entre hipertension y los otros factores de riesgo (obesidad y tabaquismo)