[Isosorbide 5-mononitrate (delayed release) in stable effort angina]. / 5-mononitrato de isosorbida (liberación lenta) en la angina de esfuerzo estable.

This work has been carried out to evaluate over a short and medium space of time (100 days) the efficacy, tolerance and haemodynamic repercussion of 50 mg of sustained release Isosorbide 5-Mononitrate administered once day to patients with stable effort angina in a random and prospective study, which was double blind crossover and placebo-controlled. In this study we included 10 patients who showed positive exercise test using clinical (angina) and electrocardiographic (ischemic drop of the ST greater than 1 mm) criteria. The assessment was done with cycloergometry starting with 30W and increasing by 20W every 2 minutes until angina appeared accompanied by an ischemic drop of the ST. The effort tests were done basally and at intervals of 4, 12 and 24 hours after the dose. The parameters studied were obtained on the 1st, 25th and 100th days of the study and were compared with those of the placebo. The time taken for the ST to 1 mm to fall (seconds) increased when evaluated after 4 and 12 hours on the 1st, 25th and 100th days in comparison with placebo (p < 0.05). The time taken for angina (seconds) to appear lengthened considerably when evaluated 4 and 12 hours after the dose not only on the 1st day but also on the 25th and 100th days in comparison with placebo (p < 0.05). The duration of the effort (seconds) was significantly greater after 4 and 12 hours on the 1st, 25th and 100th days when compared to that of the placebo (p < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Exercise stress test in young hypertensive patients. Response to vasodilators (prazosin) vs. beta-blocker (atenolol) agents.

Dynamic response of arterial blood pressure during exercise has been studied in 40 normotensive young subjects and 20 mild hypertensive young patients (20-40 years of age). Hypertensive patients were treated with atenolol (beta blocker) and prazosin (vasodilator). Both groups underwent maximal exercise stress test. A double-blind nonrandomized study was practiced in hypertensive patients with placebo, prazosin (3 mg/12 h), and atenolol (100 mg/24 h). Heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and exercise duration (ED) were analyzed. All parameters remained stable in both groups. The hypertensive patients showed an increase in maximum SBP more than 230 mmHg during the placebo phase. This same group showed a significant increase in HR at rest two hours after administration of prazosin. Atenolol produced a significant reduction in HR both during rest and exercise. Both drugs produced a significant decrease in SBP and DBP (at rest and exercise). We conclude that exercise test is a noninvasive procedure that could distinguish mild arterial hypertension. The dynamic changes of arterial blood pressure can be controlled with prazosin (3 mg/12 h) or 1 daily intake of 100 mg atenolol.

Preliminary study of pirmenol in the treatment of ventricular arrhythmias.

The effects of pirmenol in the treatment of ventricular arrhythmias were studied in 6 patients with heart disease and in 11 control subjects. In the patients with heart disease, ventricular arrhythmias were associated with myocardial infarction in 3, with mild aortic stenosis in 2 and with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 1. Pirmenol was administered in a 100 mg, 150 mg or 200 mg twice daily dosing schedule. Dosages were increased if necessary, until response, defined as greater than 70% suppression in the rate of premature ventricular contractions, occurred. Arrhythmia suppression was maintained in all 6 patients with heart disease at 52 weeks of follow-up.

[Differential diagnosis of obstructions to left ventricular outflow (author's transl)]. / Obstrucciones del tracto de salida del ventrículo izquierdo. Diagnóstico diferencial.

A total of 127 patients with different forms of obstruction to left ventricular outflow are studied. There were eight cases with supravalvular aortic stenosis, 79 with valvular aortic stenosis, 25 with hypertrophic subaortic stenosis, and 15 with subvalvular aortic stenosis. Clinical findings and electrocardiographic, radiographic, and angiohemodynamic data corresponding to these groups are reported, as well as the differential characteristics for each category from a clinical, electrocardiographic and radiographic point of view. The presence of a typical face, asymmetrical carotid and brachial pulses, absence of aortic ejection click and little or no aortic button on the chest roentgenogram reveals a supravalvular aortic stenosis. Valvular aortic stenosis shows aortic ejection click, poststenotic dilation of the ascending aorta, electrocardiographic signs of left ventricular hypertrophy and associated aortic regurgitation. Hypertrophic subaortic stenosis is characterized by a typical arterial pulse, marked "a" wave in the jugular venous pulse, double apical impulse on palpation and appearance or modification of the systolic ejection sound with Valsalva's maneuver.

[Isolated rheumatic tricuspid insufficiency (author's transl)]. / Insuficiencia tricúspide reumática aislada.

Insufficiency on the tricuspid valve alone due to cardioarticular rheumatism is a rare condition. A 12-year-old boy had had six episodes of rheumatic fever over the previous 5 years. The only damage done to the heart was insufficiency of the tricuspid valve; none of the other valves were affected. The phonocardiographic response to the amyl nitrate and methoxamine tests as well as the correct evaluation of the jugular phlebogram confirmed the diagnosis of this valve pathology. The study of this heart condition was completed with the diagnosis of rheumatic fever (Jones' criteria, modified) and an angiohemodynamic evaluation of the patient (which must include left and right ventriculography using a Bourassa catheter on the right). This pathology is extremely rare and we have found no reference to it in the literature in this country.