[Postexercise duplex ultrasound to diagnose external iliac endofibrosis]. / Endofibrose de l'artère iliaque externe diagnostiquée par écho-doppler post-effort.

Arterial endofibrosis is a disease of recent discovery which concerns high-performance athletes, predominantly competitive cyclists. The preferential location is the external iliac artery. The symptoms are diverse (pain, edema, paresthesia), always linked to an effort. The diagnosis may be delayed due to atypical symptoms in athletes. Complementary tests are measure of the systolic pressure index after exercise, duplex ultrasound, CT angiography, MR angiography and arteriography. We report a case of endofibrosis where late diagnosis was established with postexercise duplex ultrasound, while CT angiography and arteriography failed to reveal characteristic abnormalities.

[Study of early myocardial infarction by nuclear magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium Dota injection]. / Etude de l'infarctus du myocarde récent en imagerie par résonance magnétique avec injection de Dota-gadolinium.

Ten patients with acute myocardial infarction were studied by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with injection of a paramagnetic contrast agent: Gadolinium-DOTA (Gd-DOTA). The time interval between the onset of symptoms and MRI was 8 to 12 days. The site of infarction was determined in all cases by Thallium 201 scintigraphy (hypofixation) and selective ventriculography (segmental wall anomalies): anterior (6 cases), inferior (4 cases). MRI was performed with a 0.5 Tesla CGR Magniscan by the multiple spin technique. A series of tomographic sections was recorded immediately after intravenous injection of 0.4 mmol/Kg of Gd-DOTA. Recent myocardial infarction with parenchymal oedema gives an enhanced transmural signal: only 3 patients had a sufficiently contrasted image on the 1st spin echo. After Gd-DOTA, 7 patients had significantly increased contrast on this echo and in all excellent contrast between infarcted and healthy myocardium was obtained in 9 of the 10 patients. There was excellent correlation concerning the site of infarction between Thallium scintigraphy and left ventriculography. The intensity of signal and T2 relaxation time of different myocardial segments was studied by the regions of interest technique: the ratio of signal intensity of infarcted/healthy myocardium was 1.3 before and 1.7 after Gd-DOTA on first spin echo images. The mean T2 was 54.1 +/- 9 ms in healthy and 82 +/- 28 ms in infarcted myocardium. After Gd-DOTA, both values decreased and tended to equalize.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Value of magnetic resonance imaging in 2 cases of annular constriction of the ventricles]. / Intérêt de l'imagerie par résonance magnétique dans deux cas de constriction annulaire des ventricules.

Chronic pericarditis can take the form of localised annular bands constricting the atrioventricular grooves, the pulmonary infundibulum and, rarely, the atria. The authors report two cases of pericardial bands surrounding the ventricles and involving the atrioventricular groove resulting in a biloculation of the left ventricle. One case was complicated by adiastole and one by mitral regurgitation due to involvement of the posterior mitral leaflet. Magnetic resonance imaging gave precise definition of these bands and of their extension into the myocardium. This investigation was a valuable complement before surgery of the localised constriction.

[Immediate delayed coronary angioplasty after intravenous thrombolysis in myocardial infarction. Prospective study]. / Angioplastie coronaire précoce ou différée après thrombolyse intraveineuse pour infarctus du myocarde. Etude prospective.

A prospective randomized study was undertaken in 50 patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis (streptokinase, tissue plasminogen activator, association of the two thrombolytics) for acute myocardial infarction to determine the best time to perform percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Coronary angiography was carried out 24 to 72 hours after thrombolysis. This investigation allowed identification of the patients in whom PTCA was technically feasible. These patients were then divided into two groups: Group A: early PTCA (24-72 hours) and Group B: delayed PTCA (8-10 days). During the hospital period, the patients were prescribed heparin therapy and aspirin. Recurrent ischemia (RI) was investigated and treated by PTCA. The criteria of success of strategies A and B were a primary success of PTCA and no RI during the hospital period. Coronary angiography was performed in 108 successive patients of whom 50 were included for the comparative trial, 25 in Group A and 25 in Group B. In group A, PTCA was successful in 24 cases and there were 2 incidents of RI (6 hours and 12 days). In Group B, 4 episodes of RI were observed in the 24 hours following coronary angiography: after 10 days, 15 of the 20 patients with uncomplicated courses underwent PTCA; 1 patient refused consent, 2 regressions of stenosis and 3 asymptomatic reocclusions were observed. A primary success of PTCA was obtained in 13 of the 15 patients. There was no statistically significant difference between the results of the strategies adopted in Groups A and B. A therapeutic success was obtained in 22 of the 25 patients in Group A, and 19 of the 25 patients in Group B.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Chronic subdural hematoma and transient neurologic deficits]. / Hématomes sous-duraux chroniques et déficits neurologiques transitoires.

Three cases of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) revealed by transient neurological accidents are reported. Although well-known this condition is rare: 1 to 9 p. 100 of CSDHs. Questioning may bring out a history of cranial injury and headache, even minor ones, which are unusual in transient ischemic accidents (TIA). Transient phenomena, such as motor aphasia or speech interruption, point to the diagnosis, especially in male patients over 60 years of age. The finding at electroencephalography of a delta activity more than 48 hours after a TND should exclude the diagnosis of TIA until a CT scan is performed. Since the causes of neurological deficits regressing within less than 24 hours may be ischemia as well a hemorrhage or tumour, the term of transient neurological accident (TNA) should preferably be used, and an emergency CT scan should be performed for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Owing to the possibility of another concomitant cause of TNA, the finding of a subdural haematoma should not deter from pursuing cardiovascular examinations. The mechanism of TNA probably involves a vascular factor, as suggested by I-123 IMP cerebral SPECT which shows an intercritical decrease in cerebral blood flow and/or an epileptic factor.

Assessment of normal and abnormal prosthetic mitral valves by Doppler echocardiography. Doppler in prosthetic mitral valves.

Pulsed, continuous-wave, and color Doppler were performed in 165 normal mitral prostheses and 58 patients with prosthetic dysfunction (46 regurgitant and 12 obstructive valves) proved by catheterization and/or surgery. Mean mitral gradient (MG) and pressure half-time (PHT) were determined in all cases. Among normal prostheses, a wide range of both MG and PHT was observed in each type of valve and a considerable overlap between valves of different size. St-Jude's valve had the most optimal hemodynamics. Mild mitral insufficiency was detected in 14% of tissue and 24% of mechanical mitral valves. Repeat studies were performed in 30 patients over a 2.4 years period. Nine patients developed Doppler evidence of new prosthetic dysfunction, while Doppler parameters remained unchanged in 21 patients during the follow-up period. Among malfunctioning valves, Doppler correctly identified all cases of prosthetic obstruction (n = 12), and 42 of 46 regurgitant valves. We conclude that Doppler echocardiography is a very useful technique in both non-invasive assessment and follow-up of normal prosthetic valves in the mitral position and in detecting prosthetic dysfunction, especially when prosthetic obstruction is present.

[Has the prognosis of recent myocardial infarction changed?]. / Le pronostic de l'infarctus du myocarde récent a-t-il changé?

In this retrospective study changes in the prognosis of recent myocardial infarction were evaluated by comparing 731 patients hospitalized in the 1970-1974 period (group I) with 755 patients hospitalized in the 1984-1986 period (group II). The possible factors responsible for the changes observed were investigated. A 34 percent decrease in hospital mortality was recorded (19.2% in group I versus 12.6% in group II; P less than 0.001). The decrease was present irrespective of the patients' sexes and ages; it was more pronounced in patients under 65 (-42%) and in elderly women (-43%). Compared with group I patients, group II patients showed a significant decrease in cardiogenic shock (P less than 0.02), atrial fibrillation (P less than 0.05) and, chiefly, atrioventricular block (P less than 0.001). The improvement in prognosis cannot be ascribed to a change of population since both groups were matched in male to female ratio, age distribution and presence of the main risk factors. Three factors may have contributed to a better prognosis: (1) more rapid admission to hospital; the proportion of patients admitted within 6 hours of the initial symptoms rose from 37.5% in group I to 49.8% in group II (P less than 0.001); (2) modification of the conventional treatment, with a reduced prescription of digitalis and a less frequent recourse to temporary electrical pacing; (3) introduction of new treatments aimed at limiting the size of the necrotic area; these include thrombolytic agents which were administered in 19.2% of patients under 65 and may well have played the principal role in the improvement of outcome.