RESUMO
Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy is a primary myocardial disease which is characterised by left ventricular, or biventricular, dilatation and impaired contractility. The precise aetiology is unknown and the relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors is debated. We report two identical male twins of Caucasian origin with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy who presented within a few months of each other.
Assuntos
Cardiomiopatia Dilatada/etiologia , Doenças em Gêmeos/etiologia , Fibrilação Atrial , Cardiomiopatia Dilatada/genética , Ecocardiografia , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Valva Mitral , Gêmeos Monozigóticos , Função Ventricular EsquerdaRESUMO
Forty-seven elderly patients (aged 70-95 years) with mitral stenosis (MS) were studied. The initial presentation in 77% of patients was in the postretirement age and 55% were diagnosed after the age of 70 years. A history of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) was given by 43% of all patients. One patient had mitral valve stenosis secondary to mitral annular calcification. MS due to rheumatic heart disease may be mild or the progress may be slow enabling patients to live a near normal life; increased longevity of the population in general, use of potent diuretics, limitation of physical activity due to medical complications and decreased number of pregnancies may have been contributory factors. In 23% of patients the diagnosis was initially unrecognized, underlining the possible occult nature of the valve lesion in some elderly patients. The advent of echocardiography has helped in case detection.
Assuntos
Estenose da Valva Mitral/diagnóstico , Fatores Etários , Idoso , Ecocardiografia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Estenose da Valva Mitral/etiologia , Febre Reumática/complicaçõesRESUMO
In a randomized trial, the efficacy of pivampicillin (500 mg or 1 g twice daily) was compared with that of amoxycillin (250 mg or 500 mg 3-times daily) in 43 elderly hospitalized patients with bronchopneumonia (32 patients) or an acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (11 patients). Overall, 13 (57%) out of the 23 patients taking pivampicillin were cured, and the remaining 10 subjects were improved. In the amoxycillin group, there were 9 (45%) cures, 9 improved and 2 failures of treatment. One patient in each treatment group had mild side-effects. Forty (93%) out of the 43 patients in the study expressed a preference for an antibiotic that was given twice daily as opposed to one where 3 doses were taken each day.
