[Hospital and long-term prognosis of patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction]. / A nem ST-elevációs myocardialis infarctus kórházi és késoi prognózisa.

The authors analyze some clinical data, hospital and long-term prognosis of 139 consecutive patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. A three-quarter-year long follow-up of patients was performed, and data were recorded by use of postal questionnaire. The follow-up was complete in 98% of the patients. The mean age was 78.6 and 71.4 years in the case of female and male patients, respectively. High percent of patients had comorbidity (diabetes mellitus, hypertension and previous ischemic heart disease). Coronary angiography was performed in 30 patients (22%) and revascularization in 29 of them. Hospital mortality was found in 15% and during follow-up 17% of the patients died. The patients who died during hospital stay and during the follow-up period were significantly older than patients who stayed alive. Some echocardiographic parameters were also found prognostically important: ejection fraction, end systolic diameter, segmental wall motion abnormality and severity of mitral regurgitation were found significantly different in patients alive and who died. The authors investigated the hospital discharge medications according to guideline recommendations. The authors emphasize that this quality indicator was much better in this patient population than the earlier published data. By the end of follow-up, similar percent of patients used these drugs as at the time of hospital discharge.

[Juvenile haemochromatosis presenting as intractable congestive heart failure]. / Intractabilis szívelégtelenséget okozó juvenilis haemochromatosis.

Juvenile haemochromatosis is an autosomal, recessive inherited iron metabolism disorder. The rapid deterioration and malignant prognosis differentiate juvenile haemochromatosis from hereditary haemochromatosis. The authors summarize the history of a 25 year old man, who worked in Hungary as a guest worker living in Romania. No significant illness has occurred in his previous history. The abdominal pain was his first symptom and he was treated in different institutions, where cholecystitis, alcoholic hepatic disease, hepatic cirrhosis were considered as a cause of his symptoms. Some weeks later atrial tachycardia, and congestive heart failure were observed and he was sent to our Cardiology Department. The echocardiography revealed diffuse hypokinesis, serious systolic dysfunction (ejection fraction: 21%), grade II mitral and tricuspid insufficiency with pulmonary hypertension. Considering the rapid deterioration of his cardiac function, myocarditis was suspected. Myocardial biopsy and coronary arteriography were performed. Coronary arteries were normal. Ventricular fibrillation occurred during coronary arteriography. Myocardial biopsy revealed juvenile haemochromatosis. Special laboratory examinations (transferrin saturation) were made after biopsy, that also confirmed the diagnosis of juvenile haemochromatosis. Cardiac transplantation was planned. Some days after the diagnosis was made the patient died of cardiogenic shock and intractable heart failure. Autopsy revealed hypogonadism and serious haemochromatosis in different parenchymal organs. Juvenile haemochromatosis should be considered in every young patient with congestive heart failure of unknown etiology.