Clinical cardiology
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Clinical cardiology · Oct 2000
Aortic atherosclerotic lesions in the thoracic aorta detected by multiplane transesophageal echocardiography as a predictor of coronary artery disease in elderly patients.
The presence of atherosclerotic lesions in the thoracic aorta by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) appears to be a marker for the presence of significant coronary artery disease (CAD) in the general population. ⋯ The presence of atherosclerotic lesions in the thoracic aorta is a strong predictor of CAD only in patients < 70 years old. However, the negative predictive value of the method is high for all patients regardless of age.
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Clinical cardiology · Oct 2000
Comparative StudyRelationship between mean right atrial pressure and Doppler parameters in patients with right ventricular infarction.
The incidence of an inferior left ventricular infarction involving the right ventricle is very high, ranging from 14 to 84%. Isolated right ventricular infarction accounts for < 3% of all cases of infarction. ⋯ Echocardiographic and Doppler parameters may be useful for evaluating mean RAP in patients with right ventricular infarction. In patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation, the more important parameters are maximal and minimal RA volumes. In patients without severe tricuspid regurgitation together with right atrial volume, the important parameters are acceleration and deceleration time of the tricuspid inflow peak E velocity and hepatic systolic and diastolic venous flow.
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Clinical cardiology · Sep 2000
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical TrialComparison of the efficacy and tolerability of simvastatin and atorvastatin in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.
Simvastatin and atorvastatin are effective statins for treating hypercholesterolemia. ⋯ In patients with hypercholesterolemia, the most commonly used doses of simvastatin and atorvastatin produced similar changes in LDL cholesterol and achieved an LDL cholesterol level < or = 130 mg/dl (3.4 mmol/l) in a similar number of patients. Both statins were well tolerated.
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Clinical cardiology · Jun 2000
Treatment of hypertension with perindopril reduces plasma atrial natriuretic peptide levels, left ventricular mass, and improves echocardiographic parameters of diastolic function.
Hypertension is a major independent risk factor for cardiac deaths, and diastolic dysfunction is a usual finding during the course of this disease. ⋯ Perindopril caused a significant reduction of LV mass, left atrial volume, and plasma ANP levels, as well as improvement in Doppler parameters of LV filling in this group of patients with hypertension.