International journal of cardiology
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We retrospectively analyzed the clinical features of patients with non-rheumatic atrial fibrillation to identify risk factors of ischemic stroke. Non-rheumatic atrial fibrillation is associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke. However, the predictors of ischemic stroke in non-rheumatic atrial fibrillation are unclear. ⋯ A Cox analysis revealed that endpoint 1 was significantly associated with age (risk ratio (RR) = 1.106, P = 0.0052), end-diastolic left ventricular dimension (RR = 0.882, P = 0.0393), end-systolic left ventricular dimension (RR = 1.149, P = 0.0323) and the thickness of the interventricular septum (RR = 1.493, P = 0.0111). Endpoint 2 was associated with age (RR = 1.122, P = 0.0004), left atrial dimension (RR = 1.057, P = 0.0666), end-diastolic left ventricular dimension (RR = 0.935, P = 0.0426), fractional shortening (RR = 0.880, P = 0.0001) and the thickness of the left ventricular posterior wall (RR = 1.644, P = 0.0004). The present results suggest that, in addition to left ventricular dimensions and left atrial dimension, left ventricular hypertrophy may be associated with ischemic stroke.
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Comparative Study
Tachycardia induced cardiomyopathy in dogs; relation between chronic supraventricular and chronic ventricular tachycardia.
Long-standing ventricular tachycardia (VT) and supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) can produce a reversible left ventricular dysfunction. The onset of cardiomyopathy and the severity of posttachycardic changes depend at least on three parameters of tachycardia, including its type (VT or SVT), rate and duration. Ten dogs (beagles) were paced at 180 beats/min for 3 weeks. ⋯ Left ventricular pulmonary capillary wedge pressure increased significantly after either type of tachycardia as compared with baseline values (SVT: 7.5 +/- 1.2 mmHg, VT: 8.4 +/- 1.1 mmHg vs. 1.9 +/- 1.5 mmHg, P < 0.05); the difference between tachycardias was not significant. The present study demonstrates that chronic SVT and VT result in left ventricular dysfunction in a relatively short time, even if the heart rate is not very high. Deterioration of left ventricular ejection fraction and dilation of the left ventricle are more marked in chronic VT than in chronic SVT.