American heart journal
-
American heart journal · Sep 2000
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyPilsicainide for conversion and maintenance of sinus rhythm in chronic atrial fibrillation: a placebo-controlled, multicenter study.
Pilsicainide is a newly synthesized antiarrhythmic agent with class Ic properties. Various antiarrhythmic agents have been used to convert atrial fibrillation (AF) to sinus rhythm or decrease the rate of relapse of AF. ⋯ Pilsicainide is effective in restoring or maintaining sinus rhythm in patients with chronic AF lasting longer than an average duration of 22 months. No major adverse effects were observed.
-
American heart journal · Sep 2000
Randomized Controlled TrialEffects of diltiazem pretreatment on direct-current cardioversion in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation: a single-blind, randomized, controlled study.
Electric conversion of atrial fibrillation is the most widely used and effective treatment for sinus rhythm restoration. However, it has a limited success rate and a high recurrence rate. ⋯ Although diltiazem seems to be as effective as amiodarone in reducing early atrial fibrillation recurrences, diltiazem is less effective in determining spontaneous or electric conversion, with a higher recurrence rate at 2 months. Diltiazem pretreatment could be considered as only a second choice treatment in those patients in whom amiodarone is contraindicated.
-
American heart journal · Sep 2000
D-Dimer is an early diagnostic marker of coronary ischemia in patients with chest pain.
Chest pain is a frequent symptom in the emergency department and often presents a diagnostic challenge. Because coronary thrombosis is a hallmark of acute ischemic syndromes, the substrates of the coagulation and fibrinolysis cascades may be markers of coronary ischemia. The objective of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of several hemostatic markers in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with chest pain syndromes. ⋯ D-Dimer, an expression of ongoing thrombus formation and lysis, is a marker of substantial incremental value for the early diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes presenting with chest pain. It adds independent information to the traditional assessment for myocardial infarction. D-Dimer can be incorporated into clinical decision models in the ED.
-
American heart journal · Sep 2000
Clopidogrel for prevention of major cardiac events after coronary stent implantation: 30-day and 6-month results in patients with smaller stents.
We developed this study to assess the procedural outcome, complications, and clinical follow-up in patients treated with different antiplatelet regimens after intracoronary stent implantation with small stents. Three hundred sixty-one consecutive patients, in whom at least one 3.0-mm intracoronary stent was implanted, were studied. ⋯ Our observations suggest that clopidogrel can be used instead of ticlopidine in patients treated with stents with a diameter of