Acta medica Scandinavica
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Acta medica Scandinavica · Jan 1984
Case ReportsVisual disturbances and occipital brain infarct following acute, transient hypotension in hypertensive patients.
In four hypertensive patients, acute lowering of blood pressure by therapeutic or diagnostic procedures caused visual disturbances ranging from transient visual hallucinations to severe, long-lasting visual impairment. These symptoms were associated with occipital lobe cerebral infarcts that tended to occur in the border zones between the major cerebral arteries. The infarcts may be seen as the combined result of a "watershed" effect during acute hypotension and the presence of structural hypertensive vascular adaptation. When a hypertensive patient complains of visual disturbances during acute blood pressure lowering, the pressure should be allowed to settle at a level somewhat above normal.
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Acta medica Scandinavica · Jan 1984
Case ReportsParoxysmal dysarthria and Raynaud's phenomenon in the tongue.
Three patients suffering from systemic scleroderma and Raynaud's phenomenon in the digits as well as the tongue are reported. Following exposure to cold, a vasospasm was observed in the digits and the tongue accompanied by severe dysarthria. These striking oral symptoms had been overlooked for years in the medical ward. It is recommended to question all patients with Raynaud's phenomenon about visceral manifestations during the digital attacks.
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Acta medica Scandinavica · Jan 1984
Cardiac dysrhythmias in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Relation to serum potassium level and prior diuretic therapy.
A series of 676 patients with acute myocardial infarction were evaluated with regard to initial serum potassium level, prior diuretic therapy and occurrence of cardiac dysrhythmias during their first 24 hours in a coronary care unit. Serious dysrhythmias (ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and asystole) were significantly more frequent in hypokalemic patients. In this regard no differences were observed between patients on or off prior diuretic therapy.