联合应用不同类型的药物洗脱支架治疗多支冠状动脉病变

目的探讨联合应用不同类型的药物洗脱支架（DES）治疗多支冠状动脉病变的有效性和安全性。方法在进行多支或多处冠状动脉病变的介入治疗过程中,不同类型的DES（cypher和taxus）同时置人同一患者体内,并分为cypher组和taxus组,所有患者术后进行10个月临床和造影随访。结果34例患者入选,其中靶血管52支,靶病变68处,共置入支架75枚,其中cypher支架36枚、taxus39枚。术前两组狭窄程度分别为（75．4±14．2）％和（76．9±18．2）％,病变长度为（13．5±9．4）mm和（10．9±4．7）mm（P均〉0．05）。置入支架直径cypher组低于taxus组[（2．6±0．3）mm比（2．8±0．4）mm,P〈0．05]。支架长度分别为（16．8±6．3）mm和（16．0±6．3）mm（P〉0．05）。处理同一病变时,cypher和taxus两种支架重叠6例。对所有患者进行了平均（10±5）个月的临床随访,心脏事件（MACE）发生率为8．8％（3／34）。9例患者随访期间进行了冠状动脉造影,其中发生MACE的3例患者有2例发生支架内再狭窄（cypher和taxus组各1例）,另1例为其他部位新的病变。6例支架重叠的患者无MACE发生。结论对多支或多处冠状动脉病变的患者同期置入不同的DES是安全和有效的。     

生物可降解涂层雷帕霉素洗脱支架治疗冠脉小血管病变的长期临床安全性与有效性:CREATE研究亚组分析

目的评估国产生物可降解涂层雷帕霉素洗脱支架(ExcelTM,山东吉威医疗制品有限公司)治疗冠状动脉小血管病变的长期临床安全性与有效性。方法 2006年6月至11月在4个国家的59个中心共有2077例接受单一Excel支架治疗的患者连续入选CREATE研究。以靶病变两端参考血管直径≤2.75 mm为小血管标准(有一支靶血管直径≤2.75 mm即为小血管病变患者),将患者分为小血管病变组(886例,42.7%)和非小血管病变组(1 191例,57.3%)。术后接受双联抗血小板药物(氯吡格雷和阿司匹林)治疗6个月,比较两组术后9个月定量冠状动脉造影(QCA)复查结果及18个月临床随访主要心脏不良事件(MACE)、心性死亡和血栓事件的发生率。结果与非小血管组相比,小血管组女性(29.0%vs 24.5%,P=0.022)、高血压(59.9%vs 52.6%,P=0.001)、既往有心肌梗死(14.0%vs.9.2%,P=0.001)的患者较多,平均年龄大[(61.9±10.6)岁vs.(59.6±11.4)岁,P<0.001],氯吡格雷用药时间两组无明显差别[(200.1±55.0)d vs(197.4±55.0)d,P=0.262]。小血管组患者病变较长[(23.23±14.14)mm vs(21.43±11.79)mm,P=0.039],人均支架植入数多[(2.23±1.33)枚vs(1.49±0.82)枚,P<0.001]。术后9个月QCA结果显示,小血管组和非小血管组支架内晚期管腔丢失[(0.20±0.38)mm vs(0.21±0.42)mm,P=0.654]和再狭窄率(3.9%vs3.4%,P=0.856)无显著差别。18个月临床随访结果表明,小血管组靶病变血运重建率(2.8%vs 1.2%,P=0.006)显著高于非小血管组,但两组MACE(3.9%vs 2.5%,P=0.086)、心性死亡(0.9%vs 1.3%,P=0.441)和支架内血栓(1.0%vs 0.8%,P=0.528)发生率均无显著差异。多因素Cox回归分析结果表明,小血管病变并非MACE的独立危险预测因素(OR 0.848,95%CI 0.482-1.491,P=0.567)。结论 Excel支架治疗冠状动脉小血管病变的长期疗效及安全性与非小血管病变相近,但还需随机对照临床研究证实。     

药物洗脱支架治疗冠状动脉小血管病变的疗效分析

目的 通过分析比较裸金属支架（BMS）与药物洗脱支架[DES，包括雷帕霉素（Cypher）支架和紫杉醇（TAXUS）支架]治疗冠状动脉小血管病变疗效的差异，为DES治疗多支及单支小血管病变冠心病提供依据。方法连续入选2002年12月至2005年5月沈阳军区总医院首次接受经皮冠状动脉介入治疗（PCI）、靶血管为小血管病变且达到完全血运重建的486例患者，其中多支小血管病变（多支）150例。分为BMS组214例（多支63例）、Cypher组140例（多支46例）和TAXUS组132例（多支41例），对比分析各组患者住院期间及随访6个月的临床情况。结果3组患者冠脉病变特点、PCI成功率及住院期间主要不良心脏事件（MACE）发生率等指标差异均无显著性（P〉0．05）。冠脉造影随访显示，两个DES组再狭窄率均明显低于BMS（Cypher组4．9％，TAXUS组7．5％对BMS组29．2％，P〈0．05），随访期间MACE发生率亦明显低于BMS（Cypher组2．9％，TAXUS组3．9％对BMS组12、0％，P〈0．01）。进一步分析多支小血管病例，发现两个DES组的再狭窄率及随访期间MACE发生率仍然明显低于BMS组（再狭窄率Cypher组6．7％，TAXUS组7．1％对BMS组37．5％，P〈0．05；MACE发生率Cypher组4、1％。TAXUS组4．8％对BMS组21．O％，P〈0．05）。结论Cypher和TAXUS支架治疗小血管病变安全可行，疗效显著，治疗多支小血管病变可得到相同的疗效。     

无球囊对吻单支架植入术治疗分叉病变的近期疗效

目的：通过比较分叉病变经皮冠状动脉介入治疗术（PCI）3种处理方法的近期疗效,探讨最简单处理方法-无球囊对吻单支架植入术的安全性及有效性。方法：入选主支血管即刻造影成功PCI患者81例,分成三组：无球囊对吻单支架组,主支血管植入药物洗脱支架（DES）后,边支血管不予任何处理;球囊对吻单支架组,主支植入DES后,边支血管予球囊对吻扩张;球囊对吻双支架组,主支和边支均植入DES后,予球囊对吻。6个月临床随访观察主要不良心血管事件（MACE）发生情况,以及定量冠状动脉造影（QCA）评价血管再狭窄率和血管狭窄程度。结果：术后6个月,虽然三组间边支血管开口狭窄程度[（65．3±19．6）％、（59．9±17．7）％和（46．8±11．5）％,P〈0．001]有显著性差异,但是三组间MACE发生率（12．1％、14．8％和19．0％,P〉0．05）和主支血管再狭窄率（6．1％、7．4％和9．5％,P〉0．05）差异无显著性。结论：主支血管即刻造影成功PCI患者3种处理方法的近期临床疗效并无显著性差异,提示无球囊对吻单支架植入术治疗分叉病变安全有效。     

冠心病合并2型糖尿病患者置入药物洗脱支架的疗效评价

目的 评价冠心病合并2型糖尿病患者冠状动脉病变置入药物洗脱支架后的疗效。方法 选择我院2004年4月至2005年8月连续接受置入药物洗脱支架（DES）或金属裸支架（BMS）治疗并且进行了冠状动脉造影随访的139例的冠心病合并2型糖尿病患者。所有患者在支架术后6个月后接受冠状动脉造影随访。结果共139例患者（男性114例,女性25例）221处病变完成随访。其中C型病变94处（42．5％）,完全闭塞病变42处（19．0％）,平均每个病变支架长度（26．53±14．72）mm,平均参考血管直径（2．80±0．43）mm。两组患者在性别比例和年龄方面差异无统计学意义。两组在冠心病的危险因素如：高血压病、高脂血症、吸烟等方面差异无统计学意义。两组病变的复杂程度基本相当。DES组的参考血管直径比BMS组小[（2．71±0．41）mm比（2．98±0．53）mm,P〈0．001]。6个月后随访,DES组的支架内再狭窄率（10．6％比38．6％,P〈0．001）和病变内晚期腔径丢失[（0．24±0．56）mm比（0．91±0．77）mm,P〈0．001]明显低于BMS组。DES组的靶病变血管重建率显著低于BMS组（8．6％比30．0％,P〈0．001）。DES组有4例晚期支架内血栓。结论 本研究显示药物洗脱支架对于冠心病合并2型糖尿病患者冠状动脉病变的介入治疗有着良好的治疗效果,明显优于金属裸支架。     

血流储备分数在指导冠状动脉多支病变治疗策略中的作用

目的评估冠状动脉造影筛选的冠状动脉多支病变与心肌缺血的关系,阐明血流储备分数（FFR）在指导冠状动脉多支病变治疗策略中的作用。方法纳入96例患者218处冠状动脉病变,根据FFR值分为两组,FFR〉0．80组（113处）及FFR≤0．80组（105处）。结果FFR≤0．80组冠状动脉直径狭窄程度更高[（66．2±10．5）％比（59．1±13．8）％,P〈0．001]、面积狭窄百分比更大[（87．3±7．7）％比（81．44-10．9）％,P〈0．001]、最小管腔直径更小[（0．86±0．36）mm比（1．18±0．49）mm,P〈0．001],上述指标与FFR值无明确相关（相关系数分别为r=-0．286,P〈0．001;r=-0．282,P〈0．001）。冠状动脉最小管腔直径与FFR值呈正相关（r=0．364,P〈0．001）。冠状动脉造影筛选的96例患者中,26例为三支病变,70例为双支病变;经FFR测量后,缺血相关的三支病变10例,两支病变29例,单支病变17例。QCA冠状动脉造影直径狭窄i〉70％,FFR〉0．80的病变为21处（9．6％）;QCA冠状动脉造影直径狭窄〈70％,FFR≤0．80的病变为53处（24．3％）。QCA冠状动脉造影直径狭窄1〉70％,FFR~〈0．80的病变为52处（23．9％）（Matches）;QCA冠状动脉造影直径狭窄〈70％,FFR〉0．80的病变为92处（42．2％）（Matches）。QCA冠状动脉造影面积狭窄I〉70％,FFR〉0．80的病变为89处（40．8％）（Mismatches）;QCA冠状动脉造影面积狭窄≥70％,FFR≤0．80的病变为105处（48．2％）（Matches）;QCA冠状动脉造影面积狭窄〈70％,FFR〉0．80的病变为24处（11．0％）（Matches）。结论FFR在指导冠状动脉多支病变治疗策略中具有重要意义,可显著降低缺血相关靶病变个数。     

可降解聚合物涂层雷帕霉素洗脱支架在治疗冠状动脉弥漫性长病变中的临床研究

目的：评价重叠置入可降解聚合物涂层雷帕霉素洗脱支架（EXCEL支架）在治疗冠状动脉弥漫性长病变中（所需置入支架长度总和>60 mm）的安全性和有效性。
　　方法：回顾性选取2010-08至2012-05期间在我院接受经皮冠状动脉介入治疗（PCI）重叠置入EXCEL支架的冠状动脉弥漫性长病变患者71例,平均年龄为（62.85±10.26）岁,其中74.56%为男性患者。研究终点为住院期间和术后2年随访期间的主要不良心脏事件（MACE）。
　　结果：71例患者,平均每个靶病变置入支架（2.61±0.52）个,平均支架直径为（3.21±0.35）mm,平均每个病变总支架长度为（73.34±13.11）mm。住院期间MACE发生率为4.23%。院外2年随访期间的靶血管血运重建率和MACE发生率分别为9.86％和18.31%。Cox回归分析显示吸烟（风险比：12.102,95％可信区间1.460~100.309,P=0.021）、既往心肌梗死史（风险比：11.948,95％可信区间1.144~124.726,P=0.038）和既往PCI史（风险比：0.097,95％可信区间0.010~0.990,P=0.049）是影响院外MACE发生的独立危险因素。
　　结论：EXCEL支架在治疗冠状动脉弥漫性长病变中的应用是安全和有效的,但远期随访显示MACE和靶血管血运重建的发生率明显增高。     

冠心病患者药物洗脱支架植入术后球囊高压后扩张疗效观察

目的观察冠心病患者药物洗脱支架（DES）植入术后球囊高压后扩张的临床疗效。方法选择冠心病患者656例,其中332例（观察组）冠状动脉DES植入术后予非顺应性球囊高压后扩张,324例（对照组）仅行DES植入术,记录术中及术后情况。结果两组血管病变情况、血管病变数量、植入DES数量、支架植入后管腔狭窄程度、术中并发症比较,P均〉0．05。对照组支架植入后管腔最小直径为（2．74±0．32）mm、绝对内径获得为（2．25±0．40）mm,观察组分别为（3．13±0．34）、（2．63±0．47）mm,P均〈0．05;对照组术后随访亚急性支架内血栓发生率为1．54％、晚期支架内血栓发生率为1．85％,观察组分别为0．30％、0．30％,P均〈0．05。对照组术后12个月主要心脏不良事件发生率为6．79％、支架内再狭窄发生率为6．10％、支架最小内径为（2．37±0．38）mm、支架绝对内径丢失为（0．38±0．19）mm、管腔狭窄程度为18．70％±9．28％,观察组分别为2．41％、2．28％、（2．78±0．42）mm、（0．23±0．13）mm、13．50％±8．67％,P均〈0．05。结论冠心病患者DES植入术后行球囊高压后扩张治疗可明显减轻管腔狭窄、减少绝对内径丢失,主要心脏不良事件发生率和支架内再狭窄发生率也明显降低。     

急诊介入治疗急性心肌梗死患者分叉病变的疗效

目的研究急性心肌梗死（AMI）患者梗死相关血管（IRA）病变为分叉病变时,对急诊经皮冠状动脉介入治疗（PCI）疗效的影响。方法对2004年1月至2008年6月沈阳军区总医院心内科1209例发病在12h内的AMI患者行急诊冠状动脉造影及PCI,包括急性sT段抬高型心肌梗死1037例、急性非sT段抬高型心肌梗死172例,其中梗死相关病变为分叉病变的患者（分叉病变组,BF）247例（20．4％）,为非分叉病变的患者（非分叉病变组,NBF）962例（79．6％）。观察BF组患者的冠状动脉造影特点、急诊PCI的成功率及术后1年主要心血管事件（MACE）发生率。结果BF组和NBF组患者年龄、性别、心功能Ⅲ～Ⅳ级、合并糖尿病、高血压、吸烟、高胆固醇血症、陈旧性心肌梗死病史比率差异无统计学意义。所有病变均置入药物洗脱支架。BF组中220例（89．1％）只在主支置入支架,102例（41．3％）应用导丝保护边支,27例（10．9％）主支及边支均置入支架。BF组与NBF组主支PCI成功率差异无统计学意义（96．8％比98．2％,r=2．10,P=0．15）,术后住院期间MACE发生率差异无统计学意义（4．9％比3．2％,x^2=1．53,P=0．22）,术后1年随访两组MACE发生率差异也无统计学意义（14．2％比12．5％,x^2=0．51,P=0．48）。结论AMI患者IRA病变为分叉病变时,急诊PCI治疗有较高成功率,近期及远期疗效与AMI患者非分叉病变类似。     

雷帕霉素药物支架治疗冠心病的远期疗效

目的 评价雷帕霉素药物洗脱支架（Firebird^TM）在冠心病患者介入治疗中的疗效及其安全性。方法 药物支架组患者接受Firebird^TM支架治疗的老年冠心病患者52例（72枚），普通支架组为选择同期接受普通冠状动脉支架治疗的冠心病患者43例（53枚），比较两组的临床特征、支架置入情况及临床事件发生率。结果 药物支架组中的糖尿病患者占46．2％，明显高于普通支架组（34．9％，P〈0．05）；干预的病变血管呈弥漫性病变，药物支架组占40．9％，高于普通支架组（28.3％，P〈0．05）；病变血管平均参考内径，药物支架组为（2．63±0．23）mm，普通支架组为（3．12±0．17）mm，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）；置入支架内径和长度，药物支架组分别为（2．75±0．22）mm和（23．1±4．0）mm，普通支架组分别为（3．05±0．19）mm和（15．6±3．3）m，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。随访12～18个月，心绞痛复发率，药物支架组3．8％，普通支架组16．3％；靶病变血管再次血运重建率，药物支架组0，普通支架组9．3％，P〈0．05）。结论 Firebird^TM支架治疗冠心病安全有效，对冠状动脉弥漫性病变、小血管病变的也有较好的疗效。其近期及远期临床效果均优于普通支架。     

Endomyocardial biopsy diagnosis of small vessel disease: a clinicopathologic study

We reviewed the clinical history of 191 patients undergoing endomyocardial biopsy and correlated signs and symptoms of heart disease with the presence or absence of small vessel disease. Idiopathic congestive heart failure (78%), arrhythmia (35%), and chest pain (25%) were the most frequent indications for biopsy. Small vessel disease was noted in 61% of the biopsies (67% female, 56% male): 10% severe, 36% moderate, and 15% mild small vessel disease. Patients with hypertension were twice as likely to have small vessel disease than those without hypertension. Of the 27 females with hypertension, 85% had small vessel disease, 67% with either severe or moderate small vessel disease. Small vessel disease was almost twice as frequent in patients with chest pain compared to patients without chest pain. Chest pain was significantly more common in patients with severe small vessel disease than in those with normal small vessels. Of all patients with chest pain, 18% had severe small vessel disease; however, of 20 patients with severe small vessel disease, 45% had chest pain. This analysis suggests that small vessel disease seen in endomyocardial biopsy is more common in women and is related to hypertension. When severe, it is likely to be associated with atypical chest pain.     

Small and large vessel disease in the development of foot lesions in diabetics

This paper describes studies undertaken to determine the role of vascular disease in the development of foot lesions in diabetics, particularly those with neuropathy. The ratios of ankle/arm and toe/ankle blood pressure were used as indices of large and small vessel disease respectively. Diabetic patients with lesions had evidence of more large and small vessel disease than patients without lesions. Patients with neuropathic lesions had evidence of more small vessel disease than patients without lesions.     

冠状动脉小血管支架植入的临床研究

目的：观察冠状动脉小血管病变患者的临床特点、支架植入情况及预后效果。方法：回顾分析冠状动脉小血管严重狭窄患者的临床及支架植入资料，并与同期进行的冠脉大血管支架患者进行比较，比较二者的临床特点、手术方法及预后的异同。结果：冠脉小血管支架组植入成功率97．14％，大血管支架组植入成功率98．95％（P〉0．05）；两组在年龄、性别及高血压患病率方面组间比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05），2型糖尿病患病率在小血管支架组高于大血管支架组（P〈0．05）；植入方法上，使用球囊预扩的比例两组比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）；支架释放后球囊后扩张比例小血管支架组低于大血管支架组（P〈0．05）；术中并发症及随访期预后差异元统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论：冠状动脉小血管支架植入的成功率、预后与大血管支架组无显著差异，可安全地用于冠脉小血管病变的治疗。     

Role of positron emission tomography in determining the extent of CNS ischemia in patients with sickle cell disease

Nearly 25% of patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) experience central nervous system morbidity involving both large and small vessel disease. Optimal imaging methods for determining the extent of ischemia are not known. Positron emission tomography (PET) has the unique ability to show tissue function as well as structure. Reports concerning patients with non-SCD neurodegenerative disorders suggest PET may be useful in determining prognosis. We compared magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance angiography, and neuropsychological testing with PET prospectively. Six patients with SCD and a history of stroke, aged 10 to 28, were enrolled. PET studies were performed on an ECAT HR 47 scanner (Siemens/CTI, Knoxville, TN) using 18-F-fluorodeoxyglucose as a tracer. PET interpretations were conducted in blinded fashion. MRI studies found two patients with only small vessel disease and four with both large and small vessel disease. In two of four subjects with large vessel disease, PET showed a corresponding metabolic abnormality and also identified an area of hypometabolism extending beyond the anatomical lesion as shown by MRI. PET did not demonstrate an abnormality corresponding with small vessel disease. Detailed neuropsychological testing demonstrated cognitive dysfunction in all cases. For some patients, PET may add sensitivity in detecting impaired metabolism in the area surrounding a major vessel infarct. However, the technique does not appear to be generally useful in characterizing small watershed or deep white matter infarcts. Larger studies, to include control subjects and carefully selected untransfused SCD patients, are needed. A combination of conventional imaging and neuropsychological testing remains the preferred evaluation for most SCD patients with neurologic symptoms.     

脑小血管病与认知损害

脑小血管病是临床常见的脑血管疾病,以隐袭起病和缓慢发展为主要特点,部分可急性发作.脑小血管病的影像学特点主要包括脑白质病变、腔隙性脑梗死、脑微出血和血管周围间隙扩大,与认知功能障碍密切相关.各种影像学表现可同时出现及相互作用,进一步加重认知损害,最终导致痴呆.因此,脑小血管病对患者生活质量和社会功能的影响不容忽视.     

Percutaneous coronary intervention for small vessel coronary artery disease

Symptomatic coronary artery disease may be commonly due to significant atherosclerotic disease involving coronary vessels of relatively small caliber (i.e., with reference vessel diameter <2.75 mm). Whenever medical therapy fails and in other selected cases, revascularization by means of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or bypass surgery is indicated even for small vessel coronary disease. However, despite the numerous developments and improvements in devices and techniques, PCI of small coronary vessels is still fraught with a significant risk of midterm restenosis after both balloon-only PCI and bare-metal stent implantation. Drug-eluting stents, especially those associated with very low angiographic late lumen loss (<0.20 mm), appear to significantly improve angiographic and clinical outcomes after PCI of small coronary vessels. The present article provides a concise and updated review on percutaneous coronary revascularization in patients with symptomatic small vessel coronary artery disease.     

Imaging in small and medium vessel vasculitis

Vasculitis includes a group of disorders characterized by inflammation of the vessel wall and classified based on the diameter of the predominantly involved vessels. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis, microscopic polyangiitis, eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis and Henoch‐Schonlein purpura are the important entities in the small vessel vasculitis group, while polyarteritis nodosa and Kawasaki disease represent the medium vessel vasculitis group. The clinical manifestations may be non‐specific and there may be considerable overlap with the other disorders. Imaging plays an important role in diagnosis as well as the management of patients with small and medium vessel vasculitis. Imaging allows direct evaluation of the arteries in medium vessel vasculitis. However, the involved vessels in small vessel vasculitis are smaller than the resolution of the current imaging techniques. Hence, only the end organ changes secondary to involvement of small vessels are examined. In this review we discuss the role of current imaging modalities (predominantly computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) as well as individual disease entities in the groups of small and medium vessel vasculitis.     

高龄脑小血管病患者脑微出血与步态障碍的相关性分析

目的探讨高龄脑小血管病患者脑微出血病灶与步态障碍的关系。方法选择80岁以上军队离退休男性脑小血管病患者232例,通过测量定量步态参数及临床步态量表、脑微出血病灶影像学检查和统计学分析,比较脑微出血病灶数目及部位与步长、步速、步宽等步态特征的相关性。结果脑微出血数目与步长(回归系数=-0.02,P=0.03)、步宽(回归系数=0.21,P=0.04)、Tinetti试验(回归系数=-0.19,P=0.00)及起立行走试验(回归系数=0.02,P=0.02)比较,差异有统计学意义。脑叶和深部微出血灶与步长、步宽呈负相关,与Tinetti试验及站立行走试验的相关性差异有统计学意义(P<0.05,P<0.01)。结论脑微出血作为独立因素和高龄脑小血管病患者的步态障碍有相关性。     

Coronary occlusive disease and late graft failure after cardiac transplantation.

OBJECTIVE--Coronary occlusive disease is the main cause of late mortality after cardiac transplantation. It has both similarities and differences compared with conventional atherosclerotic coronary disease. The pathophysiology of late graft failure from coronary occlusive disease is unclear at present. We reviewed the experience of this disorder in our cardiac transplant programme. DESIGN--A retrospective analysis of angiographic and pathological data. SETTING--A regional cardiothoracic centre and transplant unit. PATIENTS--Of a population of 383 orthotopic cardiac transplant recipients operated upon between January 1979 and June 1990, 447 coronary angiograms were available for review in 193 patients. Thirteen of a possible 18 results of post mortem examinations from patients dying from coronary occlusive disease were available. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE--Coronary occlusive disease was defined as any evidence of disease on coronary angiography. Post mortem examinations were performed with standard techniques. RESULTS--The angiographic prevalence of coronary occlusive disease was 3% (1/32 patients) and 40% (19/47 patients) at one and five years respectively. Twenty six grafts failed due to coronary occlusive disease compared with 132 graft failures from all causes during this period. Acute thrombosis was present in a large vessel in seven of 13 fatal cases undergoing necropsy (54%). Noticeable large vessel involvement with disease in smaller distal vessels was present in four patients (31%). The remaining two patients (15%) had small vessel disease alone. Twelve of the 13 patients had significant cardiomegaly (cardiac weight > or = 400 g) with a mean weight of 510 (range 370-740) g. CONCLUSION--Coronary occlusive disease is the main late complication after cardiac transplantation. A combination of coronary thrombosis, ischaemia from stenoses of large and small coronary vessels, and cardiomegaly contribute to the graft failure of these patients.     

Results of coronary angioplasty in patients aged 75 years and older.

We studied a group of 47 patients greater than or equal to 75 years old. The mean age was 77 +/- 1.5 years and there were 28 (60 percent) male patients. Multivessel disease was present in 72 percent. Angioplasty was successful in 93 percent of 90 stenoses and in 30 percent of ten total occlusions. Single vessel angioplasty was done in 53 percent of patients, double vessel in 28 percent and triple vessel in 19 percent. Incomplete or absent revascularization was present in 47 percent and 9 percent, respectively. Primary clinical success was accomplished in all patients with single vessel disease; in 85 percent of patients with double vessel disease, and in only 52 percent of patients with triple vessel disease. Complications were highest in patients with triple vessel disease: 14 percent mortality and 5 percent emergency CABG. The follow-up at one year showed 91 percent survival. The PTCA is a valid alternative method of revascularization in elderly patients with single and double vessel disease. The results in triple vessel disease are less encouraging.