Williams综合征患儿的术后护理

主动脉瓣上狭窄(SVAS)是最少见的一种先天性主动脉狭窄,Toronto儿童医院报道主动脉瓣上狭窄仅占主动脉狭窄的0.12%[1],若合并多器官功能紊乱则称为Williams综合征.表现为血钙特高,弱智,生长发育落后,性情狂乱好动等,常伴有肺动脉狭窄[2].手术治疗主要纠正其心脏畸形,术后严密的病情观察及给予正确的针对性的护理措施能提升护理质量,减少并发症.1999年4月-2007年4月我科收治10例Williams综合征患儿,术后护理效果明显,现报道如下.     

超声心动图评估室间隔完整合并体-肺侧支形成肺动脉闭锁

目的探讨超声心动图评估肺动脉闭锁伴室间隔完整(PA/IVS)合并体-肺侧支的价值。方法应用超声心动图诊断PA/IVS 24例,重点采用剑突下、胸骨上窝、胸骨旁高位切面进行检查。结果 24例PA/IVS中超声心动图诊断正确23例,误诊1例;肺动脉瓣及漏斗部肥厚闭锁6例,肺动脉瓣呈膜性闭锁17例,肺动脉主干呈条束状1例;所有患儿室间隔均连续完整,均有心房水平的右向左分流,均合并动脉导管未闭。结论超声心动图对PA/IVS具有较高的诊断价值,对该类疾病的临床评估具有重要意义,有助于指导外科手术并评估预后。     

超声心动图对威廉斯综合征心血管系统病变的诊断价值

目的探讨超声心动图在威廉斯综合征心血管系统病变诊断中的临床应用价值.方法回顾性分析我院2008年8月至2012年2月确诊的威廉斯综合征患者15例,男11例,女4例,年龄为2个月至15岁10个月.分析威廉斯综合征心血管病变的超声心动图特点,总结超声心动图对威廉斯综合征心血管系统病变的诊断价值.结果超声心动图检查发现15例威廉斯综合征患者均有主动脉瓣上狭窄,二维超声显示主动脉窦上方局限性环形狭窄,或弥漫性发育不良致内径变窄;彩色多普勒显示主动脉瓣上方狭窄处五彩镶嵌血流束.本组病例中4例为单纯主动脉瓣上狭窄,11例合并肺动脉狭窄;冠状动脉内径增宽5例,左心室壁增厚3例,主动脉瓣狭窄2例,二尖瓣脱垂1例.合并其他先天性心脏畸形7例,分别为主动脉缩窄2例、室间隔缺损1例、房间隔缺损2例、动脉导管未闭2例.15例患者均行多层螺旋CT增强扫描,5例患者行外科手术,诊断结果均与超声检查一致.结论威廉斯综合征患者心血管系统病变发病率高,其中以主动脉瓣上狭窄最为常见,超声心动图能对其作出明确诊断,可以作为诊断威廉斯综合征心血管病变的首选无创检查方法.     

肺动脉吊带的超声心动图误诊分析

目的分析肺动脉吊带的超声心动图误诊原因,探讨超声心动图检查对本病的诊断价值。方法以我院2006年10月至2010年2月经增强CT检查及手术治疗证实的25例肺动脉吊带患儿为研究对象,回顾性分析其超声心动图检查结果。结果 25例肺动脉吊带患儿均因呼吸道症状来我院就诊,经超声心动图检查确诊18例、疑诊2例、误诊5例。确诊的18例患儿超声心动图检查显示肺动脉分叉消失,主肺动脉直接延续为右肺动脉,于右肺动脉发出异常起源的左肺动脉,诊断正确率为72.0%(18/25)。2例疑诊患儿是因肺部疾患影响透声窗导致观察受限。误诊的5例患儿中有3例为肺动脉吊带合并动脉导管未闭,超声心动图检查仅诊断出动脉导管未闭而漏诊肺动脉吊带;余2例为肺动脉吊带合并右旋心,超声心动图检查误诊为右肺动脉缺如。25例患儿中单纯肺动脉吊带6例,合并其他心血管畸形19例。25例患儿均伴有不同程度气道受压,有明显气道狭窄的23例。结论超声心动图检查可早期确诊肺动脉吊带,多切面扫查肺动脉分叉及左右分支走行,可减少本病的误诊。     

超声心动图诊断儿童威廉斯综合征的应用价值

目的威廉斯综合征(WS)常合并心血管异常,探讨超声心动图在临床快速筛查诊断此病的应用价值。方法选取我院超声心动图异常表现(如主动脉瓣上狭窄、肺动脉狭窄)患儿,结合美国儿科学会WS临床诊断评分法,筛出12例疑诊WS患儿,行相关基因检测,同时部分患儿接受CT血管成像对比,评价超声心动图在WS诊断中的应用价值。结果12例疑诊患儿中9例有小精灵面容,超声心动图发现主动脉瓣上狭窄最常见,占92%,其次为肺动脉狭窄占75%,合并房间隔缺损7例(7/12),占58%,室间隔缺损4例(4/12),占33%,主动脉缩窄2例(2/12),占17%。本组9例(9/12)美国儿科学会评分≥10分者基因检测存在WS相关基因微缺失。结论超声心动图特异度异常结合小精灵面容有利于提高筛查阳性率,可以较快速、准确诊断WS。     

手术治疗先天性主动脉瓣上狭窄42例疗效观察

目的探讨先天性主动脉瓣上狭窄(supravalvular aortic stenosis, SVAS)患儿行手术治疗的安全性及近中期疗效。方法先天性SVAS患儿42例,36例在体外循环下行主动脉瓣窦-升主动脉补片扩大成形术,6例在体外循环下行升主动脉-主动脉弓延长补片成形术。记录体外循环时间、主动脉阻断时间、呼吸机辅助时间、术后ICU停留时间及住院时间;术后7 d复查心脏CT造影,检测主动脉瓣上及合并病变是否有残余梗阻;分别于术前及术后7 d行超声心动图检查,测定主动脉瓣上流速、主动脉跨瓣压差及左室射血分数;随访观察近中期预后。结果 42例均顺利完成手术,体外循环时间(64.7±24.6)min,主动脉阻断时间(51.8±22.3)min,呼吸机辅助时间(25.8±26.4)h,术后ICU停留时间(12.3±6.2)d,住院时间(16.3±6.2)d;术后7 d心脏CT造影示主动脉瓣上及合并病变无残余梗阻;术后7 d主动脉跨瓣处压差[(20.34±8.56)mm Hg]较术前[(67.46±26.16)mm Hg]降低(P0.05),主动脉瓣上流速[(1.63±0.68)m/s]较术前[(4.13±1.04)m/s]减慢(P0.05),左室射血分数[(67.14±6.03)%]较术前[(61.35±5.12)%]增高(P0.05);住院期间死亡2例,余患儿均顺利出院;随访至1个月～5年6个月,失访4例,余患儿心脏CT造影示均无残余梗阻。结论先天性SVAS患儿行手术治疗可解除主动脉瓣上及合并病变梗阻,改善心功能,安全性高,近中期效果满意。     

胎儿主动脉瓣二瓣化畸形的超声特征分析

目的探讨胎儿主动脉瓣二瓣化畸形超声心动图特征。方法回顾性分析12例经产后证实的主动脉瓣二瓣化畸形胎儿超声心动图资料。结果 12例主动脉瓣二瓣化畸形胎儿,8例产前明确诊断,3例产前有阳性超声表现提示,1例漏诊。主动脉瓣二瓣化畸形胎儿超声心动图特征性表现:(1)升主动脉增宽(9例,75%);(2)左室流出道切面主动脉瓣开放不贴壁(8例,67%);(3)心底大动脉短轴切面主动脉瓣显示2个瓣(8例,67%)。4例合并主动脉瓣狭窄,3例产前明确诊断,瓣口峰值流速≥1.4m/s,1例产前未提示;另有3例产前考虑合并主动脉瓣狭窄,产后证实不合并狭窄,瓣口峰值流速均1.4m/s。结论升主动脉增宽为胎儿主动脉瓣二瓣化畸形超声心动图中最敏感征象,左室流出道切面主动脉瓣开放不贴壁为第二间接征象,心底大动脉短轴切面清晰显示主动脉瓣2个瓣是其确诊指征。产前瓣口峰值流速≥1.4m/s,为诊断是否合并狭窄的敏感指征。     

超声心动图在右室双出口大动脉转换术前后的应用价值

目的探讨超声心动图在右室双出口(DORV)大动脉转换术前后的应用价值。方法回顾性分析160例经手术证实为DORV,并行大动脉转换术患儿的超声心动图资料,将手术前后的超声检查结果进行对比。结果 160例患儿中,超声术前诊断DORV者155例(96.9%),术前诊断室间隔缺损部位与手术相符者127例(79.3%)。术后补片残余分流者17例;术后超声提示左、右肺动脉流速情况85例(53.1%),其中右肺动脉狭窄29例,左肺动脉狭窄21例。新主动脉瓣反流程度较术前加重者114例,新肺动脉瓣反流程度较术前加重者20例。结论超声心动图可于术前准确诊断DORV及其室间隔缺损部位;术后准确评估半月瓣反流程度、补片残余分流及吻合口残余梗阻的情况,但对于肺动脉分支狭窄的检出较为困难。     

超声心动图对单侧肺动脉起源异常的诊断及随访价值

目的探讨超声心动图对单侧肺动脉起源异常的诊断价值。方法回顾性分析1999年1月至2015年5月在复旦大学附属儿科医院进行超声心动图检查,诊断或疑似诊断为单侧肺动脉起源异常(AOPA)患儿的超声心动图资料。超声心动图结果与多排螺旋CT(MSCT)和术中诊断结果比较,分析超声心动图对单侧肺动脉异常起源的诊断及随访价值。结果超声心动图共诊断42例单侧肺动脉起源异常,其中确诊36例,疑似诊断6例,男性24例,女性18例,平均月龄(9.76±27.00)个月。36例确诊患儿中,4例患儿首次本院超声心动图误诊为原发性肺动脉高压,再次超声心动图检查确诊为单侧肺动脉起源异常;4例患儿外院误诊或漏诊。6例疑似诊断患儿中,通过MSCT检查,5例明确诊断为单侧肺动脉起源异常,1例为右侧肺动脉缺如。超声心动图直接征象为主肺动脉分叉结构消失,发现一侧肺动脉由主动脉发出;间接征象表现为重度肺动脉高压。诊断准确率为85.7%(36/42),近端型诊断准确率97.2%,远端型诊断准确率2%。20例患儿进行手术治疗后,超声心动图随访,吻合口平均流速为(2.36±0.62)m/s,平均压差为(23±13)mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 k Pa)。结论超声心动图是术前诊断单侧肺动脉起源异常的首选有效方法,可明确诊断近端型,对远端型可提示诊断;同时也是术后评价肺动脉吻合口及肺动脉压力简便、无创的最佳方法。     

先天性双孔二尖瓣畸形的彩色多普勒超声心动图诊断

目的通过总结分析先天性双孔二尖瓣畸形(DOMV)的超声表现,探讨彩色多普勒超声心动图的诊断价值.方法分别对7例先天性双孔二尖瓣畸形进行常规心脏检查,重点观察二尖瓣短轴切面、心尖四腔和两腔切面及胸骨旁左室长轴切面,观察瓣口形态、瓣膜回声、血流动力学情况及有无合并其他心血管畸形,并与手术比较.结果7例患者完全型2例,不完全型5例.二尖瓣中-重度反流2例,轻-中度反流3例,轻度狭窄伴轻度反流1例,无狭窄及反流1例.伴乳头肌发育异常1例,伴主动脉瓣二叶瓣畸形合并主动脉瓣赘生物形成1例.3例经手术证实.结论彩色多普勒超声心动图可以准确诊断先天性双孔二尖瓣畸形,并了解其血流动力学改变,是临床诊断的首选方法.     

Multiple aortic root echoes: clinical, radiographic, and angiographic correlations

Multiple diastolic echoes in the aortic root on M-mode echocardiography may represent fibrosis or calcification of the aortic wall, aortic leaflets, or proximal portions of the coronary arteries. In this study, 83 patients with multiple diastolic echoes were evaluated by cardiac fluoroscopy and the incidence of valvular, coronary, and aortic wall calcification was determined. In patients with multiple diastolic echoes who have no evidence of significant aortic stenosis (aortic valve opening less than or equal to 1.0 cm) or aortic insufficiency (fine fluttering of the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve), the presence of multiple diastolic echoes was highly associated with significant coronary artery calcification (64%) with over two-thirds having multivessel involvement. Patients referred for echocardiography who are free of significant aortic stenosis or aortic insufficiency by echocardiographic criteria who are found to have multiple diastolic echoes in the aortic root should be evaluated further for the possible presence of significant multivessel coronary artery disease.     

Gore-Tex在右心室流出道重建术中的应用

目的探讨0.1 mm厚聚四氟乙烯(Gore-Tex)片制作肺动脉单瓣跨环补片重建右心室流出道的近中期临床疗效。方法76例合并肺动脉狭窄或畸形的先天性心脏病患儿,其中法洛四联症(tetralogy of Fallot,TOF)合并肺动脉狭窄55例,TOF合并Ⅰ型肺动脉闭锁7例,TOF合并肺动脉瓣缺如5例,右心室双出口合并肺动脉狭窄3例,TOF行改良Blalock-Taussig分流术后6例(左侧改良Blalock-Taussig分流术5例,右侧1例),均行矫治术,术中使用Gore-Tex片制作肺动脉单瓣跨环补片重建右心室流出道。比较术前与术中停体外循环后血氧饱和度、肺动脉干直径等差异,随访观察手术效果。结果76例均顺利完成手术,体外循环时间118(109,134)min,主动脉阻断时间86(77,102)min,术后呼吸机辅助时间88(45,99)h,ICU停留时间135(114,161)h;术后因心包压塞急诊二次手术1例,发生一过性低心排血量综合征2例、心律失常2例、肺部感染1例,均经对症治疗后恢复;1例室间隔微小残余分流(流速<2.5 m/s),术后6个月自行闭合。术中停体外循环后血氧饱和度[96.00(94.00,97.00)%]较术前[84.00(78.00,89.00)%]增高,肺动脉干直径[12.00(10.12,13.00)mm]较术前[6.60(5.80,7.50)mm]增加,肺动脉瓣压差[21.00(16.00,27.00)mm Hg]、肺动脉瓣上流速[2.31(2.00,2.70)m/s]较术前[86.00(72.00,94.75)mm Hg、4.60(4.20,5.10)m/s]降低(P<0.05)。术后随访3~48个月,超声心动图示73例肺动脉瓣瓣叶活动良好,开启闭合正常;3例轻度肺动脉瓣狭窄,随访期间未见进一步加重;5例肺动脉瓣轻度关闭不全;均无肺动脉单瓣的撕裂、黏连、增厚、钙化、血栓形成及感染等。结论右心室流出道重建中术应用Gore-Tex片制作肺动脉单瓣有较好的近中期抗反流作用,可改善右心功能。     

Quadricuspid aortic valve associated with aortic stenosis and regurgitation: report of a case and a review of the literature

Quadricuspid aortic valve (QAV) is a rare congenital heart valve disease, and more than half of QAV patients have severe aortic regurgitation (AR). We describe the case of a 66-year-old woman with QAV detected by transthoracic echocardiography during a medical checkup. Doppler echocardiographic examination showed mild aortic stenosis and mild AR. The patient has been under routine medical review without medication therapy. At follow-up echocardiographic examinations over a 4-year period, no significant changes in severity of aortic stenosis or AR were found. The clinical and functional characteristics of 192 cases of QAV were reviewed. The functional status of the QAV was known in 144 cases; of these, only 13 (9%) had both aortic stenosis and AR.     

The value of Doppler echocardiography in the management of patients with valvular heart disease: analysis of one year of clinical practice

Management recommendations based on Doppler echocardiographic examination and cardiac catheterization were compared in a prospective study in 100 consecutive patients who were admitted for evaluation and treatment of suspected valvular heart disease during 1988. Management recommendations were provided independently after both Doppler echocardiography and cardiac catheterization by different and blinded investigators. Criteria for severe (clinically significant) and moderate to mild (insignificant) valvular lesions and management recommendations were agreed on in advance. There was disagreement on the severity of aortic stenosis based on the aortic valve area and maximum instantaneous pressure gradient in 1 of 54 patients, which resulted in differing management recommendations. Mitral stenosis was severe (valve area less than or equal to 1 cm2) at Doppler echocardiography but not at cardiac catheterization in 5 of 14 patients. Because pulmonary artery pressure increase during exercise at cardiac catheterization also suggested severe obstruction, management recommendations were similar. There was a potentially significant disagreement on the severity of aortic regurgitation in 9 of 76 patients and of mitral regurgitation in 14 of 90 patients; however, this did not produce differing management recommendations because with most patients coexistent valvular lesions or an impaired ventricular function mainly determined the ultimate management decision. Although of good quality, Doppler echocardiographic examination was nonconclusive for clinical decision-making in 15% of the study population because of uncertainty about the severity of mitral regurgitation or aortic regurgitation or because of problems in assessing the degree of left ventricular dysfunction in patients with severe regurgitation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

胎儿先天性矫正型大动脉转位的产前超声心动图诊断

目的探讨并总结胎儿先天性矫正型大动脉转位（cc-TGA）产前超声心动图图像特征。 方法回顾分析2011年1月至2017年12月黑龙江省哈尔滨市红十字中心医院行产前超声心动图诊断,并经引产后病理解剖或产后小儿超声心动图确诊的5例cc-TGA胎儿超声心动图影像,总结其超声心动图特征、诊断及鉴别诊断方法。 结果5例cc-TGA胎儿中,4例引产后病理解剖证实为cc-TGA SLL型;1例活产后经小儿超声心动图证实为cc-TGA IDD型,小儿产后90 d状态良好。5例cc-TGA胎儿中2例行胎儿染色体检查,染色体核型正常。5例cc-TGA胎儿产前超声心动图四腔心切面与上腹部横切面联合应用、左右心室流出道切面、主动脉弓与动脉导管弓切面、三血管切面、三血管气管切面具有特征性表现。产前超声心动图显示5例cc-TGA胎儿合并多种心内外畸形：4例SLL型胎儿中3例合并室间隔缺损,2例合并肺动脉闭锁,1例合并肺动脉狭窄,2例合并永存左上腔,2例合并房室瓣返流,1例合并心内膜垫缺损;1例SLL型胎儿合并心外多发畸形,包括双侧脑积水、脊柱裂、双侧足内翻;1例IDD型胎儿合并心内多发畸形,包括室间隔缺损、肺动脉轻度狭窄、右位主动脉弓,合并心外畸形有腹腔脏器镜像反位。 结论掌握cc-TGA各切面超声心动图特征可以有效发现、诊断本病。胎儿cc-TGA预后差异很大,取决于相关缺陷的严重程度。     

两腔心及合并畸形的彩色多普勒超声心动图特征研究

目的 探寻两腔心(BH)及合并畸形的彩色多普勒超声心动图图像特征.方法 超声检查20例BH,寻找BH及合并畸形的声像图特征表现.所有患者均有心血管造影对照,14例经手术证实.结果 根据声像图特征表现对19例作出正确诊断,1例误诊为二尖瓣闭锁.BH及合并畸形的声像图特征明显:①二维超声心动图(2DE)心尖四腔观显示房间隔与室间隔回声全部失落,心内十字交叉消失,收缩期显示一组共同房室瓣关闭,呈"8字形"改变,称2DE"8"字征;舒张期一组共同房室瓣开向一个共同心室腔.②彩色多普勒血流显像(CDFI)舒张期均显示共同心房内血流信号通过共同房室瓣进入共同心室内;收缩期显示过共同房室瓣五彩镶嵌反流束血流信号15例.③在20例BH中,心房正位16例,心房反位4例.共同心室A型10例,B型2例,C型8例.大动脉位置关系Ⅰ型4例,Ⅱ型7例,Ⅲ型9例.肺动脉狭窄18例,肺动脉高压2例.④合并肺动脉狭窄患者CDFI于收缩期显示过肺动脉五彩镶嵌射流束血流信号.结论 BH及合并畸形的声像图特征明显,其对BH及合并畸形有特异性诊断价值.     

Pulmonary Stenosis Caused by Extrinsic Compression of an Aortic Pseudoaneurysm of a Composite Aortic Graft

Pulmonic stenosis and stenosis of the right ventricular outflow tract related to extrinsic compression have been described in patients with tumors, in a patient with a pericardial cyst, and in patients with vascular abnormalities as an unruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm, a giant coronary artery pseudoaneurysm and an aortic arch aneurysm. Composite graft replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic valve with reimplantation of the coronary arteries has some inherent complications. Our case report describes a patient with a pericomposite graft aneurysm presenting as a stenosis of the pulmonary artery, detected by Doppler echocardiography. (J Am Soc Echocardiogr 1999;12:997-1000.)     

超声心动图与心血管造影对左冠状动脉异常起源于肺动脉诊断价值的对比研究

目的：探讨左冠状动脉异常起源于肺动脉的超声图像特征及经胸超声心动图的诊断价值。方法：对本院收治的7例左冠状动脉异常起源于肺动脉患者进行了回顾性分析，总结各型的超声表现并与心血管造影结果相对照。结果：7例患者中成人型6例，婴儿型1例。超声检查均显示了肺动脉壁异常管腔开口、肺动脉内异常分流和室间隔内冠状动脉侧支血流，并评估了心肌灌注不足所致的心脏形态、功能变化以及瓣膜反流，4例显示了左冠状动脉分支结构。2例误诊为右冠状动脉一肺动脉瘘，2例疑诊冠状动脉异常起源，3例正确诊断。心血管造影全部诊断正确，显示了左冠状动脉异常开口于主肺动脉，右冠状动脉经侧支血管逆行充盈。结论：经胸超声心动图能正确诊断左冠状动脉主干异常起源于肺动脉，与心血管造影相比能提供更多的信息，可作为临床诊断的首选方法。     

Delayed right coronary ostial obstruction after J-valve deployment in transcatheter aortic valve implantation: A case report

BACKGROUND Aortic stenosis is the most common valve disease in adults.Transcatheter aortic valve implantation(TAVI)is being increasingly applied for intermediate-to lowrisk patients.Here,we describe an uncommon complication of delayed right coronary obstruction in a transapical TAVI case.CASE SUMMARY A 73-year-old woman with a EuroSCORE II of 1.21%underwent transapical TAVI because of severe aortic stenosis.The surgical procedure was uneventful.However,during routine monitoring after valve placement,the patient had a sudden onset of slow heart rate,the systolic blood pressure dropped sharply from 115 to 60 mmHg,and the central venous pressure abruptly increased from 10 to 33 cmH2O.The patient had a poor response to vasoactive agents.Transesophageal echocardiography revealed poor myocardial contractility,and electrocardiography showed a significant depression of ST-segment.Another angiography was performed immediately,which suggested complete obstruction of the right coronary artery.An emergency protocol was initiated.Cardiopulmonary bypass was established immediately.An aortic biological valve replacement under cardiopulmonary bypass was performed.CONCLUSION Perioperative monitoring,early recognition,and diagnosis of obstruction of coronary arteries in TAVI are important.Transesophageal echocardiography is a useful diagnostic and monitoring tool in this situation.Emergency protocols should be established during TAVI.     

Hemodynamic effects of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, ramipril, in patients with mild to moderate aortic stenosis and preserved left ventricular function.

BACKGROUND: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor use is presumed to be contraindicated in patients with aortic stenosis (AS). We determined the hemodynamic effects of ACE inhibitors in patients with mild to moderate aortic stenosis (AS) and preserved left ventricular function. METHODS: Thirteen elderly patients (mean [SD] age = 65 [17] years), with mild to moderate AS (aortic jet velocity 2.5-4.0 m/s), normal left ventricular and renal function, and no clinical coronary artery disease, were enrolled in a single-center, open-label trial comparing the hemodynamic effects at baseline and following titration of ramipril to a maximum dose of 7.5 mg twice daily. Patients were identified from echocardiography laboratory logs. Despite a presumed contraindication to ACE inhibitor use in AS patients, 30% (71 of 235) of patients otherwise meeting inclusion or exclusion criteria were excluded owing to current ACE inhibitor use. Patients were monitored with weekly clinic visits, biweekly laboratory tests, and monthly echocardiograms. RESULTS: There were no significant changes from baseline to week 8 in echocardiographic parameters, including mean (SD) aortic jet velocity [2.9 (0.4) vs 2.9 (0.4) m/s], calculated aortic transvalvular gradient [18 (6) vs 18 (6) mm Hg], or cardiac output [5.5 (1.2) vs 6.0 (2.1) L/min], or significant changes in blood pressure or heart rate. Early discontinuations were for asymptomatic low blood pressure (one patient) or a reversible creatinine increase of 0.3 mg/dL (one patient). CONCLUSIONS: Short-term treatment with up to 7.5 mg twice daily of ramipril was well tolerated in patients with mild to moderate AS and preserved left ventricular function. A surprisingly high proportion of patients with documented AS were already receiving ACE inhibitors.