Urokinase in the therapy of spontaneous angina

In an open non-comparative clinical study, 19 patients with spontaneous angina pectoris admitted to hospital with attacks lasting greater than 10 minutes, unresponsive to nitrate and/or calcium antagonist treatment, at least 2 ECG readings of raised (greater than or equal to 1.5 mm) or lowered (greater than or equal to 1 mm) ST segment not attributable to earlier AMI in the same area, were treated after the interruption of conventional treatment (mean 47 +/- 34.2 min) with 2 million IU endovenous UK in 15 mins followed by 1 million IU endovenous UK in 60 mins. Sixty minutes after UK administration was terminated, they were given a bolus of 5000 IU calcium heparin, followed by 1000 IU per hour for 2 days. Coronary angiography (Judkins technique) was performed before the start of UK treatment and 15, 30, 45, 60 and 75 minutes into it. Results: Basal coronarography showed only "multiple organic stenosis" in 5 out of the 19 patients, a more complex situation suggestive of thrombi in the coronary arteries in 14. Subsequent angiographies (mean 30 mins later) revealed coronarographic improvement in 11 out of the 19 (58%), or 11 out of 14 (78.5%) if we exclude those with simple stenosis. Angina attacks were significantly lower in the 8 days after UK treatment than in the week before it in terms of number (4 v. 1; p less than 0.01), global severity (7 v. 1.5; p less than 0.01) and global duration (45 v. 4.25 min; p less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Syncopal vasospastic angina in a patient with familial nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

We describe an unusual case of a 51-year-old woman affected with familial non-obstructive cardiomyopathy and syncopal vasospastic angina. The use of hyperventilation stress-echo testing, recommended by the authors because of its simplicity and safety, was decisive in showing the causal role of coronary spasm of the left anterior descending artery. The coronarography had not shown obstructive lesions of the coronary arteries, but during the procedure the patient had refused ergonovine or acetylcholine injections.     

Additional molsidomine in refractory unstable angina pectoris

Summary In a prospective single-blind study we examined the effects of additional molsidomine in 20 patients (63±10 years; 15 males, 5 females) with unstable resting angina (3 attacks/24 hours) refractory to triple therapy (nitrates, calcium antagonists, and beta blockers) combined with heparin or aspirin. All but one patient had coronary artery disease documented by coronarography (n=17) or by recent myocardial infarction (n=3). Two patients had angiographically documented severe coronary spasms. Patients entered the study if coronary bypass surgery or PTCA could not be performed within 3 days after angiography (n=9) or was not feasible due to anatomical or technical reasons (n=6), concomitant malignant disease (n=2), or age greater than 75 years (n=3). All patients received molsidomine orally 12 to 24 mg/day. In 15 of the 20 patients molsidomine was given i.v. initially, starting with 20 mg i.v., followed by infusion of 1 to 4 mg/hour. Heart rate and blood pressure did not change significantly, and eight patients had a slight decrease of systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Severe adverse effects did not occur, and moderate headaches were reported by five patients. In 13 patients, unstable angina could be stabilized, and they remained free of resting angina; five had a marked reduction of the frequency of anginal attacks. In two patients, molsidomine was without demonstrable beneficial effects. After a follow-up of 4 weeks, nine patients were free of symptoms after bypass surgery or PTCA, 10 continued to have angina NYHA class II or III, and one patient died due to acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock 4 days after starting additional molsidomine. We conclude that molsidomine is well tolerated and has a marked beneficial effect in patients with refractory unstable angina. Molsidomine should therefore be considered for routine therapy of unstable angina, especially in those patients who are suspected of tolerance to nitrate therapy.     

Le scanner coronaire : des études à la pratique courante

Introduction

Multidetector computed tomography coronarography is a promising tool, offering a non-invasive anatomic evaluation of coronary arteries. The great majority of studies conducted upon it are single-center studies, and have reported results based upon a highly selected patient population. Our aim was to determine its diagnostic accuracy among an unselected population in multicenter studies.

Methods

Fifty-two patients were included in a non-randomised, retrospective study. Patients underwent multidetector computed tomography coronarography (16, 40 and 64 slices), in ten different centers (community hospitals or private centres), for clinical suspicion of coronary stenoses. The diagnostic accuracy for detecting significant coronary stenoses (≥ 50%) was determined in comparison with conventional coronarography.

Results

The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and diagnostic accuracy were 91.4%, 17.7%, 69.6%, 50.0%, and 67.3%, respectively, in a patient-based analysis, and 55.3%, 85.6%, 30.3%, 94.4% and 82.5% in a segment-based analysis.

Conclusion

The results of this study indicate that routine implementation of multidetector computed tomography coronarography is limited by a high false-positive rate, when performed among an unselected population of patients with a high pretest probability of having coronary stenoses, in centres with variable expertises. Its place within the range of diagnostic tools has yet to be determined by large multicenter studies, before being subject to precise recommendations framing its routine clinical application.     

Prognostic value of normal coronary angiography

Coronary angiography is the "gold standard" for coronary artery disease (CAD). It is considered either normal or subnormal without any lesion (endocoronary echography often demonstrates atheroma), or in presence of a < 50% stenosis. Nevertheless, the risk of plaque rupture is not well correlated with the degree stenosis. Despite the frequent presence of non-significant atheroma, is a normal coronarography really of a good prognosis? Between January and September 1997, 136 of 600 (22.6%) angiographies were considered as normal. The indications were: "CAD suspicion" (n = 77), "preoperative angiography of valvulopathy" (n = 38), and "angioplasty control" (n = 22). The arteries were strictly normal for 86 patients (63%) and a < 50% stenosis was found in 50 patients (37%); 108 patients (80.1%) were followed for 18 +/- 3 months: eight non coronary deaths were reported: four postoperative deaths in "valvular group", two pulmonary embolisms and two pulmonary neoplasm's in "CAD suspicion group". No myocardial infarction was reported and one unstable angina was documented. Despite the frequency of non-significant atheroma, an acute coronary syndrome exceptionally complicates a "normal" coronarography.     

Acute myocardial infarction management in a hospital center with emergency ambulance service and intensive care unit,without cardiac catheterization laboratory

OBJECTIVES: We report our experience about acute myocardial infarction management in a small hospital with no possibility of coronarography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 1998, 60 patients were hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction < 10 days. We studied characteristics of patients, the management of myocardial infarction, the mortality. RESULTS: Our population consisted of 83% of men and 17% of women with a mean age of 63.5 and 74 years respectively. An out-hospital doctor was first warned by 60% of patients. For hospitalization, the emergency ambulance service (SMUR) was used in 45% of cases, out-hospital doctors using these means of transport in 36% of cases. The global time of intervention was 18h30. The mean time for patients managed in the first sixth hours was 2h10. A thrombolysis was applied for 35% of patients (15% in prehospital that is to say 32% of "SMUR patients", and 20% in hospital). A transfer to the neighbouring university hospital for primary or rescue coronary angioplasty was decide for 41% of patients. A total of 77% of our patients underwent a coronarography. The global mortality at 10 days was 13.3% (< 75 years: 10.6%; > 75 years: 23%). CONCLUSIONS: A low volume centre and with no possibility of coronarography can manage the acute phase of myocardial infarction with results closed to those of the literature.     

The importance of electrocardiographic changes at rest during exercise in deciding to perform immediate ("ad hoc") percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

In 100 patients (75 men and 25 women, mean age 53 years) who had "ad hoc" percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) on one or two vessels retrospectively the ECG records were evaluated (signs of necrosis or ischaemia) at rest and/or after exercise and compared with the finding of major obstruction (complete occlusion, stenosis > 50%) on coronarography. In obstruction of the ramus interventricularis anterior the positive ECG finding was consistent with the area of the impaired blood supply in 87%, in case of obstruction of the right coronary artery in 79%, in obstruction of the ramus circumflexus in 90%. In concurrent obstruction of two coronaries despite a 100% positive ECG no close topical correlation was found between coronarography and ECG. On the whole no reliable consistency was found between ECG and kinetic disorders detected by echocardiography. The results indicate that topical analysis of ECG ischaemic findings in patients with coronary arterial disease before planned coronarography contributes to the decision to make "ad hoc" PTCA in affections of one artery. In affections of two arteries ECG is of no particular value.     

Malignant arrhythmia in a patient with variant (Prinzmetal's) angina pectoris

Malignant arrhythmia is a frequent complication of myocardial ischemia due to the occurrence of coronary artery spasm. The paper describes a patient with variant angina pectoris with an ICD implant who was repeatedly resuscitated for circulatory arrest in malignant arrhythmia. During myocardial ischemia the ECG showed elevations in the ST segments in the region of the ventral cardiac wall, with the formation of permanent polymorphous chamber tachycardia. External defibrillation was necessary due to recurrent tachyarrhythmias. A spasm developed when the RIA (radio immuno assay) was introduced during coronarography. The spasm started in the periphery of the artery and extended as far as the area of bifurcation with RD, with transitory closure of the artery and the development of chamber tachycardia. The patient fully recovered after the addition of Ca-blocker, nitrate depot and the withdrawal of the beta-blocker.     

Thallium scintigraphy of the myocardium in evaluation of patients with insulin resistance syndrome and microvascular angina pectoris

Insulin resistance syndrom (IR) is often associated with the syndrome of microvascular angina pectoris (MVAP) or with coronary artery disease (CAD). The authors quantified distribution and washout of 201Tl in heart (C), lungs (L) and liver (H) to evaluate the results 201Tl stress (s) and redistribution SPECT in 50 patients. They compared 2 groups of patients with laboratory verified IR (MVAP and CAD) and control group (CG) of patients with normal coronarography without any symptoms of IR. In Patients with IR and MVAP were found significantly more frequent local perfusion abnormalities then in CG. The index sL/C calculated by ROI analysis is significantly lower in controls, then in CAD. The index sC/H is lower in patients with IR (MVAP significantly) then in CG. The washout of 201Tl in CAD myocardium decreased and in MVAP liver increased. 201thalium scintigraphy is useful for separation of patients with MVAP and local perfusion abnormalities. This findings had probably prognostic value in patients with IR.     

Correlation between angiographic and ECG signs location in unstable angina.

The authors examine if the modifications of the ventricular repolarisation in patients with unstable angina have a value in localizing the site of the coronary stenoses. The relationship between ECG changes and angiographic abnormalities, as yet unrecognized, is studied in 200 patients. The subendocardial signs have little value in predicting the place of the narrowings, they often involve the lateral leads and join with diffused coronary lesions. Subepicardial ECG changes, however, have a good value for prediction: the involvement of inferior leads implies a right coronary stenosis, and that of septal leads a left anterior descending stenosis. The importance of a systematic recording of these ECG changes in unstable angina before performing coronary angiography is discussed. They should be able to specify the ischemic area of the myocardium and then help clinicians to decide when coronarography (and bypass surgery) is indicated.     

Appropriateness of diagnosis of unstable angina pectoris in patients referred for coronary arteriography

BACKGROUND

A diagnosis of unstable angina pectoris (UAP) often carries with it a decision to catheterize the patient promptly. However, UAP remains a clinical diagnosis, based mostly on a patient’s clinical history and electrocardiogram (ECG) findings.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether the diagnosis of UAP is overused in patients referred for coronary arteriography.

METHODS

Ninety-six patients with a diagnosis of UAP who were referred for invasive studies were re-examined clinically before catheterization. Coronarography was independently reviewed for correlation with clinical findings.

RESULTS

Based on the patient’s history and ECG changes, UAP was classified by two independent cardiologists as ‘very likely’ in 58% and 49%, ‘possible’ in 19% and 30%, and of ‘low probability’ in 23% and 21%, respectively. Patients with ‘very likely’ UAP had a high incidence of significant coronary lesions (87% and 96% for each cardiologist) and complex lesions by angiography (41% and 49%, respectively). Patients with a diagnosis of ‘low probability’ UAP had a low incidence of significant coronary lesions (55% for each cardiologist) and a very low incidence of complex angiographic lesions (5% for each cardiologist). Patients with ‘possible’ UAP had intermediate results.

CONCLUSION

Because of a presumptive diagnosis of UAP, approximately 22% of all patients referred for coronarography have no clinical and/or ECG evidence for this diagnosis. The incidence of complex coronary lesions in this group is very low.     

Cigarette smoking during coronary angiography: Diffuse or focal narrowing (spasm) of the coronary arteries in 13 patients with angina at rest and normal coronary angiograms

To evaluate the acute effects of cigarette smoking on coronary arteries (CA), repeated coronary angiograms were performed in 13 patients with angina at rest and with normal coronary angiograms at basal state, during smoking, and then after methylergometrine (MEM) and after intracoronary nitroglycerin. Smoking induced anginal pain in three patients, triggered spasm (focal narrowing) in six, and/or an abnormal segmental diffuse narrowing (> 30%) in eight. The narrowing of the left CA was on average ?21 ± 13% (P < 0.001), with more important narrowing of the mid-left anterior descending (?29 ± 19%, P < 0.001). The mean of the maximal segmental narrowing by patient was ?34 ± 13% (P < 0.001). MEM produced similar effects and induced focal CA spasms in nearly the same patients at the same sites. Cigarette smoking may induce vasoconstrictive effects on CA in patients with rest angina and normal coronary angiograms. This action is not dose-dependent and may be initiated by less than one cigarette. These observations offer a new perspective for the understanding of the role of smoking in the precipitation of coronary events.     

Nitroglycerin and angina with angiographically normal coronary vessels. Clinical effects and effects on esophageal motility

In order to determine whether the presence of a retrosternal pain sensitive to nitroglycerin is predictive of the finding of esophageal dyskinesia in patients with normal coronary angiography and negative methylergonovine test, we administered 0.8 mg of a nitroglycerin spray during esophageal manometry and after a methylergonovine or edrophonium provocation test. The effects of nitroglycerin on esophageal motility were recorded and compared with clinical data. Forty patients (21 men, 19 women, mean age 54 +/- 8 years) entered the study. In 22 of them (55 p. 100) the retrosternal pain was relieved by nitroglycerin within less than 5 minutes; the provocation test was positive in 10 cases (25 p. 100). In all patients nitroglycerin produced a highly significant decrease in the duration and amplitude of esophageal contractions. Among the 10 patients with esophageal dyskinesia, the duration of contractions was significantly more reduced (p less than 0.005) in those with nitroglycerin-sensitive pain (6 patients) than in those with nitroglycerin-resistant pain. These 6 patients, therefore, could be regarded clinically and manometrically as "responders" to nitroglycerin. Two of them had gastro-esophageal reflux. In contrast, among patients without induced esophageal dyskinesia the effects of nitroglycerin on manometry were the same irrespective of whether or not pain was usually relieved by nitroglycerin. The fact that pain was nitroglycerin-sensitive had no predictive value concerning the finding of esophageal dyskinesia by the provocation test (non-significant X2 test). We conclude that the clinical and manometric effects of nitroglycerin were concordant only in patients with induced esophageal dyskinesia; patients who responded to nitroglycerin could have a gastro-esophageal reflux.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Coronary sinus lactate estimation and esophageal motor anomalies in angina with normal coronary angiogram

Twenty-three patients (ages 44–82) with angina-like chest pain with a negative stress test and a normal coronary angiogram were studied for myocardial lactate metabolism during atrial pacing and for esophageal motor function with manometric measurements and acid infusion test. Eight patients had an abnormal myocardial lactate metabolism during maximal atrial pacing. Esophageal motor anomalies were observed in six of these eight patients and nine of the 15 subjects with normal myocardial lactate metabolism. The frequency and type of these anomalies were not different between the two groups of patients. Perfusion of acid into the esophagus reproduced the spontaneous pain syndrome in three patients, independent of any simultaneous motor dysfunction. These results suggest that esophageal motor anomalies must be interpreted with caution in patients with angina-like chest pain before affirming the exclusively esophageal origin of the pain.     

Alterations in angina threshold with nifedipine during pacing induced angina

Changes in coronary haemodynamics and angina threshold were determined during atrial pacing in 11 patients with fixed obstructive coronary artery disease with effort angina before and after the administration of 20 mg of oral nifedipine. Coronary vascular resistance decreased at resting and at "subangina" heart rates but not at "angina" rates. Primary coronary vasodilatation with nifedipine was also suggested by higher coronary sinus oxygen content whether at rest or at subangina or angina heart rates. After nifedipine angina occurred at a lower double product and lower myocardial oxygen consumption. These findings suggest that nifedipine is a coronary vasodilator, but angina can occur at a lower angina threshold in some patients with obstructive coronary artery disease.     

Ergonovine-induced esophageal spasm in patients with chest pain resembling angina pectoris

We studied the effect of ergonovine maleate (EM) on esophageal motor activity in 18 consecutive patients with angina-like chest pain. Significant coronary artery disease was excluded in each patient by cardiac catheterization studies. Baseline esophageal motility was abnormal in 12 patients (66%). After injection of EM, ten patients developed their typical chest pain at the onset of repetitive contractions. Thus, chest pain and esophageal dysfunction were clearly linked. Compared with saline injection, only the repetitive contractions were significantly increased after EM in these patients (P<0.01). Amplitude and duration of contractions were increased after EM, but not significantly. Due to potentially serious adverse effects, however, EM cannot be recommended for routine use as a provocative agent.Supported by the Medical Research Service of the Veterans Administration.This paper was presented in part at the 29th Annual Scientific Session, American College of Cardiology, Houston, Texas, March 9–13, 1980, and the American Federation for Clinical Research, Washington, DC, May 10–13, 1980, and was published in abstract form in Am J Cardiol 45:440, 1980; and Clin Res 28: 279A, 1980.     

Identification of anomalous coronary arteries and their anatomic course by multidetector computed tomography coronarography. A retrospective registry

Background

The coronary anomalies are generally asymptomatic and rare. However, their potential complications are serious and mainly represented by the risk of sudden death. The coronarography appears insufficient to carry out the complete assessment of these anomalies, and in particular to study the arterial course. The endpoint of our series is to evaluate the interest of the coronary computed tomography (CT) in this indication.

Patients and methods

We report the results of a 16-slice coronary-CT monocentric retrospective series among 12 patients presenting coronary anomalies diagnosed in coronarography.

Results

Coronary-CT has confirmed the diagnosis, specified the coronary course and the relation with the great vessels in 100% of the cases.

Conclusions

Multislice coronary-CT seems an examination of choice for the diagnosis and the presurgical assessment of the coronary aberrations, like for the distinction of the benign and malign forms. Its effectiveness and its “non-invasive” character are strong arguments to include it in the assessment of syncopes linked to effort in the young adult.     

Fibrinolytic therapy and mechanical restoration of patency of the coronary arteries in acute myocardial infarction

Results of a Moscow--Berlin collaborative study of urgent coronarography in acute myocardial infarction, using intracoronary treatments (fibrinolytic agents and mechanical thrombus destruction), are reported. Urgent coronarography was performed in 58 patients. Coronary flow could be recovered or improved in 27 patients, as evidenced by control coronarographic tests, particularly late follow-up ones. The procedure did not prevent myocardial infarction, but alleviated its course.     

Coronarography in the study of myxoma. Apropos of a case diagnosed by this technic

In a 59 years old woman presenting a rudimentary picture of myocardial infarction, ventriculograms confirm a limited necrosis and coronarography shows an abnormal vascular image, evoking an intracardiac tumor, while the arteries are free of atherosclerosis or thrombosis on angiography. Although auscultation and echography are normal, the diagnosis of myxoma will be confirmed by angiocardiography, then by surgery and pathology. The advantage of selective coronary angiography in myxomas is considered with 24 cases from the literature having undergone this examination, including 20 cases, among which ours, which present an aspect of "tumoral vascularisation". The particularities of coronarography (aneurysms, embolic obstruction, origin and aspect of hypervascularisation) are analyzed. This technique appears very useful, not only to detect a complication of the tumor or an associated coronaritis, but also to help in the diagnosis of myxomas in cases where angiocardiography or mostly echocardiography are deficient.     

ST segment elevation in the ECG stress test in coronary disease

The authors investigated in 1986-1991 a group of 122 men after myocardial infarction, their mean age was 56 years, the follow up period 35 and at least 24 months. During the ergometric test "symptom limited" 18 days after the attack it was negative in 55% of the men, in 28% positive (depression of ST and/or coronary pain (and in 17% there were elevations of ST above the pathological Q wave. By the end of the follow up period nobody with a negative baseline test died. 6% with a positive test died, 62% patients with elevation of the ST. All patients with ST had elevations an impaired regional ventricular motility with a low ejection fraction (32%) during radionuclide ventriculography. At the time of examination the availability of coronarography and possible revascularization was minimal. Therefore even a retrospective group is valuable. Patients with elevation of ST after exercise have a generally poorer prognosis and are therefore indicated as a priority group for coronarography or possibly revascularization. ST elevation after a load without a pathological Q wave is less frequent and need not be associated with impaired regional motility and may be the manifestation of a coronary spasm or close proximal coronary stenosis, and is also indicated for angiographic examination, and deepening on the result, for revascularization.