冠心病和心力衰竭

冠心病心力衰竭（简称冠心病心衰）顾名思义是指由于冠心病引起的心力衰竭,据统计大约65％的心力衰竭由冠状动脉疾病引发的。冠心病心衰在临床上分急性和慢性两种,急性心衰主要由急性心肌梗死和急性冠脉缺血诱发的心肌收缩或舒张功能异常所致,慢性心衰主要是心肌梗死后心肌重塑和心肌的血供长期不足,心肌组织发生营养障碍和萎缩,以致纤维组织增生所致。由于冠心病导致心衰的成因不同,因此治疗上的侧重点就会有所不同,下面就对冠心病心衰发病机制及诊治作一浅谈。     

Coronary angioscopy in ischemic heart disease

The validity of coronary angioscope was discussed in several clinical settings in this article. First of all, although smooth coronary surface was observed by coronary angiography after the intervention of chronic total occlusion, protrusion or thrombus observed by angioscope occupied the arterial lumen and closed the vessel lumen. After implantation of the stent, lumen was widely opened. Serial angioscopic observation revealed that the neointima became thick and non-transparent until 6 months and then became thin and transparent by 3 years after stent implantation. These findings suggested the validity of angioscope in coronary intervention. Second, coronary angioscope revealed the morphologic and pathologic characteristics of culprit lesions in patients with acute coronary syndrome. The thrombus was observed on the yellow plaque in the culprit lesion. The thrombus formed directly over the plaque was mainly white and red thrombus might be formed after the blood flow was disturbed by the white thrombus formed by the platelet aggregation. These findings imply the importance of anti-platelet therapy after acute coronary syndromes. Finally, the angioscope can detect the minimal changes of the plaque formation, progression and rupture, that is, the entire process of the atherosclerosis. The early detection of yellow plaque might be able to intervent mechanically or pharmacologically to prevent its rupture.     

Coronary interventions in ischemic heart disease

Coronary angioplasty has continued to undergo important developments, both in terms of the maturation of conventional balloon angioplasty, and the favorable preliminary results of a variety of novel adjunctive techniques. To the extent that these new techniques can address the residual limitations of conventional angioplasty--and thereby improve its success, safety, and durability--angioplasty is likely to become the dominant form of myocardial revascularization in the 1990s. To ensure that this tool is applied correctly, however, careful randomized trials must be performed to establish which medical, surgical, or catheter-based treatment represents the best approach to a given clinical situation.     

Coronary heart disease in African Americans

African Americans have the highest overall mortality rate from coronary heart disease (CHD) of any ethnic group in the United States, particularly out-of-hospital deaths, and especially at younger ages. Although all of the reasons for the excess CHD mortality among African Americans have not been elucidated, it is clear that there is a high prevalence of certain coronary risk factors, delay in the recognition and treatment of high-risk individuals, and limited access to cardiovascular care. The clinical spectrum of acute and chronic CHD in African Americans is similar to that in whites. However, African Americans have a higher risk of sudden cardiac death and present more often with unstable angina and non-Q-wave myocardial infarction than whites. African Americans have less obstructive coronary artery disease on angiography, but may have a similar or greater total burden of coronary atherosclerosis. Ethnic differences in the clinical manifestations of CHD may be explained largely by the inherent heterogeneity of the coronary syndromes, and the disproportionately high prevalence and severity of hypertension and type 2 diabetes in African Americans. Identification of high-risk individuals for vigorous risk factor modification-especially control of hypertension, regression of left ventricular hypertrophy, control of diabetes, treatment of dyslipidemia, and smoking cessation--is key for successful risk reduction.     

女性与冠心病

无论男性或女性,冠心病都是其死亡的主要原因,女性冠心病的患病率低于男性,但预后却较男性差,除了女性发病年龄大和合并症多外,近些年的研究让人们越来越多地注意到女性的不同,这对指导女性冠心病的治疗及改善预后有重大意义。     

Coronary heart disease in situs inversus totalis

In patients with dextrocardia as a part of situs inversus totalis, coronary heart disease may occur with similar frequency and manifestations as in the general population. Diagnostic problems arise from the altered cardiovisceral relation; when these are recognized, coronary heart disease can be defined by the usual criteria. The use of electrocardiographic and vectorcardiographic tracings with right-left reversal of all leads in patients with dextrocardia allows the recognition of abnormalities on the basis of standard criteria. Seven cases are reported, 1 followed up clinically and 6 studied at autopsy.     

Coronary heart disease: genetic aspects

Morbidity and mortality differences between populations, between ethnic groups and between individuals are not satisfactorily explained by the variation of risk factors. Differences in genetic susceptibility might be responsible for a part of the unexplained variation of coronary heart disease (CHD) rates. Genetic factors are also significant in determining the level of risk factors in individuals. Ample evidence links genetic factors to the levels of serum cholesterol, blood pressure and diabetes. Marked sex differences in CHD mortality also indicate the role of heredity in the development of the disease. The male:female ratio varies widely between different countries, as well as between different ethnic groups. These variations are difficult to explain by variation in environmental and behavioral differences between males and females alone. The degree of atherosclerosis in males and females varies, depending on the anatomic location of the atherosclerosis. Inherited disorders of metabolism and the variability of anatomic patterns provide additional indications of the role of genetics. The data accumulated in the Israeli Ischemic Heart Disease Study over 15 years reveal an ethnic variation of risk factors coupled with remarkably larger variation in disease rates. Patterns of incidence assessed in the national mortality data of the Israeli study and in histologic findings in the coronary arteries of infants from different ethnic groups are compatible with a hypothesis that ethnic and sex differences in early structural changes of the coronary arteries partly determine the susceptibility of the latter to the development of atherosclerosis. In conclusion, findings from our studies and the review of the evidence from genetic epidemiologic investigations indicate a significant role of genetics in determining the degree, time course and severity of the atherosclerotic process and of the occurrence of symptomatic CHD. This important role of the genetic component is relevant to preventive strategies offered as tools for reducing the burden of CHD. Research into genetic determinants of both susceptibility to atherosclerosis or clinical manifestation of CHD and individual response to preventive measures should be encouraged.