Left ventricular growth in a patient with critical coarctation of the aorta and hypoplastic left ventricle

An infant is presented who at birth met criteria consistent with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. He was followed clinically and by 11 weeks of age demonstrated substantial growth of the left ventricle. He underwent successful repair of coarctation of the aorta and continues to do well with moderate aortic stenosis. The difficulties of predicting left ventricular growth and function are discussed, and management options are reviewed.     

Kidney Disease After Heart and Lung Transplantation

Kidney disease is a commonly recognized complication of heart and lung transplantation and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. While the spectrum of kidney disease in this population is wide-ranging, studies indicate that between 3% and 10% of these patients will ultimately develop end-stage renal disease (ESRD). This review examines the risk factors for both acute and chronic kidney injury, with a particular emphasis on the role of calcineurin inhibitor-mediated nephrotoxicity in both these settings. Against the background of current National Kidney Foundation Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) guidelines, we have further considered and recommended appropriate strategies for long-term management of kidney disease-related manifestations in heart and lung transplant recipients. Specific aspects addressed include retarding progressive renal injury and minimizing nephrotoxicity, as well as treatment of hypertension, hyperlipidemia and anemia. Finally, for patients in this population with advanced kidney disease, renal replacement therapy options are discussed. Based on the impact of chronic kidney disease on outcomes in both heart and lung recipients, we advocate early referral to a nephrologist for patients displaying evidence of significant renal dysfunction.     

测定血浆心钠素对小儿心功能不全的诊断意义

采用放射免疫法测定60例心血管病患儿的血浆心钠素,结果,在心功能不全,先天性心脏病、心肌炎者,明显高于正常组;心功能不全组明显高于非心功能不全组。非心功能不全的心血管疾患(如:先天性心脏病、心肌炎)之间无显著差异。说明血浆心钠素测定可作为心功能不全判断指标,并可指导治疗。     

Structural and metabolic changes in the ventricular myocardium in experimental massive pulmonary embolism

N. I. Pirogov Second Moscow Medical Institute. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. S. Savel'ev.) Translated from Byulleten' Ékperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 113, No. 3, pp. 327–329, March, 1992.     

Reduction of Mortality in the Stockholm Ischaemic Heart Disease Secondary Prevention Study by Combined Treatment with Clofibrate and Nicotinic Acid

Consecutive survivors of a myocardial infarction from the Southern Hospital, below 70 years of age, were randomized into a Control group (n=276) and a Treatment group (n=279). The latter was openly prescribed the combination of clofibrate and nicotinic acid for serum lipid lowering. Each patient should remain in the study for 5 years and be seen regularly every 4 months at a special IHD outpatient clinic within the hospital. The concentration of serum cholesterol and triglyceride was lowered by 13% and 19%, respectively, in the Treatment group compared to the Control group. Total mortality was 82 cases in the Control group and 61 in the Treatment group, a 26% reduction (p<0.05). For patients above 60 years of age in the Treatment group the reduction in mortality was 28% (p<0.05). IHD mortality was reduced by 36% (p<0.01)in the Treatment group compared to the Control group. The beneficial effect of the serum lipid lowering treatment was related to the serum triglyceride concentration in two ways. First, it only occurred in patients with a triglyceride level >1.5 mmol/l (n=216). Secondly, it was most pronounced in the 44% of the treated patients who had a lowering of the serum triglyceride concentration by 30% or more, and in this subgroup the reduction of IHD mortality was 60% (p<0.01). For serum cholesterol there were no such relations. The difference between serum triglycerides and cholesterol concerning these relations to the treatment outcome may be due to the fact that hypertriglyceridaemia was the most common hyperlipidaemia among our patients, occurring in 50%, while hypercholesterolaemia only occurred in 13 %. Caution should be exercised in the interpretation of the results as the trial was not blind. However, the fact that the decrease in IHD deaths was directly related to the degree of serum triglyceride lowering indicates that it was the drug effect on serum lipids that was reponsible for the beneficial effect of the treatment.     

Activation of the langendorff perfused rat heart depolarized by increased external potassium concentration

Myocardial activation under depolarized conditions was studied in spontaneously beating Langendorff perfused hearts from albino rats. Depolarization was obtained by increasing external potassium concentration in steps (5.4, 7.4, 10, 10.5, 11 and 11.5 mM) in the perfusing solution with or without adrenaline (Adr). Left ventricle isovolumic systolic pressure and coronary flow did not change as external potassium increased, albeit being larger with Adr in the perfusing solution. Atrial and ventricular rates decreased, the latter showing a larger decline. The same behaviour was displayed by perfused hearts, with higher rates being developed by the group with Adr. PR interval and QRS complex duration increased as a function of external potassium. PR intervals were the same in both groups but QRS duration was larger in the Adr group, indicating that AV conduction was not changed in presence of Adr but intraventricular conduction was delayed in that situation. It was also observed that in the great majority of perfused hearts, differing from isolated preparations, ventricular mechanical activity ceased at around 11.5 mM external potassium.     

小儿先心病心电图P波,QRS波时限,振幅与左房和肺动脉压力的相关分析

小儿先心病术后左房夺和肺动脉压力的监测在ＩＣＵ中十分重要。心电图是论断和评价心脏疾患的常用方法。本文分析了３２例小儿先心病手术前后（伴肺动脉高压１６例）６个肢体导联心电图中Ｐ波和ＱＲＳ波时限总和及振幅总和与左房、肺动脉压力的关系。结果表明两者均有良好的相关性（ｒ＝０．８５￣０．８８，ｒ＝０ｍ７４￣０．８０，Ｐ〈０．０１），该法简单、方便，可广泛开展，尤其在术后未放置ＰＡ和ＬＡ管或在ＩＯＵ中已拨除Ｌ     

Acute heart failure and acute renal failure in Kawasaki disease

Acute renal failure and acute heart failure are rare in Kawasaki disease. We experienced two patients with Kawasaki disease who presented acute renal failure and acute heart failure. These two patients gave us an important insight into the understanding of water balance and fluid therapy in Kawasaki disease. One patient showed acute prerenal failure due to fluid exudation from the intravascular to the extravascular space, and subsequent acute heart failure. The other patient showed acute heart failure caused by fluid infusion for the treatment of dehydration. It is suggested that acute renal failure could be caused by a fluid shift from the intravascular to the extravascular space in Kawasaki disease. It is also demonstrated that the reserve of cardiac function could be decreased in patients with Kawasaki disease due to myocarditis even with normal echocardiography and chest X-rays.