Clinical cardiology
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Clinical cardiology · Mar 1998
Case ReportsHypocalcemic heart failure: a reversible form of heart muscle disease.
This paper reports the case of a 53-year-old woman with hypocalcemia-induced reversible cardiomyopathy. Laboratory tests showed hypocalcemia caused by idiopathic hypoparathyroidism. Her left ventricular dysfunction persisted for a long period even after normalization of the serum calcium level. Observations suggest that physicians should be aware that hypocalcemia can be a reversible cause of cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure.
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Clinical cardiology · Feb 1998
Comparative StudyLeft atrial abnormality by electrocardiogram predicts left ventricular hypertrophy by echocardiography in the presence of right bundle-branch block.
Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) on the electrocardiogram (ECG) may be masked in the presence of complete right bundle-branch block (RBBB). Left bundle-branch block on the ECG is associated with LVH at autopsy in 93% of hearts studied. However, RBBB does not predict LVH and the usual ECG criteria applied for LVH may not be reliable in the presence of RBBB. ⋯ The results obtained by the correlation of LA abnormality by ECG and LVH by echocardiography conclude that LA abnormality by ECG was significantly diagnostic of LV hypertrophy in the presence of RBBB.
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Clinical cardiology · Jan 1998
Effect of spinal cord stimulation on heart rate variability and myocardial ischemia in patients with chronic intractable angina pectoris--a prospective ambulatory electrocardiographic study.
Spinal cord stimulation is an effective treatment for chronic refractory angina pectoris. Its efficacy is related to an anti-ischemic action, possibly as a result of modulation of the autonomic nervous system. Therefore, the influence of spinal cord stimulation on the autonomic nervous system and myocardial ischemia was prospectively studied in 19 consecutive patients with intractable angina pectoris. ⋯ Autonomic modulation assessable with heart rate variability analysis may not be the explanatory mechanism of action for the decrease of anginal attacks and ischemia, exerted by spinal cord stimulation used as an adjuvant therapy in patients with chronic intractable angina pectoris.
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Clinical cardiology · Nov 1997
ReviewEndothelial function, fibrinolysis, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition.
Experimental and clinical studies with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have suggested that these agents may reduce the risk of atherothrombotic events. Recent studies have identified the role of angiotensin II and ACE in the regulation of fibrinolysis. There is now substantial evidence that the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays an important role in the regulation of vascular fibrinolytic balance. This recently recognized relationship may contribute to the vasculoprotective effects of ACE inhibitors.