| 1. |
- Andersson, Bert, 1952, et al.
(author)
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Recovery from left ventricular asynergy in ischemic cardiomyopathy following long-term beta blockade treatment.
- 1994
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In: Cardiology. - : S. Karger AG. - 0008-6312 .- 1421-9751. ; 85:1, s. 14-22
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- It has been suggested that long-term beta blockade treatment in congestive heart failure might be less effective in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy as compared with patients having idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of long-term adrenergic beta blockade treatment on regional myocardial function in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. The regional wall motion (RWM) was evaluated in 12 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy before and after long-term open treatment with metoprolol. On average, the patients were treated over 11 months (range 6-36 months). The regional left ventricular function was assessed using two-dimensional echocardiographic recordings by two independent blinded observers. The RWM score was evaluated in 16 segments of the left ventricle on a scale from 0 (hypercontractility) to 5 (dyskinesia). Following treatment, there was an improvement in general ventricular function (ejection fraction 0.24-0.31; p = 0.01) as well as in RWM (86 improved segments, 48 deteriorated, 49 unchanged; p < 0.002). Ventricular segments with poor contractility (RWM score > or = 3.5) tended to improve (53 improved segments, 16 deteriorated, 13 unchanged; p < 0.0001), whereas less severely impaired segments (RWM score < 3.5) did not improve (33 improved segments, 32 deteriorated, 36 unchanged; NS). It is suggested that poorly contracting myocardial segments might improve following beta blockade treatment, while an effect on less impaired segments might be lacking. An improvement in overall myocardial function would then be harder to detect.
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| 2. |
- Andersson, Staffan, et al.
(author)
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24-hour electrocardiographic study in myotonic dystrophy
- 1988
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In: Cardiology. - : S. Karger AG. - 0008-6312 .- 1421-9751. ; 75:4, s. 241-249
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Thirty-eight consecutive adult patients with myotonic dystrophy were included in a study with electrocardiography at rest and 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiography. The patients were subdivided into three groups according to the severity of the disease. The prevalence of abnormal electrocardiograms at rest was 31, 50 and 100% in patients with mild, moderate and severe disease, respectively. The main characteristics observed at ambulatory electrocardiography were a high frequency of sinus bradycardia (58%) and intermittent atrioventricular block II (8%). These bradyarrhythmias were not correlated to the severity of the disease. Sustained atrial fibrillation or flutter was found in 3 patients (8%), all with the most severe form of the disease. Ambulatory electrocardiography should be used deliberately in the evaluation of patients with myotonic dystrophy and symptoms compatible with cardiac arrhythmias.
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| 3. |
- Atar, Dan, et al.
(author)
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Rationale and Design of the 'MITOCARE' Study: A Phase II, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of TRO40303 for the Reduction of Reperfusion Injury in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Acute Myocardial Infarction
- 2012
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In: Cardiology. - : S. Karger AG. - 1421-9751 .- 0008-6312. ; 123:4, s. 201-207
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Treatment of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) by reperfusion using percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or thrombolysis has provided clinical benefits; however, it also induces considerable cell death. This process is called reperfusion injury. The continuing high rates of mortality and heart failure after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) emphasize the need for improved strategies to limit reperfusion injury and improve clinical outcomes. The objective of this study is to assess safety and efficacy of TRO40303 in limiting reperfusion injury in patients treated for STEMI. TRO40303 targets the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, a promising target for the prevention of reperfusion injury. This multicenter, double-blind study will randomize patients with STEMI to TRO40303 or placebo administered just before balloon inflation or thromboaspiration during PCI. The primary outcome measure will be reduction in infarct size (assessed as plasma creatine kinase and troponin I area under the curve over 3 days). The main secondary endpoint will be infarct size normalized to the myocardium at risk (expressed by the myocardial salvage index assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance). The study is being financed under an EU-FP7 grant and conducted under the auspices of the MITOCARE research consortium, which includes experts from clinical and basic research centers, as well as commercial enterprises, throughout Europe. Results from this study will contribute to a better understanding of the complex pathophysiology underlying myocardial injury after STEMI. The present paper describes the rationale, design and the methods of the trial. Copyright (c) 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel
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| 4. |
- Attar, Rubina, et al.
(author)
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Time Trends in the Use of Coronary Procedures, Guideline-Based Therapy, and All-Cause Mortality following the Acute Coronary Syndrome in Patients with Schizophrenia
- 2020
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In: Cardiology. - : S. Karger AG. - 1421-9751 .- 0008-6312. ; 145:7, s. 401-409
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- AIM: Schizophrenia is associated with high cardiovascular mortality predominantly as a result of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The aim of this study is to analyze time trends of coronary procedures, guideline-based therapy, and all-cause mortality in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia.METHODS AND RESULTS: This Danish nationwide register-based study analyzed 734 patients with a baseline diagnosis of schizophrenia and an incident diagnosis of ACS in the period between January 1, 1996, and December 31, 2015. The 734 patients with schizophrenia were matched to 2,202 psychiatric healthy controls (PHC). No change over time was seen in the relative difference between the population with schizophrenia and the PHC in the use of coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention, and coronary bypass grafting, nor in 1-year mortality or guideline-based therapy following ACS. Patients with schizophrenia had higher prevalence rates of diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and stroke, and a lower prevalence of hypertension (p < 0.05).CONCLUSION: The gap in the use of coronary procedures, guideline-based therapy, and all-cause mortality following ACS in patients with schizophrenia compared to those without has remained constant over the past 2 decades.
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| 5. |
- Bager, Johan-Emil, et al.
(author)
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Vernakalant for Cardioversion of Recent-Onset Atrial Fibrillation in the Emergency Department: The SPECTRUM Study
- 2022
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In: Cardiology. - : S. Karger AG. - 0008-6312 .- 1421-9751. ; 147:5-6, s. 566-577
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction: Intravenous vernakalant is a therapeutic option for symptomatic, recent-onset atrial fibrillation (AF). This secondary analysis from the large SPECTRUM study assessed the safety and effectiveness of vernakalant when used in the emergency department setting (ED group) or in an inpatient hospital setting (non-ED group). Methods: This post hoc analysis of the international, observational, post-authorization SPECTRUM study included 1,289 and 720 recent-onset AF episodes in adults in the ED and non-ED groups, respectively. Safety endpoints included the evaluation of pre-defined health outcomes of interest (HOIs) and other serious adverse events (SAEs) during vernakalant treatment and during the first 24 h after the last infusion. Effectiveness endpoints comprised the rate of successful vernakalant cardioversion, the time from the start of the vernakalant infusion to cardioversion, and the length of hospital stay. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: The safety profile of vernakalant was similar in the ED and non-ED groups. In the ED group, 12 pre-defined HOIs were reported in 11 patients (0.9%); all but one occurred within 2 h after start of the first infusion. These events comprised nine significant bradycardia cases, of which one was associated with transient hypotension and three with sinus arrest, and 2 cases of atrial flutter with 1:1 conduction. Five other SAEs were reported. All patients with vernakalant-related events recovered without sequelae. No Torsade de Pointes, ventricular fibrillation, or deaths occurred. Successful cardioversion was reported in 67.8% (95% confidence interval: 65.2-70.4) and 66.4% (62.5-70.1) of episodes, with a median time to conversion of 11.0 and 10.0 min in the ED and non-ED groups, respectively. Patients had a median length of hospital stay of 7.4 h and 17.1 h in the ED and non-ED groups, respectively. Conclusion: Intravenous vernakalant was well tolerated with similar cardioversion rates in patients treated in the ED or non-ED setting and does not require admission to a coronary care unit or intensive care unit. First-line treatment with vernakalant could allow an early discharge in patients with recent-onset AF treated in the ED.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Bjorkander, Inge, et al.
(author)
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Differential Index : A Simple Time Domain Heart Rate Variability Analysis with Prognostic Implications in Stable Angina Pectoris
- 2008
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In: Cardiology. - : S. Karger AG. - 0008-6312 .- 1421-9751. ; 111:2, s. 126-133
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: To examine the usefulness of time domain heart rate variability (HRV) measurements by a simple graphical method, the differential index (DI), in prognostic assessments of patients with chronic stable angina pectoris. METHODS: HRV measurements in the time domain by DI were compared to conventional measurements of standard deviation of all normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN), percent of differences between adjacent normal RR intervals >50 ms (PNN50) and square root of the mean of the sum of squares of differences between adjacent normal RR intervals (RMSSD) from 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic recordings in 678 patients in the Angina Prognosis Study in Stockholm. The patients received double-blind treatment with metoprolol or verapamil. Main outcome measures were cardiovascular death or non-fatal myocardial infarction during follow-up (median 40 months). RESULTS: Patients suffering cardiovascular death (n = 30) had lower DI, SDNN and PNN50 (all p < 0.001). In a multivariate Cox model, DI below median independently predicted cardiovascular death (p = 0.002), as did SDNN (p = 0.016) and PNN50 (p = 0.030), but not RMSSD (p = 0.10). The separation of survival curves was most pronounced and specificity was slightly better with DI. DI and PNN50 increased with metoprolol but not verapamil treatment. Short-term treatment effects were not related to prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Low time domain HRV carries independent prognostic information regarding cardiovascular death in stable angina pectoris. The simple DI method provided equally good or better prognostic information than conventional, more laborious HRV methods.
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| 9. |
- Blomström, Per, et al.
(author)
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Pre- and intraoperative identification of multiple accessory pathways. Experience of 19 pathways in 9 patients
- 1989
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In: Cardiology. - : S. Karger AG. - 0008-6312 .- 1421-9751. ; 76:1, s. 42-52
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The pre- and intraoperative electrophysiological studies in 9 patients with two or more accessory pathways are described. The presence of multiple accessory pathways was clinically suspected in only 2 patients. During the preoperative electrophysiological study two accessory pathways were identified in 7 patients and a single pathway in 2 patients. At operation, additionally three accessory pathways were identified in 3 patients. One out of two pathways, found preoperatively, could not be confirmed in 1 patient. It is concluded that the clinical or preoperative electrophysiological evidence of only one accessory pathway should not distract one's attention from considering multiple accessory pathways in patients presenting only one type of tachycardia.
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| 10. |
- Bocchi, E. A., et al.
(author)
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Effect of Combining Ivabradine and beta-Blockers: Focus on the Use of Carvedilol in the SHIFT Population
- 2015
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In: Cardiology. - : S. Karger AG. - 0008-6312 .- 1421-9751. ; 131:4, s. 218-224
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: We explored the prescription of beta-blockers with ivabradine in patients with systolic heart failure, focusing on the most frequently coprescribed beta-blocker, carvedilol. Methods: We analyzed outcomes in SHIFT patients with systolic heart failure who were prescribed beta-blockers (carvedilol, bisoprolol, metoprolol, or nebivolol) with ivabradine or placebo. Analysis was by intention to treat in patients prescribed a beta-blocker at the time of the event. Results: Data were available for 2,596 patients receiving carvedilol, 1,483 bisoprolol, 1,424 metoprolol, and 197 nebivolol. Mean treatment duration was 19 months. There was no difference in the effect of ivabradine on the primary composite endpoint of cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalization between the various beta-blockers [hazard ratios (HR) for risk reduction, 0.75-0.89; p for interaction = 0.86]. Patients prescribed carvedilol with ivabradine had lower rates of primary composite endpoint (HR 0.80, 95% CI: 0.68-0.94), heart failure hospitalization (HR 0.73, 95% CI: 0.61-0.88), and cardiovascular hospitalization (HR 0.80, 95% CI: 0.69-0.92) versus carvedilol with placebo. The dosage of carvedilol had no detectable effect and there were no unexpected safety issues. Conclusions: Whatever beta-blocker was coprescribed with ivabradine, there were improvements in cardiovascular outcomes in patients with systolic heart failure, especially with the most prescribed beta-blocker - carvedilol. (C) 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel
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