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Query: UMLS:C0018799 (heart disease)
 34,133 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Prostaglandin type E1 has been administered on 4 different occasions in a newborn with a ductus-dependent complex congenital cyanotic heart disease. Dramatic improvement of the arterial oxygen concentration followed each prostaglandin infusion. Increased pulmonary circulation and widening of the ductus arteriosus were seen on angiographic examination. Transient flushing of the skin and mild pyrexia were the only complications noted. It is advised that prostaglandin type E1 be used in ductus-dependent heart diseases as an emergency therapy when indicated.
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PMID:Effect of E1 type prostaglandin on hypoxemia in a cyanotic congenital cardiac malformation. 89 77

Eosinophilic endocarditis is a potentially lethal complication of chronic peripheral blood hypereosinophilia. We hypothesized that eosinophil peroxidase (EPO), an abundant eosinophil (EO) cationic granule protein, promotes eosinophilic endocarditis by binding to negatively charged endocardium, and there generating cytotoxic oxidants. Using an immunocytochemical technique, we demonstrated endocardial deposition of EPO in the heart of a patient with hypereosinophilic heart disease. Because EPO preferentially oxidizes Br- to hypobromous acid (HOBr) rather than Cl- to hypochlorous acid (HOCl) at physiologic halide concentrations, we characterized the Br(-)-dependent toxicity of both activated EOs and purified human EPO towards several types of endothelial cells and isolated working rat hearts. In RPMI supplemented with 100 microM Br-, phorbol myristate acetate-activated EOs, but not polymorphonuclear leukocytes, caused 1.8-3.6 times as much 51Cr release from four types of endothelial cell monolayers as in RPMI alone. H2O2 and purified human EPO, especially when bound to cell surfaces, mediated extraordinarily potent, completely Br(-)-dependent cytolysis of endothelial cells that was reversed by peroxidase inhibitors, HOBr scavengers, and competitive substrates. We further modeled eosinophilic endocarditis by instilling EPO into the left ventricles of isolated rat hearts, flushing unbound EPO, then perfusing them with a buffer containing 100 microM Br- and 1 microM H2O2. Acute congestive heart failure (evidenced by a precipitous decrement in rate pressure product, stroke volume work, aortic output, and MVO2 to 0-33% of control values) ensued over 20 min, which deletion of EPO, Br-, or H2O2 completely abrogated. These findings raise the possibility that EPO bound to endocardial cells might utilize H2O2 generated either by overlying phagocytes or endogenous cardiac metabolism along with the virtually inexhaustible supply of Br- from flowing blood to fuel HOBr-mediated cell damage. By this mechanism, EPO may play an important role in the pathogenesis of eosinophilic endocarditis.
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PMID:Bromide-dependent toxicity of eosinophil peroxidase for endothelium and isolated working rat hearts: a model for eosinophilic endocarditis. 198 18

Carcinoids are solid tumours arising from enterochromaffin cells, usually of the gastrointestinal or respiratory tract. They are fairly common, and in autopsy series have been present in up to 1% of cases. In contrast the carcinoid syndrome--the combination of flushing, diarrhoea, wheezing and heart disease due to release of vasoactive substances from these tumours--is rare. One estimate is that in a population of 250 000 over 10 years only two new cases would arise (Linell and Mansson, 1966).
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PMID:Carcinoid syndrome. Medical management. 374 26

Programmed ventricular stimulation was used to test oral bethanidine sulfate in 10 patients with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. These patients had previously documented, recurrent, sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) and/or ventricular fibrillation (VF) complicating stable heart disease. During control electrophysiologic studies, VT could be induced in all 10 patients: 6 with nonsustained VT, 3 with sustained VT, and 1 with VT/VF. After control, bethanidine 20-30 mg/kg was administered orally and beginning 60 minutes later, programmed ventricular stimulation was repeated. After bethanidine administration, VT could be induced in nine patients; in four, the VT was essentially unchanged from that induced during control studies. In four others, worse VT was induced after bethanidine. The remaining two patients had a potentially beneficial response to the drug. Bethanidine was poorly tolerated: seven patients had symptomatic orthostatic hypotension that persisted for several days despite concurrent protriptyline therapy. Furthermore, in four patients, spontaneous VT or VT/VF occurred 3-8 hours after the last dose. Nausea, vomiting, flushing, and blood pressure elevation were also noted. Bethanidine sulfate in the dosages used usually does not prevent the induction of VT by programmed ventricular stimulation and frequently causes serious toxicity. These findings suggest that the drug would be ineffective and poorly tolerated for long-term therapy in patients with serious ventricular arrhythmias.
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PMID:Bethanidine sulfate in paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia: toxicity and antifibrillatory actions. 377 63

We questioned 113 patients with subsequently diagnosed sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) regarding the symptoms that prompted their seeking hospital treatment, eliciting the following: 15% of patients had lost consciousness, 15% had near syncope, 35% had mild lightheadedness and 35% had no cerebral symptoms. Patients with preexisting congestive heart failure or a VT rate of 200 beats per minute or greater more often lost consciousness. Other symptoms included palpitations in 57% of patients, chest pain in 27%, dyspnea in 25%, weakness in 6%, nausea or diaphoresis in 3% each and flushing in 2%. In approximately 50% of patients who had mild lightheadedness or no cerebral symptoms, their condition was incorrectly diagnosed as supraventricular tachycardia based on the absence of severe symptoms during the tachycardia. In some patients, VT may be associated with mild or atypical symptoms. The differentiation of supraventricular from ventricular tachycardia should be based on electrocardiographic criteria and should not be influenced by the nature or severity of a patient's symptoms. The severity of cerebral symptoms is at least partially related to the VT rate and a patient's underlying heart disease.
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PMID:Clinical symptoms in patients with sustained ventricular tachycardia. 399 9

Carcinoid heart disease is a rare entity and has always been hallmarked by its late appearance in the malignant carcinoid syndrome. Most cases are discovered when patients complain of typical symptoms, including flushing and diarrhea, with subsequent heart failure and valvulopathy developing years later. Only a few case reports of successful valve replacements have appeared in the literature, and the cause of the valvulopathy in those patients was known at surgery. I discuss herein a unique case of carcinoid heart disease that was diagnosed postoperatively.
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PMID:Carcinoid heart disease. A unique case of postvalvotomy diagnosis. 687 Apr 45

Postmenopausal women experiencing hot flashes in whom estrogen replacement is contraindicated have alternatives available to them; however, there is no clearly defined treatment modality. The literature addressing many of these alternatives has serious limitations, which include the small number of women enrolled and lack of comparative studies between agents. Each patient needs to be assessed in terms of her current medical status, concomitant medications, and the degree to which vasomotor instability interferes with everyday activities. The literature suggests that megestrol acetate 20 mg bid may provide significant relief. Women who opt to use megestrol acetate must be told in advance that the effects will not be felt immediately particularly if tamoxifen is used concomitantly. Clonidine and medroxyprogesterone may constitute potential alternatives, but patients may not be able to tolerate the adverse effects. Because of the lack of literature supporting their clinical use, options such as vitamin E and ginseng need to be approached cautiously. Exercise has a role in alleviating some of the complications associated with menopause, such as heart disease and osteoporosis, but its effect on neurotransmitters and hormone concentrations, and how this relates to the treatment of hot flashes have not been characterized. Patients should be told that regular physical activity, a balanced diet, avoidance of alcohol and caffeine, and stress reduction may be of additional help in decreasing vasomotor flushing.
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PMID:Alternatives to estrogen for the treatment of hot flashes. 922 57

The carcinoid syndrome is a result of the release of multiple carcinoid tumor factors, particularly serotonin, kinins, and histamine. These factors cause flushing, hemodynamic instability, right-sided heart disease, bronchospasm, and gastrointestinal symptoms. A through preoperative assessment concentrating on these areas is necessary. The use of invasive monitors perioperatively, with the avoidance of drugs and techniques that can exacerbate the syndrome, is beneficial. Octreotide, both prophylactically and acutely, provides the best medical therapy available.
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PMID:Update on carcinoid syndrome. 923 98

Tachyarrhythmias are common rhythm disturbances in infants and children. Despite the availability of diagnostic criteria arrhythmias are sometimes commonly misdiagnosed. Recent reports suggest that an endogenous purine nucleoside, adenosine, has a diagnostic effect in narrow QRS complex tachycardias, in addition to terminating supraventricular tachycardia involving the atrioventricular node. This report reviews the authors' experience with the use of adenosine for diagnosis of narrow and wide complex tachyarrhythmias in children. Adenosine was administered to 43 patients with several types of tachyarrhythmias (mean age, 8.3 +/- 5.24 years). Nineteen patients had structural or acquired heart disease. Of the 43 patients there were 28 (65%) several different types of narrow QRS complex tachycardia and 14 (33%) ventricular arrhythmias. One patient (2%) had long QT. Adenosine terminated supraventricular tachycardia, in 11 of 12 patients (92%), ventricular tachycardia in five of eight patients (63%), and transiently terminated premature ventricular contractions in two of six patients (33%). The diagnostic ability of adenosine was perfect in eight supraventricular tachycardia. In these eight cases the tachycardia mechanism was unclear before the administration of adenosine, which demonstrated three cases of sinus tachycardia, three of atrial flutter, one of atrial fibrillation and one of atrial fibrilloflutter. Confirmation of the primary diagnosis by adenosine was perfect in five tachyarrhythmias including three cases of atrial flutter, one of atrial fibrillation and one of ectopic atrial tachycardia. The average effective dose of adenosine was 212 micrograms/kg (range, 100-400 micrograms/kg). There were no serious side-effects except transient dyspnea, chest pain and flushing. These findings demonstrate adenosine to be helpful and safe in the diagnosis of tachyarrhythmias.
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PMID:Role of adenosine in the diagnosis and treatment of tachyarrhythmias in pediatric patients. 936 55

Sildenafil citrate, an oral therapy for erectile dysfunction, is a selective inhibitor of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-specific phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5), the predominant isozyme metabolizing cGMP in the corpus cavernosum. Chemically, it is a compound of the pyrazolo-pyrimidinyl-methylpiperazine class. Sildenafil has no direct relaxant effect on human corpus cavernosum but enhances the relaxant effect of nitric oxide (NO) on the corpus cavernosum by inhibiting PDE5, which is responsible for degradation of cGMP in this tissue. When sexual stimulation causes local release of NO, inhibition of PDE5 by sildenafil increases concentrations of cGMP in the corpus cavernosum, causing smooth muscle relaxation and blood flow into the penis, resulting in an erection. Sildenafil at recommended doses has no effect in the absence of sexual stimulation. The drug is rapidly absorbed after oral administration, with absolute bioavailability of 40%. Its pharmacokinetics are dose proportional over the recommended dosage range. Maximum plasma concentrations are reached within 30 to 120 minutes after oral dosing in the fasting state. Sildenafil is cleared predominantly by the hepatic microsomal isoenzymes CYP3A4 (major route) and CYP2C9 (minor route). Clinical studies assessed the effect of sildenafil on the ability of men with erectile dysfunction to engage in sexual activity and, specifically, to achieve and maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual intercourse. Sildenafil was evaluated at doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg in randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled clinical trials of up to 6 months' duration. The drug was administered to hundreds of patients aged 19 to 87 years having erectile dysfunction of various etiologies for a mean duration of 5 years. Sildenafil was associated with statistically significant improvement in erectile function compared with placebo. Adverse effects reported at a rate of >2% were headache, flushing, dyspepsia, nasal congestion, urinary tract infection, abnormal vision, diarrhea, dizziness, and rash. No cases of priapism were reported. The use of sildenafil is contraindicated in men who are taking organic nitrates, because of the potential for a precipitous decrease in blood pressure. Postmarketing reports and surveillance have revealed at least 39 deaths with sildenafil use in men having a history of heart disease, men taking nitrate medications, and men in poor physical health due to lack of exercise. Many of the men who experienced serious adverse effects or death had a variety of concomitant diseases and were taking multiple medications.
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PMID:Safety and efficacy of sildenafil citrate in the treatment of male erectile dysfunction. 991 1


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