AIMS To prospectively evaluate the relationship between left atrial volume (LAV) and the risk of clinical events in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). METHODS We enrolled a total of 141 HCM patients with sinus rhythm and normal pump function, and 102 patients (73 men; mean age, 61±13 years) who met inclusion criteria were followed for 30.8±10.0 months. The patients were divided ...

The acute effects of the angiotensin converting-enzyme inhibitor captopril on regional blood flow, renal hemodynamics and sodium excretion were studied in 12 patients with severe congestive heart failure. Converting-enzyme inhibition decreased systemic vascular resistance by 27% and increased cardiac index by 16%. Estimated hepatic blood flow decreased 17%, but renal blood flow increased 60%. T...

The maximal rate of fall of left ventricular pressure (peak negative dp/dt) was measured in 4 patients with congestive cardiomyopathy (primary myocardial disease), in 5 patients with constrictive pericarditis and in 3 controls. Measurements were made at rest, with leg raising, after a bolus of 6 mug intravenous isoprenaline, and in patients with constrictive pericarditis during pulsus paradoxus...

T HE PURPOSE of this paper is to evaluate the influence of anticoagulant therapy on the incidence of thromboembolic complications and mortality in patients with congestive heart failure. The fact that patients with congestive heart failure are prone to develop thromboembolic complications is well known. Kinsey and White' found pulmonary infarction to be present in 24 of 50 autopsied cases of co...

Central Chemoreflex Sensitivity in Congestive Heart Failure To the Editor: The data of Narkiewicz et al1 expand our understanding of the importance of the imbalance between enhanced central versus peripheral chemoreflex sensitivity in the pathophysiology of congestive heart failure. The authors comment on the links between central cardiovascular and respiratory control, but despite this, patien...