UNLABELLED:The objective of the investigation is to assess the safety and contribution of physical training in patients with chronic heart failure and to assess the effect of training on central haemodynamics, left ventricular function evaluated by echocardiography and humoral substances.PATIENTS AND METHODS:Patients with cardiac failure NYHA II and III incl. 17 on t he background of IHD and 21 on the background of dilatation cardiomyopathy. All patients had the ejection fraction below 40% and pVO2 below 20 ml/kg/min. They were divided into groups enagaged in training (T) and controls (K). Before training and after its termination the patients were subjected to clinical examination, basic laboratory tests, echocardiography amd dextrolateral catheterization at rest and during ergometry and levels of humoral agents were assessed. The training was pursued three times per week for a period of two months on a bicycle ergometer.RESULTS:Before training there were no statistically significant differences between the groups. After training the groups did not differ in echocardiographic and haemodynamic parameters. In the training group there was as compared with the onset of the experiment a decline of the maximal median pressure (123.6 +/- 11.9 vs. 113 +/- 10.2 mm Hg, p < 0.04) the maximal pulse rate (112.5 +/- 18.7 vs. 108.4 +/- 20.1 p <0.02). In the control group, on the other hand there was an increase of big endothelin (52.2 +/- 4 9.1 vs. 88.0 +/- 76.7 pg/ml, p < 0.04) and an increase of pulmonary vascular resistance (102.8 +/- 71.7 vs. 149.2 +/- 69.5 dyn.s/cm5, p < 0.002).CONCLUSION:Physical training was well tolertaed by patients, it led to a subjective improvement of their conditionn, to a reduction of the chronotropic response to a load and thus to more economical cardiac activity.

AIM:Correlation of five humoral markers with laboratory, echocardiographic and right heart catheterization parameters in patients with chronic heart failure.STUDY POPULATION:29 patients, heart failure NYHA II and III, ejection fraction below 40% with coronary artery disease or dilated cardiomyopathy.METHODS:evaluation of thromboxane, prostaglandin F (PGF), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, endothelin-1 and big endothelin rest levels and their correlation with: (1) laboratory parameters: Sodium, urea, creatinine, fibrinogen, (2) chest X-ray: cardiothoracic index (CTI), pulmonary congestion, (3) right heart catheterization parameters at rest, hand-grip and bicycle ergometry: mean pulmonary artery pressure (AP), wedge pressure (WP), systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance (SVR, PVR) and cardiac index (CI), (4) echocardiographic parameters at rest, hand-grip and bicycle ergometry: end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), ejection fraction (EF), mitral flow E/A, filling period of left ventricle and time of duration of mitral regurgitation.RESULTS:No correlation was found between thromboxane, prostaglandin F and tumor necrosis factor alpha with the above mentioned parameters. Endothelin-1 level correlated with E/A, PVR and MPA at rest and at hand-grip. Big endothelin level correlated with EDV and ESV, AP, WP and SVR at rest and at both types of exercise. The highest correlation was between big endothelin and rest AP (r=0.79), rest WP (r=0.78) and CTI (r=0.58), all P<0.01.CONCLUSIONS:Big endothelin and partly endothelin-1 levels showed a close correlation with some parameters used for the evaluation of chronic heart failure severity.

Cardiac failure is a syndrome which comprises ventricular dysfunction (confirmed by echocardiography) and compensating mechanisms (immediate activation of the sympathetic nerve and functioning of Starling's mechanism, within hours or days activation of RAAS within days or weeks hypertrophy of the heart). Cardiac failure develops rapidly either in a previously healthy subject (first extensive IM, diffuse myocarditis, acute aortic or mitral regurgitation) or in a damaged heart (IHD, KMP, defect) as a result of sudden excessive burdening (ischaemia, arrythmia, infection, surgery etc.) or spontaneously (end-stage). It is manifested above all by "backward" failure (pulmonary oedema). The pulmonary pressure must be rapidly reduced: i.v. nitrovasodilators act immediately, i.v. furosemide acts within 10-15 min. (in can, however, reduce the circulating volume which has not increased during the first failure). Also O2, anodynes. In the subacute stage (without any precise time limits) which may develop in serious cases from acute failure, or develop as a result of deterioration of chronic failure, in addition to congestion, symptoms caused by "forward" failure are in the foreground. These are symptoms caused by a reduced minute output and hyperfusion of tissue. It is indicated to administer substances which improve work tolerance, i.e. positive inotropics (digitalis, beta-agonist or phosphodiesterase inhibitors). If the blood pressure drops, a combination of dopamine and dobutamine should be administered; if the respiratory volume drops, artificial pulmonary ventilation, in case of persisting oedema continuous arteriovenous haemofiltration, in severe failure intraaorrtic balloon contrapulsation etc. In an irreversible state urgent or elective orthoptic transplantation of the heart should be considered. In chronic heart failure an important component of comprehensive treatment is in addition to treatment of congestion and hypoperfusion, prevention of "cardiovascular remodelling" by means of angiotensin convertase inhibitors etc. Which improve the quality of life and survival. Arrhythmias are an independent prognostic factor.

The submitted review deals with contemporary possibilities of antianginal treatment. After a brief account of pathophysiological and morphological data in different types of cardiac ischaemia and angina pectoris the author submits algorithms which should be the basis for therapeutic decisions. It is a question of proper timing of invasive examinations leading to revascularization operations in relation to medicamentous treatment. The latter is supplementary treatment before or after revascularization, or is the main approach in case of minimal complaints, in case of contraindicated invasive treatment or in case of an inoperable finding. The author discusses the action, indications, contraindications, undesirable effects, and average dosage of nitrates, beta-blockers, calcium channel inhibitors and antithrombotics. The author mentions also the use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. View on treatment will change with advancing knowledge.

The authors compared two types of spiroergometric tests in 14 patients with chronic heart failure (NYHA II-III, ejection fraction < 40%). Test A: 0.25 W/kg 3 minutes, 1 minute break, increase by 0.25 W/kg á 3 minutes. Test B: 25 W 2 minutes without break, increase by 10 W á 2 minutes. The two tests did not differ as to the achieved heart rate, blood pressure reading, oxygen consumption and biochemical parameters at the end of the load, even at the level of the anaerobic threshold. There was a significant statistical difference in the duration of the load: test A lasted 16.4 minutes, test B 9.7 minutes (p < 0.001). The length of the test B correlated with the peak oxygen consumption per 1 kg body weight (p < 0.001, r 0.9866). The authors recommend for common practice test B with a defined period of the load as sufficient.

All available beta-blockers are effective in the treatment of high blood pressure. Differences in the pharmacokinetics are important as they can have an impact on their clinical use. Betaxolol, a beta-1-selective blocker has a long biological half-life which can control the blood pressure and pulse rate for 24 hours. The authors investigated 20 patients with mild and medium severe hypertension by out-patient monitoring of the blood pressure. Treatment was focused on influencing the morning rise of blood pressure and pulse rate. The results confirm the effectiveness of betaxolol (Lokren) in the administered dose of 10-20 mg once per day. A favourable response was obtained in 75% when checked by a sphygmomanometer. The morning readings of blood pressure at 5, 6 and 7 o'clock following treatment did not exceed 90 mmHg diastolic pressure. It was also found that there is a statistically significant difference in the effect exerted on pressure and pulse rate in daytime, while the difference at nighttime is not significant. This mild reduction on blood pressure and pulse rate during the night is an advantage in particular in elderly patients. Lokren treatment did not have any serious side-effects it did not affect laboratory values or ECG with the exception of the pulse rate.

The authors describe the development of nitrates from substances of the first generation (nitroglycerin and isosorbit dinitrate) to the second generation (isosorbit-5-mononitrate). They explain the mechanism of their action, haemodynamic effects and the problem of nitrate tolerance. Indications of their rational use are given.

In the past some authors revealed that data assembled during examinations of the central haemodynamics, echocardiography, subjective complaints, physical findings and load tolerance in patients with chronic heart failure are not mutually consistent. The authors examined therefore comprehensively 40 patients with different grades of cardiac failure. They revealed very loose relations between the grade of functional classification, echocardiographic and invasive haemodynamic parameters at rest on the one hand and spiroergometric indicators on the other hand. Closer relations with spiroergometric findings were obtained with values of invasive haemodynamic parameters after a load, in particular values of the cardiac index, and systemic vascular resistance. The authors conclude that for clinical manifestations of chronic cardiac failure the peripheral circulation and tissue metabolism is at least equally important as changes of central haemodynamics. Moreover, the importance of the right ventricular function and diastolic cardiac function is not sufficiently appreciated.

Tiracizine a new antiarrhythmic drug class Ia was tested in a open crossover study in a group of 46 patients with more than 2500 ventricular extrasystoles per 24 hours or with ventricular arrhythmias III or a higher Lown class. The authors revealed a statistically significant drop of ventricular extrasystoles and a significant reduction of arrhythmias class IV of Lown's classification with a general shift of arrhythmias to lower classes. Improvement by at least one class occurred in 63%, deterioration without clinical impact in 11%. The drug does not have a clinical effect on haemodynamics. Side-effects of an anticholinergic type were recorded in 13% and a toxic allergic exanthema was observed in 6.5%. Tiracizine extends the spectrum of membrane antiarrhythmic drugs. Its effectiveness is similar as that of propafenon.

The authors investigated in a group of 106 patients with a first myocardial infarction treated by thrombolysis the effect of i.v. administration of creatine phosphate (a new drug with cardioprotective action--Neoton Alfa Schiapparelli Wassermann Co). In the course of treatment electrocardiographic changes were recorded and the presence of arrhythmias examined by the Holter technique. The Neoton group displayed a statistically insignificant but nevertheless obvious trend of electrocardiographically less serious forms of infarction and a lower incidence of infarctions, as compared with the control group.

The relationship between chest X-ray findings and NYHA classification or haemodynamic parameters (ejection fraction, end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes by echocardiography, right atrial pressure--RAP, pulmonary artery pressure--PAP and pulmonary wedge pressure--PAWP by right heart catheterization) was evaluated in 44 and 22 patients with chronic congestive heart failure, respectively. In chest X-ray, the cardiothoracic index (CTI) and authors' own classification of pulmonary congestion (PCG) of classes 0, 1 and 2 were used. A significant correlation was found between CTI and NYHA classification or haemodynamic parameters, and between PCG (classes 0 and 2) and echocardiographic parameters or right heart pressures (EDV, ESV, RAP, PAP, PAWP), but there was no significant relationship between X-ray and left ventricular ejection fraction. For a PAWP higher than 18 mmHg and PCG class 2, the sensitivity of X-ray was 86% and specificity 80%. The authors conclude that chest X-ray provides reliable information about the haemodynamic parametres, comparable to echocardiographic and catheterization data.

The effects of 5 and 10 mg of amlodipine and of placebo were compared in 21 patients with stable angina pectoris and multivessel coronary artery disease. The blind comparison was performed by means of bicycle ergometry and stress echocardiography using esophageal stimulation of the left heart atrium. All patients subsequently received placebo, amlodipine 5 mg and 10 mg for 2 weeks. In bicycle ergometry both doses of amlodipine in comparison with placebo significantly lowered the ST segment depression in lead V5 and prolonged the time to onset of angina. The exercise duration was significantly prolonged only after 10 mg of amlodipine. In stress echocardiography 10 mg of amlodipine significantly improved ejection fraction and reduced wall motion score during stimulation and increased peak velocity of relaxation of left ventricular posterior wall at rest and immediately after stimulation. In the patients with left ventricular end-diastolic pressure less-than-or-equal-to 20 mmHg, amlodipine reduced the ratio of peak transmitral flow velocity in atrial contraction to that in early diastole (A/E) at rest and shortened deceleration time at rest and immediately after stimulation.Amlodipine in patients with stable angina pectoris significantly improved the exercise tolerance and the function of the left ventricle in a dose-dependent way. Amlodipine was well tolerated.

It has been proven that treatment of chronic heart failure (CHF) with some modern drugs is able to reduce mortality in groups of patients with the severest grades of this disease. The risk of sudden death has been unchanged, however. Out of 49 patients on long-term follow-up, 28 patients are surviving (group A) and 21 died (group B). 52.3% of the dead patients died suddenly. Eight patients in NYHA classes I-II died, all of them suddenly. Contrary to this, sudden death was the cause of death only in three of 13 patients in NYHA classes III-IV (p < 0.001). More severe heart failure was present in group B (NYHA class 2.95 +/- 0.96 vs. 2.18 +/- 0.48 in group A--p < 0.1). Antiarrhythmic drugs were given more frequently in group B (in 47.6% of pts vs. 17.9% in group A--p < 0.05). It is concluded that the occurrence of sudden death is higher in patients with less severe forms of CHF and has not been reduced by the means employed. Use of antiarrhythmic drugs may be dangerous and their indication should be based on results of a comprehensive examination. Use of the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator seems to be the most promising approach in indicated cases.

The authors present a brief characteristic of infusion pumps on the drop principle and factors which influence the size of the drop. They also pay attention to the knowledge of drop size for nutritional needs and accurate dosage of drugs.

The authors discuss factors which influence the dispensing of infusion solutions by means of infusion sets regulated by a button. They draw attention to the fact that by means of infusion sets IS 103 and TS 203 accurate dispensing is not possible as the rate of flow changes markedly with the time of administration of the infusion. On the other hand, in the EXADROP dispenser marked slowing down of the infusion in relation of time does not occur and the authors recommend it therefore for common use in standard departments.

The authors report on their experience with the transdermal spray, TD spray Iso Mack. Using a graded ergometric test, the authors examined 11 patients with angina on exertion before and 60 minutes after administration of 60 mg of the effective substance by the transdermal route. The average threshold of ischaemia and work tolerance increased significantly and the ECG depression of segment S-T receded. In an open trial six patients were investigated with angina on exertion during three-week treatment with the spray--twice a day 60 mg by the transdermal route--as compared with standard treatment. The number of attacks and consumption of sublingual nitroglycerin decreased significantly. Five patients were subjected to haemodynamic examination before and repeatedly after application of 60 mg of the spray. A significant drop of the filling pressures occurred which persisted for 6 to 8 hours.