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Long-Term
Outcome in Asymptomatic Men with Exercise-Induced Premature Ventricular
Depolarizations
During diagnostic exercise testing in asymptomatic persons, frequent premature
ventricular depolarizations are sometimes observed. In this study of 6101
middle-aged men, frequent ventricular premature depolarizations during exercise
were identified in 138 subjects. Such depolarizations were found to be associated
with increased mortality from cardiovascular causes during 23 years of follow-up.
Patients with exercise-induced premature ventricular depolarizations should
undergo careful medical evaluation for other evidence of heart disease.
Effect
of Nitrovasodilators on the Risk of Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Laboratory studies have suggested that medications that release nitric oxide,
such as nitroglycerin and other nitrovasodilators, may reduce gastric damage
due to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medications. This casecontrol study
examined the risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients taking
nitrovasodilators, low-dose aspirin, or other nonsteroidal antiinflammatory
drugs. The use of nitrovasodilators was independently associated with a
decreased risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients taking these
drugs.
Arterial
Abnormalities in the Offspring of Patients with Premature Myocardial Infarction
 A
parental history of myocardial infarction at a relatively young age is
a known risk factor for vascular disease. In this study, children and
young adults (mean age, 19 years) who had a parent with premature myocardial
infarction underwent noninvasive studies of brachial-artery reactivity
and carotid intimamedia thickness. Abnormalities in arterial structure
and function were found, which may indicate the presence of premature
atherosclerosis.
Ganglionic-Receptor
Autoantibodies in Autoimmune Autonomic Neuropathies
In patients with
idiopathic autonomic neuropathy, severe sympathetic and parasympathetic
failure develops over a period of days or weeks. In this study, autoantibodies
that bound to ganglionic acetylcholine receptors were detected in the serum
of 19 of 46 patients with idiopathic or paraneoplastic autonomic neuropathy.
An autoimmune mechanism may be involved in these forms of autonomic dysfunction. |
