Acute myocardial infarction during pregnancy caused by coronary artery spasm

A 33-year-old pregnant woman suffered from acute anteroseptal myocardial infarction at the 19th gestational week. Despite periodic attacks of myocardial ischaemia after admission, the coronary arteriograms under the use of nitroglycerin were normal. Thereafter, she remained free from the ischaemic events with diltiazem hydrochloride and delivered a healthy baby. The coronary arteriography at puerperium also showed no organic narrowing. However, the provocative test with acetylcholine chloride caused severe spasm of the left anterior descending coronary artery. These findings strongly suggest that acute myocardial infarction in this pregnant woman was caused by coronary artery spasm.     

Acute renal failure during pregnancy, labor and puerperium in women

The reasons and course of acute renal failure during pregnancy, labour and puerperium were presented in 30 women treated in Provincial Hospital in Kielce. The most frequent reason was haemorrhage--15 (50%) women, sepsis--10 (33,3%) women and preeclampsia--eclampsia--2(6, 6%) women. 15 women died as the consequence of multiple organ failure. Among 15 women who survived renal function has returned completely in 13 (86, 6%) ones. In remaining 2 (13, 4%) women chronic renal failure persisted.     

Acute myocardial infarction and myocardial bridging: a case report

OBJECTIVE: To describe the appearance and frequency of skeletal abnormalities associated with the Marinesco-Sj?gren syndrome of cerebellar ataxia, congenital cataracts, mental and physical retardation and myopathy. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seventeen individuals affected with the disorder, of common ancestry and marked consanguinity, were found in an isolated area in southwest Alabama; 11 were available for radiologic examination of parts of the skeleton. The range and frequency of skeletal abnormalities thus demonstrated were tabulated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A constellation of cranial and extracranial skeletal abnormalities-including a small posterior fossa, spinal abnormalities, gracile bones, elbow and hip valgus and asymmetric metacarpal and metatarsal shortening- can lead the radiologist or orthopaedist to suggest the diagnosis, especially if appropriate neurological/neuroradiological findings also are present.     

Acute myocardial infarction in a patient during dobutamine stress echocardiography

Combined chemotherapy/radiotherapy treatments appear to yield better results in locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) than radiotherapy alone. The optimal induction chemotherapy regimen remains to be established. In the present study, chemotherapy with cisplatin and vinorelbine was used prior to radical radiotherapy in Stage III-B NSCLC. Thirty-three patients were entered prospectively into a Phase II study. Treatment consisted of three cycles of chemotherapy with cisplatin 100 mg/m2 on day 1 and vinorelbine 30 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8, followed by thoracic radiotherapy (60 Gy). Twenty-two percent of the 33 patients had grade 3-4 leukopenia, and there were six episodes (in 4 patients) of neutropenia-associated fever. Gastrointestinal toxicity was generally moderate. Peripheral neuropathy was present in 42% of the patients, although in most of them it was slight. The main radiotherapy toxicity was esophagitis grade I-II. Evaluation of response after the third chemotherapy course showed an objective response in 16 patients (48%), whereas in three patients (9%) the disease progressed during therapy. The median survival of the entire group was 13 months. Cisplatin plus vinorelbine followed by radiotherapy is an effective schedule for patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.     

Course of panic disorder during pregnancy and the puerperium: a preliminary study

Pregnancy has been referred to as a time of well-being for patients with psychiatric disorder. However, this impression is derived primarily from anecdotal reports and retrospective studies, rather than systematic prospective evaluation. In this study, 10 pregnant women with previous histories of panic disorder were evaluated prospectively across pregnancy and the postpartum period using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R and the Clinical Global Impression. Information regarding pharmacotherapy received was also recorded. Seven of 10 subjects continued to meet DSM-III-R criteria for panic disorder at all trimester visits. Symptoms persisted for some patients even in the context of treatment with antipanic medications. Most subjects (n = 9) met DSM-III-R criteria at 1-3 months postpartum despite nearly uniform intensification of antipanic treatment. Although some women may experience diminished symptoms of panic during pregnancy, in this sample most continued to experience panic attacks and to require antipanic treatment to control symptoms.     

Stroke and intracranial venous thrombosis during pregnancy and puerperium

OBJECTIVES: To determine nationally representative estimates of the incidence of stroke and intracranial venous thrombosis during pregnancy and the puerperium, and to identify potential risk factors for these conditions. METHODS: National Hospital Discharge Survey data were analyzed for the period 1979 to 1991. Nationally representative estimates of risk were calculated by age, race, presence of pregnancy-related hypertension, census region, hospital ownership, and number of hospital beds. Multivariate models were developed using logistic regression. RESULTS: There were an estimated 8,918 cases of stroke and 5,723 cases of intracranial venous thrombosis during pregnancy and the puerperium in the United States among 50,264,631 deliveries, giving risks of 17.7 cases of stroke and 11.4 cases of intracranial venous thrombosis per 100,000 deliveries. In the multivariate models, stroke was associated strongly with pregnancy-related hypertension, larger hospital size, and proprietary hospital ownership, and inversely associated with living in the South. Intracranial venous thrombosis was associated with maternal age. CONCLUSIONS: Stroke and intracranial venous thrombosis are relatively common complications of pregnancy and the puerperium. Collectively, rates for these conditions are about 50% greater for the entire period of pregnancy and the puerperium than for the immediate peripartum period.     

Acute myocardial infarction: prognosis after recovery

A prognostic index for 2-year survival after recovery from acute myocardial infarction was constructed from variables obtained during its course. One hundred ten of 143 patients survived 2 years, and 27 of 33 patients died of cardiac-related causes. Univariate analysis showed that 12 variables were significantly different between the surviving and nonsurviving groups. Discriminant analysis indicated five variables with meaningful predictive value to be included in a prognostic index: admission systolic blood pressure; highest blood urea nitrogen level in the cardiac care unit: atrial arrhythmias in the cardiac care unit; angina pectoris for more than 3 months or a previous myocardial infarction; and more than one ventricular ectopic beat per hour recorded on a dynamic electrocardiogram during the 17th to 24th hospital day. The prognostic index emphasizes the importance of extensive myocardial impairment and provides a means for identifying patients at risk of early mortality.     

Primary angioplasty using a urokinase-coated hydrogel balloon in acute myocardial infarction during pregnancy

A 38-year-old multigravid white female presented at 16 weeks gestation with an acute inferoposterolateral myocardial infarction. Emergent coronary angiography demonstrated a total proximal occlusion of a large dominant left circumflex artery with a filling defect at the site of the occlusion suggestive of thrombus. Primary angioplasty using a urokinase-coated hydrogel balloon resulted in successful recanalization of the vessel with restoration of normal TIMI Grade III flow and, most notably, apparent complete lysis of the intracoronary thrombus. After a subsequently uneventful pregnancy, a healthy baby was delivered.     

Acute myocardial infarction: failed thrombolysis revisited

The prognosis following acute myocardial infarction is dependent upon the presence of adequate blood flow in the infarct-related vessel. All too often, this is not achieved by thrombolytic therapy ('failed thrombolysis'). Diagnosis of failed thrombolysis is difficult and the optimum management is currently unclear.     

Acute myocardial infarction in a previously healthy adolescent

Acute myocardial infarction in an adolescent is rare, with most episodes occurring in individuals with preexisting traumatic or medical conditions. Acute myocardial infarction in a previously healthy adolescent is an even more rare event. This report details such an event and briefly reviews the recent medical literature.     

Acute myocardial infarction due to vasospasm in a 13-year-old-boy

We describe an unusual case of acute myocardial infarction due to vasospasm in a 13-year-old boy. He was admitted to our hospital with severe congestive heart failure and shock. He had experienced a feeling of chest oppression with dyspnea while running, which grew worse. He then lost consciousness and was brought by ambulance to our intensive care unit. He had had similar but milder episodes of chest oppression months earlier. The family history revealed that his father had died suddenly from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and that his grandmother also had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. On admission, the patient was bathed in a cold sweat, his pulse was weak, and his blood pressure was too low to measure. Coarse crackling and wheezing were audible in both lung fields. Administration of catecholamine and intra-aortic balloon pumping failed to stabilize the hemodynamic variables, but percutaneous cardiopulmonary support proved to be lifesaving. Coronary arteriography performed during his convalescence showed on evidence of atherosclerosis. The acetylcholine provocation test ultimately revealed a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction due to vasospasm.     

Stroke in pregnancy and the puerperium

Recent studies suggest that the risk of cerebral infarction is increased during the puerperium but not during pregnancy itself. Most of the known causes of ischaemic stroke in the young have been reported during pregnancy. In most of these conditions, it is uncertain whether pregnancy is coincidental or plays a role in the occurrence of stroke. Eclampsia is the main pregnancy-specific cause, which may be associated with focal neurological deficits of sudden onset, consistent with a clinical diagnosis of stroke. However, the precise pathogenesis of these stroke-like focal deficits remains poorly understood. The two other pregnancy-specific conditions (choriocarcinoma and amniotic fluid embolism) are rarely responsible for focal cerebral ischaemia. In a significant number of patients, the cause of the stroke remains undetermined, despite an extensive aetiological investigation. Whether a hypercoagulable state and vessel wall changes associated with pregnancy may play a role in the occurrence of these otherwise unexplained ischaemic strokes remains unknown. The occurrence of cerebral venous thrombosis is clearly linked to the puerperal state, suggesting a direct role of the latter. However, cerebral venous thrombosis during pregnancy or the puerperium has been related to various aetiologies, stressing the need for an aetiological study, particularly when the thrombosis occurs during pregnancy. Pregnancy may increase the risk of subarachnoid haemorrhage, The most common cause is rupture of an arterial aneurysm. Although this is a controversial issue, the increased tendency of an aneurysm to bleed with advancing gestational age suggests that haemodynamic, hormonal or other physiological changes of pregnancy may play a role in aneurysmal rupture. The classic notion that rupture of an arterial aneurysm occurs more frequently during labour has not been confirmed. Most authors agree that surgical management after subarachnoid haemorrhage in pregnancy should be the same as that in the non-pregnant state. Data specifically devoted to intraparenchymal haemorrhage in pregnancy are scarce. Pregnancy and in particular the puerperium seem to be associated with an increased risk of intracerebral haemorrhage. The most common causes are eclampsia and ruptured vascular malformations. Whether pregnancy increases the risk of rupture of an arteriovenous malformation is controversial.