Background and Objectives:Platelet activation and aggregation, with resultant arterial thrombus formation, play pivotal roles in the pathophysiology of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The efficacy of tirofiban, a specific inhibitor of the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor, combined with heparin, or low molecular heparin (LMWH), in the management of ACS were evaluated. Subjects and Methods:One hundred seventeen patients (60.8± 10.9 years, 76 male), with unstable angina or non-ST elevation myocardial infarction, who had ST-T changes and elevated troponin, were divided into 4 groups:Group
Background and Objectives:The head-up tilt test (HUT) is widely used for the diagnosis of vasovagal syncope.To improve the sensitivity of the test, provocation with isoproterenol is frequently used. The aim of this study was to evaluate the values of isosorbide dinitrate spray as a provocation drug in the HUT. Subjects and Methods: Two hundred patients, undergoing baseline HUT (60°for 20 minutes) for suspected vasovagal syncope or presyncope and unexplained dizziness, were enrolled. If the baseline HUT was negative, isosorbide dinitrate (2.5 mg) spray was applied sublingually (group I, n=93), or isoproterenol (3 μg/min) infused (group II, n=93), in a randomized fashion. The values of isosorbide dinitrate and isoproterenol were compared in those patients that developed a positive vasovagal response or who completed the drug-provocative HUT. Results:Syncope was similarly reproduced in both groups (47.7 vs. 41.9%, p>0.05). Type I responses were most common in both groups, and types I and II responses were more common in group I than group II (78.0 vs. 55.6% and 12.2 vs. 5.6%, p<0.05, respectively). The average time to a positive response was longer in group I than group II (8.5±3.4 vs. 6.1±3.6 minutes, p<0.01). The sensitivity and specificity of the drug-provocative HUT were significantly higher in group I than group II (73.5 and 87.5% vs. 58.5 and 71.1%; respectively, p<0.01). The incidence of minor adverse effects were similar in both groups, but serious cardiac side effects were significantly more common in group II than group I (4.3 vs. 0%, p<0.05). Conclusion:Sublingual isosorbide dinitrate spray may be used as a simple, effective and well tolerated provocative drug during HUT.
A percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is known to be one of effective methods in the treatment of coronary artery disease. However, restenosis remains a major limitation to a PCI. Although neointimal cell proliferation is suspected to be the major cause of coronary stent restenosis, few histological characterizations of recurrent instent restenosis exist. We report a case of a 61-year-old man suffering from unstable angina due to secondary coronary in-stent restenosis in the proximal left anterior descending artery (LAD). An atherectomized tissue, obtained by a directional coronary atherectomy, showed myxoid tissue, characterized by a few stellate smooth muscle cells in the abundant extracellular matrix, which was blue-colored proteoglycan on modified Movat staining. (Korean Circulation J 2003 ; 33 (9) : 827-831) KEY WORDS:Stents;Restenosis;Cells.
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