No abstract

The Cornell index had greater sensitivity in women, and the Sokolow-Lyon-Rappaport index was more sensitive in men. When applied to men at the same voltage amplitude as that of women, the Cornell index had an increase in sensitivity similar to that of the Sokolow-Lyon-Rappaport index.

No abstract

Forty-four consecutive pregnant patients with mitral stenosis were submitted to percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty (PMV) over a period of 12 years. The mean age was 28 +/- 6 years and the mean gestational age was 23 +/- 6 weeks. The mean mitral valve area had a significant increase from 1.17 +/- 0.26 to 2.06 +/- 0.41 cm(2) (P = 0.0000). The mean mitral valve gradient decreased from 16.22 +/- 5.55 to 7.94 +/- 3.75 mm Hg (P = 0.0001). The procedure was performed successfully in 95% of the patients and there were no major complications. Concerning labor and delivery, we evaluated 37 patients. Thirty patients (81%) reached term and delivered normal infants. Seven patients (18.9%) delivered prematurely, resulting in two fetal death; one patient delivered a stillborn. We concluded that PMV is a safe procedure for the treatment of mitral stenosis in pregnant patients, providing significant symptomatic relief and better clinical conditions for labor and delivery.

The study demonstrates a trend of reduction of mortality due to ischemic heart diseases, in both sexes, in the city of Curitiba, from 1980 to 1998. In acute myocardial infarction, such reduction has been happening in a more pronounced way among men, achieving stability, from 60 years of age, among women. The reasons for differentiated reduction trend between sexes are not clear, remaining as na important matter for new investigations.