No abstract

A study of factors predicting mortality was performed in 201 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (163 men, 38 women, mean age: 48 +/- 11 years) by multivariate analysis (Cox Model) of 51 clinical, electrocardiographic, echocardiographic and haemodynamic parameters, 56 patients died during follow-up (mean follow-up: 57.1 +/- 29.9 months). 5 year survival was 77 +/- 3%. The following parameters were independent predictors of mortality: first symptom: pulmonary oedema, peripheral oedema, syncope; duration of symptoms at the time of inclusion; end systolic left ventricular volume; end diastolic left ventricular diameter; pulmonary artery systolic pressure; and their combination had the most accurate predictive value for death. A quantitative score (s) was calculated and used to define three subgroups: A:s less than or equal to 4.5; B: 4.5 less than s less than 6; C:s greater than or equal to 6. Five-year survival was 90 +/- 5% in group A; 84 +/- 4% in B and only 53 +/- 7% in C. In conclusion, overall survival was good in this population of all stage dilated cardiomyopathy; factors related to clinical severity, left ventricular dilation, systolic pulmonary artery pressure and duration of symptoms defined a subgroup of patients with poor prognosis.

Although this trial does not statistically demonstrate the noninferiority of oral treatment compared with the sequential treatment, our study confirmed the results of previously published reports and therefore supports the use of an oral antibiotic treatment of primary episodes of acute pyelonephritis in infants and young children.