BACKGROUND: Systemic hypertension produces varying degree of LVH which is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidiity. Previous studies have documented regression of LVH with various antihypertensives including calcium channel blockers, except diuretics and vasodilators. Recently echocadiographic assessment of the change of left ventricular mass(LVM) after antihyertensive therapy have been reported to offer prognostic cardiovascular information. The aim of this echocardiographic study is determining the influence of nicardipine, a calcium channel blocker, on the change of LVM in patients with essential hypertenison. METHODS: Left ventricular mass(LVM) and left ventricular mass index(LVMI) were measured by M-mode echocardiography in 15 patients with essential hypertension. Nicardipine, a calcium channel blocker, was administered for 6 months and two echocardiographies were done before and after administering, respectively. RESULTS: In the 15 patients treated for 6 months, systolic and diastolic pressure remained very significantly decreased compared with pressure before before therapy(135+/-15mmHg vs 168+/-26mmHg, and 86+/-7mmHg vs 105+/-16mmHg, both p<0.01). Concomitantly both LVM and LVMI decreased significantly(209+/-49g vs 235+/-71g, and 116+/-6g/m2 vs 131+/-38g/m2,both p<0.05). And no change was noted in left ventricular cavity size, demonstration that LVM reduction was due to regression of hypertrophy. CONCLUSION: This study showed that nicardipine produced a significant decrease in blood pressure, LVM, and LVMI over the 6 months period. And large and longterm controlled studies are needed for the clarification of the association between nicardipine and regression of LVH in hypertensive patients.
Antihypertensive Agents ; Blood Pressure ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; Calcium Channels ; Diuretics ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertrophy ; Nicardipine* ; Vasodilator Agents

No abstract available.
Humans

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular diastolic filling is an important determinant for maintenance of cardiac output during hemodialysis. Few investigators have studied the influence of hemodialysis on diastolic function. To evaluate the change of left ventricular systolic and diastolic function, we performed M-mode and Doppler echocardiopraphic studies before and after hemodialysis. METHODS: The study population consisted of 30 patients(15 patients were male, mean age 45+/-10 years) with CRF on maintenance henodialysis. They have normal left ventricular systolic function(Fractional shortening > 30%) and no evidence of valvular heart disease or regional wall motion abnormalities. The ejection fraction(EF) was measured using M-mode echocardiography and Doppler indices such as peak E velocity, peak A velocity, isovolumetric relaxaion time(IVRT), deceleration time(DT), and left ventricular ejection time(LVET) obtained from Doppler echocardiography. The index of myocardial performance(IMP) was calculated from each of the Doppler velocity indices. RESULTS: The weight reduction after hemodialysis was 2.1+/-1.0kg(p<0.0001). After hemodialysiss, there was some decrease in blood pressure(p<0.05), but no significant change in heart rate, EF and fractional shortening, mean VCF, peak A velocity, and DT. And significant in IVRT and IMP(p<0.05, p<0.0001) were noted. CONCLUSTION: In conclusion, preload reduction is the main mechanism that accounts for changes in Doppler diastolic indices after hemodialysis. And and increased IMP suggests that diastolic function may be aggravated after gemodialysis, and that implies impaired left ventricular filling and disturbed left ventricular compliance.
Cardiac Output ; Compliance ; Deceleration ; Echocardiography* ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Heart Rate ; Heart Valve Diseases ; Humans ; Male ; Renal Dialysis* ; Research Personnel ; Weight Loss

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a clinical syndrome characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, fever, renal disorder and neurologic signs. Its clinical course is rapid and its mortality rate is very high. However, the prognosis has much improved after plasma exchange was introduced as a therapeutic modality. We report a 31-year-old multipara pregnant woman with refractory TTP, who achieved complete remission after 54 plasma exchanges.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans ; Mortality