The antiarrhythmic effect of oral amiodarone was evaluated by 24-hr Holter monitoring in 12 patients with frequent and/or complex ventricular ectopy. Amiodarone was administered as following schedule; 600mg a day for the 1st week, 400mg a day for the 2nd week and 200mg a day, 5 days a week from the 3rd week. In 9 patients, the frequency of VPC decreased significantly or the grade of VPC changed to the more benign grade, so we considered them as "Effective Group" (75%). In 7 patients, both the frequency and the grade of VPC improved, so we considered them as "Excellent Group" (58%). No significant side effect was observed during investigation. We concluded that amiodarone is very effective antiarrhythmic drug and has no serious side effect during a short-term observation.
Amiodarone* ; Appointments and Schedules ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac* ; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory ; Humans

To assess the prognostic value of the 14 ECG variables obtained from the pre-discharge ECG, 35 patients were followed up for at least one year among the 80 patients of the acute myocardial infarction admitted at Seoul Paik Hospital from Sep. 1983 to Aug. 1986. The following results were obtained. 1) The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 20% and the mortality rate tended to decline year by year. 2) The one-year mortality and morbidity rate of the followed patients was 31.4%. 3) Among the 14 variables obtained from the pre-discharge ECG, T-negativity was the only statistically significant (p<0.05) one to predict the one-year prognosis in the patients after the first myocardial infarction, and we could not derive any meaningful datd from the analysis of the combined effects of the three ECG variables (PTF, ST depression and ST elevation).
Depression ; Electrocardiography* ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Prognosis ; Seoul

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a major and growing public health problem and it calls for life-long management. The antihypertensive agents are still playing major roles in the management of hypertension. We studied the effect of the long-term therapy with a new calcium channel blocker, felodipine in patients with essential hypertension. METHODS: We recruited 31 patients with mild to moderate essential hypertention and gave them 5mg (1 tablet) of felodipine(Munobal(R)) once daily for 12 months. We measured the blood pressure and the heart rate every month and tried to detect any untoward symptoms and signs during the whole observation period. Baseline work-up for the hypertensive patients were done as usual before and after the study. RESULTS: The average systolic and diastolic blood pressures were 162.7+/-9.7/99.6+/-7.4mmHg respectively before the administration and they came down to the level of 139.7+/-15.0/87.3+/-8.6mmHg respectively at the end of the 1st month (p<0.05). This trend was maintained during the whole observation period, so they were 141.2+/-11.0/85.6+/-8.2mmHg respectively at the end of the study (p<0.05). Untoward drug reactions such as gastrointestinal troubles, facial edema, leg edema, chest pain and headache were present in 11 patients (35%) but they were not serious. There was no case in which the drug was withdrawn. There was one case in which the level of the serum triglyceride increased after the administration of the drug. CONCLUSION: Felodipine has good and persistent hypotensive effect and it is safe and easy to use.
Antihypertensive Agents ; Blood Pressure ; Calcium Channels ; Chest Pain ; Edema ; Felodipine ; Headache ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Leg ; Public Health ; Triglycerides

BACKGROUND: To evaluate depressure effect and safety of delapril, a new ACE inhibitor, in Korea. METHOD: Thirty three patients, aged 37-69, with mild to moderate essential hypertension were first observed for 2 weeks with placebo followed by administration of 15mg of delapril twice daily for 2 weeks, then doubled dosage to 30mg b.i.d. and combined with 25mg of dihydrochlorothiazide if optimal BP were not obtained at the end of 4th week, continued the same dose until the end of 10 week's trial period. RESULT: BP dropped 15/9mmHg inaverage at the end of 10th week rewarding 70% of cumulative effectiveness. Most frequent side reaction was dry cough, occurred in 9% of patients followed by chest tightness, headache, constipation and transient elevation of GPT. CONCLUSION: Delapril 15-30mg twice daily as monotheraphy or combined with diuretics is well tolerated and effective in the treatment of mild to moderate essential hypertension.
Constipation ; Cough ; Diuretics ; Headache ; Humans ; Hydrochlorothiazide ; Hypertension* ; Korea ; Reward ; Thorax

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to evaluate the antihypertensive efficacy and safety of nifedipine gastrointestinal system push-pull osmotic pump formulation in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. METHODS: After 2 weeks placebo run-in period, nifedipine 60 mg was administered once daily for 8 weeks in thirty-two patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. RESULTS: At the end point of treatment, sitting blood pressure decreased as much as 33/16mmHg in average and rewarded 88% of efficacy and 69% of normalization. The ambulatoy blood pressure monitoring in 10 patients also revealed 11% decrease in 24 hr mean diastolic blood pressure and 32% decrease in % elevated blood pressure. The most frequent side reactions were constipation in 7 patients and polyuria in 6 patients which were tolerated during entire trial period. There were no significant changes in biochemical parameters and hematologic data, thus making the rate of safety 91% and overall rating of usefulness was 84%. CONCLUSION: Nifedipine GITS 60 mg once daily regimen is well tolerated and effective in the treatment of mild to moderate essential hypertension.
Blood Pressure ; Blood Pressure Monitors ; Constipation ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Nifedipine* ; Polyuria ; Reward

BACKGROUND: To obtain reference values for the ambulatory blood pressure, 30 normotensive Korean young males, aged 22-28 years(mean age: 25 years) were investigated. METHODS: The ambulatory blood pressure was recorded with SpaceLabs Model 90207 monitor over 24 hours at 20 minutes intervals during day-time(6 am-10pm) and at 30 minutes intervals during night-time (10 pm-6 am). RESULTS: The ambulatory blood pressure of the 30 subjects averaged 119/74mmHg over 24 hours, 122/78 mmHg during day-time and 112/68 mmHg during night-time. The upper limit of normal ambulatory blood pressure was suggested as the value of mean+/-2SD which revealed 131/84mmHg for 24 hours, 134/90 mmHg for day-time and 126/80 mmHg for night-time. CONCLUSION: Reference values for the ambulatory blood pressure, in normotensive Korean young men, were obtained by SpaceLab model 90207 monitor.
Blood Pressure* ; Humans ; Male ; Reference Values*

A new hypolipidemic drug, pravastatin, hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor was administered to 33 patients with primary hyperlipidemia, 10mg daily for 8 weeks and sequential changes of lipid profile were analysed as follows. 1) Mean value at baseline period of total cholesterol, triglyceride, high and low density lipoprotein cholesterol were 260, 220, 51 and 163mg/dl respectively. 2) Total cholesterol showed 21% decrease at the end of 8 weeks and that of LDL-cholesterol were 30%. 3) Triglyceride decreased 16% at the end of 8 weeks and increment of HDL-cholesterol was 8% at the end of 8 weeks. 4) No serious side reactions were observed except one patient, who showed generalized skin rash which last 3 days and did not prevent further medication. In conclusion, pravastatin is a safe and useful hypolipidemic agent for the patient with primary hyperlipidemia.
Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Coenzyme A ; Exanthema ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias* ; Oxidoreductases ; Pravastatin* ; Triglycerides

Several shorter-term alternatives for whole-day ambulatory monitoring of BP using Pressureometer III or standard sphygmomanometer were evaluated in 12 male hypertensive patients. Averages of BP reading at 8 AM once, consecutive 3 readings either by Pressurometer or manual, serial readings during 2-hr intervals of 8-10 AM and 2/4 PM were compared with that of 24-hr ambulatory, non-invasive BP readings. Both systolic and diastolic 2-hr Bp averages in the morning were correlated more strongly with 24-hour averages(r=0.91 and 0.91), than were those of the 3 readings(r=0.88 and 0.66) or single reading(r=0.49 and -0.35) alternatives. In conclusion, the average of serial readings obtained during 2-hr monitoring period from 8 to 10AM is a reliable predictor of 24-hr ambulatory BP and represents it more closely than the conventional single or multiple BP readings.
Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory* ; Humans ; Male ; Monitoring, Ambulatory ; Reading ; Sphygmomanometers

We examined 984 objects for exercise stress test, using CASE I(computer assisted system for exercise). They exercised according to Bruce's protocol, Among them, the mal were 613 and the female were 371. (Male:Female;17:1) The 5th and 6th decades occupied 61% of total objects. The purpose of test was evaluation of chest pain in 84% of total cases. The most frequent end point of test was dyspnea(42%) and chest pain was observed in 13% of total cases. Most of all objects above 8-9 METS. Positive results of exercise stress tert were obtained in 23%. As complications, ventricular tachycardia occurred in 7 cases, supraventricular tachycardia; 8, high degree VPB's; 6, sudden cardiovascular collapse;15, The complication rate was 0.36% but morbidity and mortality were 0. All complicated cases recoved spontaneously only by rest.
Chest Pain ; Electrocardiography* ; Exercise Test ; Female ; Humans ; Mortality ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular ; Tachycardia, Ventricular

The antihypertensive effects and serial changes of serum lipids were observed in 17 patients with essential hypertension, administered daily 30-60mg dose of Tripamide(Tripamol(R)) for 8 weeks. The results were as follows ; 1) After 8 weeks treatment, there is no change of serum total cholesterol, serum triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol were decreased by 3.2mg/dl(-1.9%) and 0.9mg/dl(-2.8%) respectively. The changes were not significant statistically. 2) After 8 weeks treatment, mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure were decreased by 11.2mmHg(-6.8%) and 7.7mmHg(-7.3%). 3) No significant side effect was observed during treatment except of 2 patients of mild headache and insomnia.
Blood Pressure ; Cholesterol ; Headache ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Triglycerides