Pol Vandermoten

Comparative response to isometric (static) and dynamic exercise tests in coronary disease

Abstract Forty-six patients with arteriosclerotic heart disease manifested significant electrocardiographic changes (accompanied by angina in 35) during maximal exercise testing. These patients subsequently performed isometric exercise at levels representing various percentages of maximal voluntary contraction. Twenty-two patients also performed combined isometric and submaximal dynamic exercise. The prevalence rate of S-T segment changes during isolated isometric exercise depended on the percent of maximal voluntary contraction applied but was far lower than the rate observed during maximal dynamic exercise. Angina seldom occurred. Manifestations of coronary insufficiency appeared more often during combined submaximal dynamic and isometric exercise than during isolated isometric testing. Aortic pressure was measured in eight cases. Tension-time index and pressure-heart rate product were lower when maximal dynamic exercise was stopped owing to coronary insufficiency than at the end of isolated isometric exercise or combined submaximal dynamic and isometric exercise. However, the latter two tests produced fewer ischemic manifestations. The reasons for these discrepancies are discussed. We conclude that isometric exercise tests are unsuitable for diagnosing coronary insufficiency.

The new long-acting coronary artery dilator molsidomine and its metabolite SIN-1

We studied the effects of intracoronary injections of SIN-1 (0.8 mg), the active metabolite of molsidomine, on coronary artery diameters and coronary stenoses. In nine patients with abnormal angiograms measurements were made 4 and 8 minutes after SIN-1 administration. There was a statistically significant increase in coronary luminal diameter in proximal, medial, and distal segments as well as at the level of the stenoses. At 4 minutes after administration distal segments showed a mean increase in diameter of 50%, compared to a mean increase of 26% in proximal segments. In six patients with normal angiograms SIN-1 abolished three of four coronary spasms induced by ergonovine maleate. A protective effect of SIN-1 against the vasoconstrictor effects of ergonovine was still present at 8 minutes after administration. Heart rate and blood pressure remained unchanged throughout the study. We conclude that the vasodilation induced by SIN-1 in normal and stenotic coronary arteries is probably an important contribution to the antianginal efficacy of molsidomine and suggests that molsidomine may be effective in the prophylaxis of variant angina.

Postinfarction exercise capacity after lidoflazine treatment or physical training.

44 male postinfarction volunteers were divided into 4 groups and submitted to performance tests. Groups I and II consisted of 24 patients, 12 of whom followed a 2-month physical training program, while the other 12 served as controls. Groups III and IV (10 patients each) were included in a 10-month double-blind crossover study with lidoflazine 240 mg/day vs. placebo. The cardiovascular adaptation of the patients treated for 5 months with lidoflazine had two features in common with that observed after 2 months of physical training, namely an increase in maximal exercise capacity and, during submaximal exercise tests, a decrease in heart rate compensated for by an increase in stroke volume. In contrast to physical training, treatment with lidoflazine did not improve the peripheral oxygen consumption by the muscles.

Etude pratique des postes de travail et critique des résultats

SummaryOxygen consumption and heart rate have been measured by 47 workers of a motor car factory. 20 were also investigated in the laboratory in order to determine on the bicycle ergometer the same parameters at different loads and the individual aerobic power. The advantages of telemetry for the measurement of heart rate are presented. The relationfh/

Hemodynamic Responses to Physical Training in Patients with Chronic Lung Disease

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Influence des changements rapides de position sur les variations de fréquence cardiaque

is quite the same at work and on the ergometer. Consequently, it is possible to use the heart rate only to measure the energy expenditure at work by these industrial workers. Is is possible to determine on the ergometer the load equivalent to the industrial work. In this case, the equivalent load is about 75 watts (

Tricuspid valve prolapse: Two-dimensional echocardiographic aspects

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