‘ABCDE’ Mnemonic for Secondary Causes of Hypertension (after American Family Physician, 2003)

A
Accuracy
Alcohol
Apnea
Aldosteronism
Are the blood pressure readings accurate? Could chronic alcohol use be playing a role? Does the patient have obstructive sleep apnea? Does the patient have hypokalemia or other suggestions of primary hyperaldosteronism?

B
Bruits
Bad kidneys
Is there an abdominal bruit suggestive of renovascular hypertension? Does the patient have renal parenchymal disease (which can be cause or a consequence of hypertension)?

C
Catecholamines
Coarctation
Cushing's
Is the patient having palpitations, tachycardia, diaphoresis, headaches, and/or paroxysmal hypertension suggestive of pheochromocytoma? Are there decreased or delayed femoral pulses, or rib notching on chest x-ray suggestive of coarctation of the aorta? Any weight gain, hirstuism, amenorrhea, striae, or moon facies suggestive of Cushing's syndrome?

D
Drugs
Diet
Any use of sympathomimetics, corticosteroids, NSAIDs, oral contraceptive pills, MAOIs, or other drugs that can elevate blood pressure? Are excess dietary sodium or obesity contributing?

E
Endocrine
Erythropoietin
Is there untreated thyroid disease or hyperparathyroidism? Is there another disorder (COPD) leading to increased erythropoietin levels?

Abbr.: NSAID, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug; MAOI, monoamine oxidase inhibitor; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

JAMA -- A Simplified Approach to the Management of Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes

While outcomes of controlled studies support a comprehensive approach in the management of patients with NSTE-ACS, many physicians perceive existing guidelines as lengthy and complex. After risk stratification to identify those patients most likely to benefit from an early invasive vs early conservative strategy, a comprehensive management plan can be assembled through an "ABCDE" approach. The elements of this include "A" for antiplatelet therapy, anticoagulation, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition, and angiotensin receptor blockade; "B" for beta-blockade and blood pressure control; "C" for cholesterol treatment and cigarette smoking cessation; "D" for diabetes management and diet; and "E" for exercise.

JAMA -- A Simplified Approach to the Management of Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes, January 19, 2005, Gluckman et al. 293 (3): 349

ScienceDirect - The Lancet : Phaeochromocytoma

 

Presence of phaeochromocytoma

---

Unlikely
Possible
Likely

Urine tests

Catecholamines (HPLC)

Norepinephrine (nmol/24 h)
<500
500–1180
>1180

Epinephrine (nmol/24 h)
<100
100–170
>170

Fractionated metanephrines (HPLC)

Normetanephrine (nmol/24 h)
<3000
3000–6550
>6550

Metanephrine (nmol/24 h)
<1000
1000–2880
>2880

Total metanephrines (spectrophotometry)

Total of normetanephrine and metanephrine (μmol/24 h)
<6
6–12·7
>12·7

VMA (spectrophotometry)

VMA (μmol/24 h)
<40
40–55
>55

Blood tests

Catecholamines (HPLC)

Noradrenaline (nmol/L)
<3·00
3·00–7·70
>7·70

Adrenaline (nmol/L)
<0·45
0·45–1·20
>1·20

Free metanephrines (HPLC)

Normetanephrine (nmol/L)
<0·60
0·60–1·40
>1·40

Metanephrine (nmol/L)
<0·30
0·30–0·42
>0·42

ScienceDirect - The Lancet : Phaeochromocytoma 2005

Ventricular ectopic beats treatment – Heart 2006

 

Treating patients with ventricular ectopic beats: key points

• Ventricular ectopic beats (VEBs) are frequently seen in daily clinical practice and are usually benign

• Presence of heart disease should be sought and, if absent, indicates good prognosis in patients with VEBs

• There is no clear evidence that caffeine restriction is effective in reducing VEB frequency, but patients with excessive caffeine intake should be cautioned and appropriately advised if symptomatic with VEBs

• Unifocal VEBs arising from the right ventricular outflow tract are common and may increase with exercise and cause non-sustained or sustained ventricular tachycardia. Catheter ablation is effective and safe treatment for these patients

• β blockers may be used for symptom control in patients where VEBs arise from multiple sites. It should also be considered in patients with impaired ventricular systolic function and/or heart failure

• Risk of sudden cardiac death from malignant ventricular arrhythmia should be considered in patients with heart disease who have frequent VEBs. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator may be indicated if risk stratification criteria are met

• VEBs have also been shown to trigger malignant ventricular arrhythmias in certain patients with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation and other syndromes. Catheter ablation may be considered in some patients as adjunctive treatment

Treating patients with ventricular ectopic beats -- Ng 92 (11): 1707 – Heart, 2006

Technorati Теги: cardiology

Main ECG criteria of left ventricular hypertrophy -- BMJ

 

Definitions of six electrocardiographic indexes commonly used in diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy

• Sokolow-Lyon index—sum of SV1+RV5 or V6>3.5 mV
• Cornell voltage index—men: RaVL+SV3>2.8 mV; women: RaVL+SV3>2.0 mV
• Cornell product—men: (SV3+RaVL)xQRS duration >=2440 ms; women: (SV3+(RaVL+8 mV))xQRS duration>2440 ms
• Gubner—RI+SIII>=25 mV
• Romhilt-Estes scores—excessive amplitude: 3 points (largest R or S wave in limb leads >=20 mV or S wave in V1 or V2 >=30 mV or R wave in V5 or V6 >=30 mV). ST-T segment pattern of LV strain: 3 points (ST-T segment vector shifted in direction opposite to mean QRS vector). Left atrial involvement: 3 points (terminal negativity of P wave in V1>=1 mm with duration >=0.04 s). Left axis deviation: 2 points (left axis >=–30° in frontal plain). Prolonged QRS duration: 1 point (>=0.09 s). Intrinsicoid deflection: 1 point (intrinsicoid deflection in V5 or V6>=0.05 s). Two thresholds in use: positive if >=4 points or >=5 points

Accuracy of electrocardiography in diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy in arterial hypertension: systematic review -- Pewsner et al. 335 (7622): 711 -- BMJ