The relation between the extent of angiographic coronary artery disease and the presence of chronic heart failure in patients with coronary artery disease has not hitherto been clearly elucidated. In the present study clinical, ventriculographic, and coronary arteriographic features are compared in 84 patients with coronary artery disease. The extent of coronary disease is measured by the angiographicjeopardy score, which expresses how many of six coronary arterial segments are jeopardised by significant (> 70 % estimated luminal area reduction) proximal stenoses. Each jeopardised segment is counted as 2 points.

Thirteen consecutive patients with primary and secondary pulmonary hypertension who had normal left ventricular function were treated with hydralazine in an effort to reduce pulmonary vascular resistance and clinical symptoms. Despite marked decreases in systemic vascular resistance (40 per cent; P less than 0.001), hydralazine produced only moderate decreases in pulmonary arteriolar resistance (21 per cent), without improving stroke volume or pulmonary-artery pressure. Instead, mean arterial pressure fell markedly (17.5 mm Hg, P less than 0.01) in association with a reflex increase in heart rate (11 beats per minute, P less than 0.01). Four patients became symptomatically hypotensive within 24 hours of the initiation of treatment; two of these four required pressors for circulatory support, and one died. Progressive renal insufficiency developed in one patient, and a symptomatic decrease in systemic arterial oxygen saturation occurred in another; both changes were reversed upon discontinuation of the drug. In conclusion, hydralazine fails to produce consistent hemodynamic and clinical benefits in patients with primary and secondary pulmonary hypertension, and it frequently causes serious adverse reactions.

There was a significant reduction in cerebral perfusion pressure during the Valsalva manoeuvre in both stages. This was a result of change in either the intracranial pressure or the mean arterial pressure. Although our patients did not suffer a clinically significant reduction in cerebral perfusion pressure and so had an uneventful recovery, the effect of Valsalva manoeuvre on cerebral perfusion pressure cannot be denied. The marked haemodynamic changes clearly warrant a cautious use of this manoeuvre in neurosurgical practice.

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suMMARY In order to define the relation between chest x-ray findings and the level of pulmonary artery wedge pressure in patients with chronic congestive cardiomyopathy, 82 patients had chest radiographs before undergoing 92 haemodynamic studies. The studies were divided into three groups according to the level of pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) (group 1: < 15 mmHg, group 2: 15 to 24 mmHg, group 3: >25 mmHg.Venous distribution, interstitial oedema, pleural effusions, left atrial enlargement, and right ventricular enlargement each occurred in less than 10 per cent of group 1 studies. Radiological abnormalities generally distinguished group 1 from group 2, but none except cardiothoracic ratio distinguished group 2 from group 3. Cardiothoracic ratio correlated best with pulmonary artery wedge pressure (r=0.70). Alveolar oedema was uncommon when PAWP >25 mmHg, occurring in 32 per cent of group 3 studies.Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis showed that cardiothoracic ratio, alveolar oedema, interstitial oedema, and left atrial size each contributed independently to the prediction of PAWP. The regression analysis improved the accuracy of the estimation of PAWP from the findings noted on standard chest radiographs.