SUMMARYIn several epidemiological studies, it was suggested that a high titer of cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibody meant CMV reactivation, and that this condition was a determinant of coronary artery disease (CAD). The purpose of this study was to investigate both the prevalence of the CMV infections in our study population and whether high CMV seropositivity is a determinant of CAD. Blood samples from 179 (58 female, 121 male) individuals being evaluated for CAD suspicion by coronary angiography were tested for CMV seropositivity and CRP levels. Fifty-six patients had normal coronary arteries and 123 patients had CAD. Six patients did not have anti-CMV antibodies and 87 of the 173 seropositive patients had high levels of anti-CMV antibodies (≥ 8 U/mL). High CMV seropositivity (≥ 8 U/mL) was a significant CAD determinant even after adjustment for traditional CAD risk factors (odds ratio {OR} = 2.1 P = 0.04, respectively). The results indicate that the prevalence of high CMV seropositivity is an independent predictor of CAD in our study population and that our study population with CAD had a high rate of CMV infection. (Int Heart J 2005; 46: 205-209)

SUMMARYOctreotide, a somatostatin analogue, has been found effective in the treatment of acromegalic cardiomyopathy. We investigated whether intermittent octreotide therapy had beneficial effects in patients with ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, which are refractory to conventional therapy.Twelve patients with ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy were enrolled in the study. In addition to conventional treatment, octreotide (first 50 µg and then 25 µg three times per day for 4 days) was administered and repeated after 1, 2, and 3 months. The patients were evaluated 3 times, before and immediately after the first treatment and after 3 months of treatment, using echocardiography, exercise stress testing, ambulatory ECG, right ventricular catheterization, cardiac enzymes, and the Minnesota living with heart failure questionnaire for quality of life.There were no significant changes in parameters after the first treatment. However, after 3 months of treatment, there were significant improvements in the left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular posterior wall thickness, hemodynamics, exercise capacity, and quality of life. Additionally, ischemic burden and the number of ventricular premature beats also decreased slightly.Intermittent octreotide therapy led to significant improvements in patients with ischemic and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy refractory to conventional treatment. We believe that this therapy should be attempted as an adjunctive therapy in these patients, and that in this respect, randomized, double-blind, clinical, and large-scale studies are required before regular usage is undertaken. (Jpn Heart J 2004; 45: 613-621)