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Biomedical subjects

A Ekra

Publications and source records attributed to A Ekra.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Study of 20 cases of apparently primary pulmonary arterial hypertension].

The authors have studied the clinical, electrocardiographic, radiological, phonomechanographic and haemodynamic features of 20 cases of apparently primary pulmonary hypertension of fairly severe degree. An attempt has been made to correlate on the one hand the haemodynamic values, and on the other the clinical findings, ECG signs of right-sided preponderance, the size of the artery to the right lower lobe on X ray, and the phonomechanographic results. Particular importance is given to a discussion on the aetiology. It is recalled that syphilis can be excluded, that it is possible the operate on thromboses, and that bilharzia and the haemoglobinopathies may play a part which is yet to be defined.

Adolescent↗

[200 valvular disorders seen in Abidjan].

The authors have made a retrospective study of the case notes of 200 patients with valvular disorders seen over the course of 35 months (excluding those due to constrictive endocardial fibrosis). The cases represent the frequency of cardiac failure, especially in the mitral group. The authors found 61% to have mitral valve disease, 28.5% aortic valve disease, and 9.5% disease of more than one valve. Mitral valve lesions were found most frequently in young females (average age 26 years); aortic valve lesions were found more commonly in an older age group of men (average age 47 years). The authors discuss the aetiology. Rheumatic fever was responsible in 60% of cases, and caused particularly mitral valve disease. Atherosclerosis and syphilis were the commonest causes in the aortic group. Indications for surgery were found in 74 cases (37%), and 28% of these were closed heart techniques. The course of the disease is best appreciated during the first hospital admission. The mortality rate was 5.5%, and most of the patients (65%) were stabilised on treatment.

Adolescent↗

[14 cases of constrictive endocardial fibrosis (or endomyocardial fibrosis].

Constrictive endocardial fibrosis (CEF) or endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) was studied on 14 files of this rather frequent disease in Ivory Coast. On the basis of the data derived from angiocardiography, catheterization and mechanograms, the clinical signs are interpreted better. Thus one is able to describe with accuracy some clinical forms, the commonest of which being a right heart restriction combined with left-sided signs. It seems important underline how useful the external pulse recordings might be useful for the diagnosis in view of their analogy with the pressure curves. In this disease with a severe course, bold surgical treatments provide some hope. On the contrary, its aetiology remains mysterious. Our best landmark being the link of CEP with tropical ecology, and in particular, in our cases, with the warm and damp forest ecology of some areas.

Adolescent↗

[Phonocardiographic and mechanographic study of 12 cases of constrictive endocardial fibrosis (or endomyocardial fibrosis)].

A phonomechanographic study of 12 patients with restrictive endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) has highlighted the essential criteria for the diagnosis of this condition. The "ventricular" type of JVP, with a dip-plateau, is a reliable sign of right-sided EMF; this sign is more rarely of the tricuspid incompetence type. A similar picture emerges from recordings of hepatic pulsation, or other venous pulses. An apex-cardiogram with a dip-plateau is in favour of the diagnosis of left-sided EMF. The finding of a recordable infundibular impulse supports a left-sided EMF. Demonstration of an early-diastolic thrill, of endocardial origin, is an essential feature of this condition. It coincides with the rising phase of the dip, and was found in 10 of our 12 cases. There may also be murmurs arising from the pulmonary and atrio-ventricular valves. The characteristic feature of the carotid tracing is a prolonged pulse wave, with corresponding reduction of the haemodynamic quotient. These signs result from contraction of the potential filling space of the ventricle, from the restricted movement of the atrio-ventricular valves, and from a reduced blood flow.

Adolescent↗

Coronary heart disease in the diabetic African: frequency clinical and angiographic features.

The frequency and clinical and coronarographic features of coronary heart disease (CHD) in black African diabetic patients were assessed in a two-part study. The aim of part I was to determine the frequency of CHD in 50 diabetic patients selected by the following criteria: male, age between 40 and 60 years, diabetes history less than 20 years, no history of CHD and normal E.K.G. All 50 of these patients underwent a stress test and those who failed or for whom results were inconclusive were submitted to coronary arteriography. Part II was a retrospective study of 104 patients with CHD. Its aim was to compare the clinical and coronarographic features of CHD patients with (27 cases) and without (77 cases) diabetes mellitus. The frequency of CHD in the 50 diabetics selected for this study was 10% (31 negative exercise tests, 19 inconclusive exercise tests, 5 coronary arteriographies with significant narrowing). Of these 5 diabetics with CHD, 3 had single vessel involvement (left descending artery: 2 cases, circumflex artery: 1 case), 1 patient had double vessel involvement (right coronary circumflex artery) and 1 had triple vessel involvement (left descending, circumflex, and right coronary artery). In the retrospective study the clinical profile of the diabetic and non-diabetic CHD patients was the same with respect to sex, age, angina, myocardial infarction, and death rate. As regard the risk factors, blood cholesterol level was higher in diabetics while cigarette smoking was higher in non-diabetics. The frequency of hypertension was the same in both groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

[Primary congestive cardiomyopathies of the adult in a tropical environment: nosologic, diagnostic and developmental data].

The authors describe the cases of 86 black african patients (75 males and 11 females), affected by a congestive primitive cardiomyopathy (CMP), confirmed by echocardiography. Echocardiographic investigation revealed, in all cases, stigmas of a developed CMP: cavitary dilatation, hypokinesia and thinness of walls, offsetting and miniaturization of the valvula mitralis. Pericardial effusion was associated in 20 cases, and thrombosis of left cavities was recognized through bi-dimensional investigation. Angiography and hemodynamics performed in 15 patients pointed out in all cases a significant falling off of the pumping function and the muscular function. Angiography, in 8 cases, displayed a left ventricular cavity distended and hypokinetic, with a moderate mitral incompetency. Evolution was characterized by the following complications: heart failure: 68 cases--systemic thromboembolism: 5 cases--pulmonary embolism: 2 cases--auricular rhythmic irregularity: 20 cases--ventricular rhythmic irregularity: 42 cases--second or third degree atrioventricular blocks: 5 cases. Death rate was 25% (22 patients). Taking into account these 86 cases, the position of the congestive CMP defined among the tropical CMP and its classification studied as well as its echocardiographic and evolutive peculiarities.

Adult↗

[Post-infarct posterior aneurysm of the left ventricle. Apropos of a successful surgical case in an African].

The authors report the first case in the literature of a post-infarction left ventricular (LV) aneurysm operated in a black African man of 31 years. The episode of infarction had been ignored, and the patient presented a posterior LV aneurysm with moderate mitral insufficiency and heart failure. The diagnosis was made by a cineangiogram in the LV and a coronary angiogram showing a total obliteration of the right coronary. The patient underwent a resection of the aneurysm with closure of the LV-aneurysm communication. Six months after surgery, the patient was asymptomatic and the size of the heart had decreased. With regard to this unique case, the authors discuss the literature on LV aneurysms in African, and on coronary atherosclerosis in Africa. They discuss also the surgical indication in case of post-infarction LV aneurysm.

Adult↗

[Echocardiography and cardiac localizations of rheumatoid polyarthritis in Africans].

A lot of european authors demonstrate that echocardiography is the best examination to objective cardiac localizations in rhumatoïd arthritis (RA). Leleu, in a recent publication thinks that the rarity of systemic localizations during RA in Africans is characteristic. The authors examine the last 15 patients. They never find cardiac involvement and this seems to confirm the clinical impression about 50 previous cases.

Adult↗

[Clinical features of constrictive endomyocardial fibrosis (author's transl)].

Constrictive endomyocardial fibrosis is very frequent in tropical areas with a hot and rainy climate. Young patients and specially male ones are generaly concerned. The onset is gradual and low-giving an adiastolic condition which may prevail on the right or the left heart. Some periods of more acute evolution may be observed. Death is caused by adiastolic disorders, thrombosis or arythmia. Aetiology is still unknown. A surgical treatment may be considered in some cases.

Adolescent↗