Assessment of left ventricular dysfunction by strain echo in primary hyperparathyroidism and its reversal after parathyroidectomy.

BACKGROUND: Strain echocardiography is a highly sensitive modality for detecting myocardial disease at an early stage. Therefore, we aim to evaluate subclinical left ventricular dysfunction in primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) patients with myocardial strain imaging in addition to conventional echocardiography and to look for its reversal after parathyroidectomy (PTx). METHODS: Thirty patients who underwent curative parathyroidectomy for PHPT were included. All patients were evaluated with M mode echo, 2D echo and strain imaging before and 6 months after PTx. Left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS) and global circumferential strain (GCS) were recorded. RESULTS: On M mode echo, LVH was present in 15 patients and 8 of them improved completely after PTx (p < 0.038). Incidence of systolic and diastolic dysfunction on 2D echo was 10% and 13.3% respectively; while myocardial strain imaging showed impaired systolic function in 46.7% patients. Hence, compared to conventional 2D echo, strain imaging showed 36.7% high detection rate of subnormal cardiac function. There was improvement in left ventricle dysfunction (p = 0.083), GLS and GCS (p = 0.034) after PTx. Serum parathormone demonstrated a strong positive correlation with change in GLS and GCS (p = 0.013, p = 0.126) while serum calcium showed a weak correlation with change in GLS and GCS following surgery. CONCLUSION: Myocardial strain imaging should be considered for all PHPT patients as early identification of subclinical ventricle dysfunction provides an opportunity for an early intervention and thereby preventing development of irreversible LV dysfunction.

Unusual Foreign Bodies in the Respiratory Tract of Children.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of a foreign body without history of aspiration has always been a challenge to pediatricians. CASE CHARACTERISTICS: Four cases presented with non-relieving acute or chronic history of respiratory symptoms. OBSERVATIONS: All of them had unusual types of foreign bodies-plastic flower toy, button, sticker or stone in their respiratory tract. OUTCOME: All four patients improved after removal of the foreign body. MESSAGE: A differential diagnosis of foreign body should always be made in an acute or chronic presentation of respiratory cases.