[Acute coronary syndromes in diabetes mellitus : A comparative study between diabetics and non-diabetics patients in Senegalese urban environment]. / Syndromes coronaires aigus au cours du diabète : étude comparative entre patients diabétiques et non diabétiques en milieu urbain sénégalais.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes Mellitus is a strong cardiovascular risk factor in which acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are thought to have a particular feature. We aimed to determine the characteristics of acute coronary syndromes in diabetics compared with non-diabetics patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We carried out a prospective, descriptive and analytical study comparing diabetic and non-diabetic patients admitted for acute coronary syndrome to the cardiology department of Idrissa Pouye general hospital over a period of one year by studying socio-demographic, clinical, paraclinical, therapeutic and evolutionary parameters. We performed a multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify factors associated with chest pain and triple vessels disease. RESULTS: Our study included 139 patients, 61 with diabetes (44%) and 78 without diabetes (56%). Among diabetics, there was a predominance of women (p = 0.0001) in contrast to non-diabetics. The mean age was 62.7 ± 10.8 years in diabetics and 56.9 ± 13.5 years in non-diabetics (p = 0.006). Chest pain was found in 88.5% of diabetics and 97.4% of non-diabetics (p = 0.03). The mean HbA1c in diabetics was 9.4 ± 3.3%. ST elevation acute coronary syndrome was predominant in both groups. The mean GRACE score was 147 ± 29 in diabetics and 132 ± 28 in non-diabetics (p = 0.003). In multivariable analysis, only diabetes was associated with triple vessels disease (aOR (IC à 95%): 2,60 (1.29-6.83); p = 0.042). A total of 31% of diabetics and 43% of nondiabetics undergoes cardiac revascularization. There was no difference between the two groups in terms of complications. The mortality was 6.6% and 3.8% respectively among diabetics and non-diabetics (p = 0.49). CONCLUSION: According to our study, diabetes is frequently encountered during acute coronary syndromes. It also shows that diabetics are more likely to be female and older, with more atypical symptoms and more severe coronary disease.

Cardiac pacing challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa environnement: experience of the Cardiology Department of Teaching Hospital Aristide Le Dantec in Dakar.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac pacing is a growing activity in Sub-Saharan Africa. There is little data on the characteristics of this interventional treatment in our regions. The goal was to evaluate the results of cardiac pacing in a referral service in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: We carried out a twelve-year retrospective study (from January 1st, 2004 to December 31st, 2015) in the Cardiology Department of Aristide Le Dantec University Hospital. This work included all patients who received definitive cardiac pacing during the study period and followed up in the service. RESULTS: In total we included 606 patients. There was a growing trend in activity with a peak in 2015 (17%). The average age was 70.6 ± 12.03 years. Some patients (15.4%) came from the subregion. The patients were mostly of medium socio-economic level (53%); 14% were of low socio-economic level. Patients were symptomatic in 85% of cases (37.4% syncope). The indications were dominated by complete atrioventricular block (81.5%); sinus dysfunction accounted for 1.9% of them. A temporary pacemaker was used in 60% of cases for an average duration of 5.1 ± 6.3 days. Antibiotics, local anesthesia and analgesics were used in all cases. Implanted pacemakers were single chamber in 56% of cases and double chamber in 44% of cases. In 39 patients (6.4%), the pacemaker was a « re-used ¼ one. The atrial leads were most often placed in a lateral position (94.5%). The ventricular ones were predominantly tined (95.7%) and more often located at the apical level. Complications were noted in 24 patients (3.9%), dominated by devices externalizations and infections, which together accounted for 2.7% of cases. The number of people in the cathlab was significantly higher and the duration of the temporary pacemaker was longer for patients who had a complication. There was no significant difference depending on the type of pacemaker used (new or reused). Seven (7) in hospital death cases were reported. CONCLUSION: Cardiac pacing is a growing activity in Dakar.

[Epidemiological features of cardiorenal syndrome: a study of 36 cases in the Cardiology Department in Dakar]. / Syndrome cardio-rénal: aspects épidémiologiques, à propos de 36 cas dans un service de cardiologie de Dakar.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) is a pathophysiologic disorder of the heart and the kidneys whereby acute or chronic dysfunction in one organ may induce acute or chronic dysfunction of the other. In Africa, particularly in Senegal, the incidence of cardiorenal syndrome is not accurately known. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of CRS in the Cardiology Department. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study including all patients with heart failure associated with alteration of renal function, hospitalized in the Cardiology Department between April 2010 and April 2011. Data were analyzed with the statistical software Epi-Info 3.5.3. RESULTS: 36 patients were included in the study. The prevalence rate was 3.7% with male predominance (sex-ratio 1.77) and an average age of 56.9 years [30-92]. Patients' medical history was dominated by high blood pressure (52.77%) and diabetes (19.4%). The main etiologies were hypertensive cardiomyopathy (39%) and coronary heart disease (19.44%). The symptomatology was dominated by dyspnoea (69.4%) and edema (50%). 17 patients had anemia. The mean measured clearance (MDRD) was 46 ml/min. Doppler echocardiography showed mainly kinetic disorders (89.3%) and left ventricular systolic dysfunction (71%). The three renal ultrasound examinations were normal. Six deaths (16.7%) were recorded. CONCLUSION: Cardiorenal syndrome is a reality and marks a turning point in the evolution of heart and kidney diseases. In Senegal, its prevalence in the Cardiology Department is low. Prospective multicentric studies should be conducted in order to better evaluate this syndrome in Senegal.

Marfan syndrome and cardiovascular complications: results of a family investigation.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular complications in Marfan syndrome (MFS) make all its seriousness. Taking as a basis the Ghent criteria, we conducted a family screening from an index case. The objective was to describe the clinical characteristics of MFS anomalies and to detect cardiovascular complications in our patients. CASE PRESENTATION: Six subjects were evaluated. Patients had to be in the same uterine siblings of the index case or be a descendant. The objective was to search for MFS based on the diagnostic criteria of Ghent and, subsequently, detecting cardiovascular damage. The average age was 24 years. The examination revealed three cases of sudden death in a context of chest pain. Five subjects had systemic involvement with a score ≥ 7 that allowed to the diagnosis of MFS. Two patients had simultaneously ectopia lentis and myopia. In terms of cardiovascular damage, there were three cases of dilatation of the aortic root, two cases of aortic dissection of Stanford's type A with severe aortic regurgitation in one case and moderate in the other. There were three patients with moderate mitral regurgitation with a case by valve prolapse. CONCLUSION: The family screening is crucial in Marfan syndrome. It revealed serious cardiovascular complications including sudden death and aortic dissection.

Non-compaction of left ventricular myocardium in sub-Saharan African adults.

BACKGROUND: Non-compaction of the left ventricle (NCLV) is an unclassified cardiomyopathy due to intrauterine arrest of compaction of the loose interwoven meshwork. Only a few studies involving sub-Saharan Africans insmall numbers have been published. The aim of our study was to determine the diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic aspects as well as the clinical course of NCLV in a black African population. METHODOLOGY: A multicentre retrospective study was carried out between November 2007 and June 2012 in two cardiology departments in Dakar. Patients who met the echocardiographic criteria for NCLV were included in the study. RESULTS: 35patients with the diagnosis of NCLV were evaluated in the study. Their mean age was 47±18.4 years. Heart failure was found in 77.1% of the patients. The most frequent electrocardiographic abnormalities were left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) (46%) and sinus tachycardia (43%). Mean non-compaction/compaction ratio was 2.84±0.68 with preferential localization in the apex of the left ventricle. The main complications observed were cardiogenic shock (23.5%), pulmonary embolism (6.3%) and ventricular tachycardia (5.9%). Diuretics and ACE inhibitors were the medications most often prescribed. Age >60 years (p=0.04), male gender (p=0.03) and the occurrence of complications during follow-up (p=0.04) were noted to be predictors of poor prognosis. CONCLUSION: Contrary to previous beliefs, NCLV may not be less common in black Africans than in other ethnic subgroups. Clinicians in Africa should be made aware of NCLV so that it can be diagnosed at earlier stages.

Prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in Senegalese school children: a clinical and echocardiographic screening.

OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in schools (locally referred to as 'daaras') located in the city of Dakar and its suburbs using both clinical examination and echocardiography. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study conducted from 9 August to 24 December 2011 involving 2019 pupils, aged between 5 and 18 years selected from the 16 'daaras' of the Academic Inspectorate (Inspection d'Académie) of the city of Dakar and its suburbs. Anamnestic, clinical and echocardiographic data were collected and entered into a questionnaire designed for the study. The World Heart Federation criteria for echocardiographic diagnosis were used to diagnose RHD. p<0.05 was considered statistically significant in bivariate analysis. RESULTS: About 60.1% of the pupils were men and the mean age was 9.7±3.3 years. 10 cases of definite RHD were detected, prevalence being 4.96 per 1000 (95% CI 2.4 to 9.1). This prevalence was five times higher with echocardiographic screening compared with clinical screening. 23 cases (11.4 per 1000) of borderline forms were detected. The populations at risk of definite RHD identified in our study were children over 14 years (p<0.001), those with recurrent sore throat (p=0.003) and those residing in the suburbs of the city of Dakar (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Our study shows a relatively high prevalence of RHD. Reducing its prevalence should focus on the implementation of appropriate policies, targeting at-risk populations and focusing on raising awareness and early detection.

Combination of left ventricular noncompaction and partial atrioventricular canal defect in a 21-year-old male: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is classified as a genetic cardiomyopathy characterized by a progressive systolic dysfunction. It may occur alone or in association with congenital cardiac anomalies. The combination of left ventricular noncompaction with partial atrioventricular canal defect is rare and has not, to our knowledge, been described previously. CASE PRESENTATION: A 21-year-old male who traveled to our center from a neighboring country presented with signs of heart failure. Transthorarcic echocardiography showed prominent trabeculations in the left ventricle predominantly in the left ventricle involving the apical lateral and mid anterolateral segments associated with a partial atrioventricular canal defect. There was a biventricular systolic dysfunction. There was good response to medical treatment. CONCLUSION: This case stresses the importance of maintaining a high degree of suspicion for this rare cardiomyopathy and the need to systematically look for other associated anomalies in order to institute proper short- and long-term managements.