Angiographic characteristics of coronary artery disease in patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography at a tertiary hospital in Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is an important cause of global burden of disease. There is a paucity of data on the burden and risk factors for CAD in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), despite the rising trends in the shared risk factors across regions. The recent introduction of cardiac catheterization laboratory services in SSA could shed light on the burden of CAD in the region. We aimed to assess the angiographic characteristics among patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography (CAG) at a single tertiary care hospital in Tanzania. METHODS: This study was a retrospective chart review. A total of 728 patients  ≥ 18 years of age who underwent CAG from January 2020 to December 2022 were recruited into the study. Basic demographic variables, risk factors and clinical characteristics including CAG findings were obtained from the registry. In addition, CAG images were retrieved for assessment of angiographic features. The luminal vessel stenosis was assessed based on eyeballing and the degree of obstruction was agreed by two independent and experienced cardiologists. The coronary stenosis of ≥ 50% was considered significant for obstructive CAD. The study was approved by the local ethics committee. RESULTS: Of patients who were recruited into the study, 384 (52.23%) were female. The study participants had a mean age of 59.46 ± 10.83 standard deviation (SD) and mean body mass index (BMI) of 31.18 kg/m2. The prevalence of CAD of any degree was estimated at 24.43% (34.18% in male, 15.50% in female), while that of obstructive CAD was 18.27%. Forty six percent of those with obstructive CAD had multiple vessel disease (MVD). Nearly 77% of patients were found to have ≥ 50-70% luminal stenosis and while those with ≥ 70% luminal coronary artery stenosis constituted 56.65%. Right coronary artery (RCA) was the most commonly affected vessel, accounting for 36.84% when any vessel disease or 56% when single vessel disease were considered. Being 65 years or older and comorbidity with type 2 diabetes (T2D) were independent risk factors for developing CAD. CONCLUSION: There is a high prevalence of obstructive CAD among patients undergoing diagnostic CAG in Tanzania, with male gender preponderance and increasingly higher in older age, often with severe disease. A large, prospective study is needed to provide epidemiological and clinical data for developing a locally-relevant cardio-preventive strategy for CAD intervention in Tanzania.

Acute soft head syndrome in a teenager with sickle cell anemia: A case report.

Key Clinical Message: Sickle cell disease (SCD) rarely presents with acute soft head syndrome (ASHS) often posing a diagnostic dilemma. Recovery is typically spontaneous, however, in the context of lack of awareness and limited brain imaging it could potentially lead to poor outcome. Abstract: ASHS is a rare complication of SCD, invariably occurring near puberty with hitherto elusive pathogenic mechanisms. ASHS often resolves spontaneously on conservative management, however, lack of awareness in the context of limited access to brain imaging could pose diagnostic challenges resulting in inappropriate management and untoward outcome. We present a case of a teenager who presented with subtle symptoms for which the diagnosis of sickle cell anemia (SCA) was delayed until he developed ASHS. LTM was a 16 years old boy with a history of recurrent joints pain since the age of 6 years, with a family history of SCA, but had initial negative sickling test. He presented with episodes of multiple joints pain, unprovoked scalp and left orbital swelling, low-grade fever and mild headache without any evidence for bleeding diathesis. The diagnosis of SCA was confirmed by hemoglobin electrophoresis. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the head revealed subgaleal heamatoma (SGH) and intraorbital haematoma without intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). He was managed conservatively with analgesics and hydration together with antibiotics for associated sepsis with complete resolution of clinical symptoms within 2 weeks. This case represents a rare scenario for a relatively mild SCA phenotype presenting with ASHS whose diagnosis poses an enigma in the resource-limited contex. It is therefore, prudent to recognize ASHS to avoid judicious interventions which could potentially result in untoward clinical outcome.

Magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of progressive supranuclear palsy: A case report and review of literature.

Key Clinical Message: Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) has many clinical features overlapping with other Parkinson syndromes and differentiation on clinical ground is difficult. This case highlights how a brain MRI can help diagnose PSP in settings with limited resources where histological diagnosis is difficult. Abstract: Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) may be challenging to diagnose due to its widely acknowledged clinical complexity and challenges with diagnosis confirmation, particularly in resource-poor settings where the ability to obtain confirmatory tests is highly complicated, leading to an inaccurate or incomplete diagnosis of PSP. This paper discusses using brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to diagnose PSP, and a review of relevant literature addresses the diagnostic value of MRI in PSP.

Ruptured bilateral brain arteriovenous malformations in a young woman with early pregnancy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are rare congenital developmental vascular lesions, and often presents with symptoms upon rupture. The controversy exists as to whether pregnancy confers an increased risk of intracranial hemorrhage. The diagnosis of brain AVMs, in the absence of brain imaging, is challenging in resource-limited settings, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. CASE PRESENTATION: A 22-year old black African woman, primigravida at 14 weeks of gestation, presented with a history of persistent throbbing headache which was treated at primary health care facilities with analgesics and anti-migraine medications without relief. She later developed severe headache 2 weeks prior to admission and one-day history of serial partial generalized tonic-clonic seizures which were followed by post-ictal confusion and persistent right upper limb weakness. Initial evaluation revealed her to be pregnant and she later underwent a brain magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) at a university teaching hospital which revealed bleeding bilateral parietal AMVs with intracerebral haematoma and associated perilesional vasogenic oedema. The patient was managed conservatively using antifibrinolytic drugs and prophylactic anti-seizure drugs. Seven months later, she underwent a control brain MRA which revealed resolution of intracranial haematoma and associated vasogenic oedema and had her seizures well controlled. The headache had subsided and the pregnancy was allowed to continue to term under close obstetric and neurological observation. On follow up visits she reported episodes of nasal bleeding which upon ENT examination revealed nasal AVMs, suggesting the diagnosis of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). CONCLUSION: AVMs are rare but should prompt suspicion in young patients with atypical Central Nervous System (CNS) manifestations without evident underlying causes.

Behcet's disease presenting with recurrent ocular, oral, and scrotal inflammatory lesions in a young Tanzanian man: a case report.

KEY CLINICAL MESSAGE: Behcet's disease (BD) is a rare condition which is diagnosed clinically. Only few cases have been reported in sub-Saharan Africa. We report a Tanzanian male who presented with typical features of BD and was successfully treated. There should be an increase in awareness on BD to improve the management.

Strongyloides stercoralis infection presenting as an unusual cause of massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding in an immunosuppressed patient: a case report.

Strongyloidiasis caused by Strongyloides stercoralis is a rare but well documented cause of massive upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding especially in endemic areas. However, oesophagogastroduodenoscopic findings and extractions of S. stercoralis, in the adult worm form, from the duodenum is even rarer. We report a case of a 27-year-old Tanzanian woman with HIV who presented with massive upper GI bleeding. She had S. stercoralis, in the adult worm form, traversing the stomach and duodenum and extracted by oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD). She was treated successfully with Ivermectine and antiretroviral therapy for HIV was initiated. Strongyloidiasis should be included in the differential diagnosis of mass upper GI bleeding in immunosuppressive patients living in, or originating from, endemic areas. We believe this to be the first case to be reported from our environment.