Biomedical subjects

A Belhani

Publications and source records attributed to A Belhani.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

[Hypothyroid dilated cardiomyopathy].

Most patients with dilated cardiomyopathy have a poor prognosis due to progressive and irreversible myocardial dysfunction. Rarely, is a metabolic etiology responsive to specific therapy identified. Although many studies have confirmed that thyroid hormone deficiency is associated with a reversible decrease in myocardial contractility, it has remained controversial whether hypothyroidism alone can cause a dilated cardiomyopathy and clinical heart failure. In this study, we report the case of a patient with severe hypothyroidism and a dilated cardiomyopathy complicated by heart failure, which has receded after recovery to euthyroidism with L-thyroxin therapy. This case suggests that hypothyroidism should be evoked systematically when a dilated cardiomyopathy is diagnosed.

Cardiomyopathy, Dilated↗

PubMed2004

[The first Tunisian cardiovascular diseases register: processes and results].

BACKGROUND: In Tunisia, cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of death (30%) and a few studies conducted in the population have demonstrated that the level of their risk factors is increasing. For policy makers, the health system impact of these diseases is currently a crucial issue. The National Public Health Institute has identified the implementation of a morbidity register as a priority. METHODS: A CVD morbidity register is implemented since 2001, in 3 different geographical populations having contrasted levels of health status (Tunis, Ariana and Ben Arous). The 3 regions are covering about 2 millions inhabitants which is the fifth of the overall Tunisian population. All coronary heart events occurring among adults 25 years old and above in the 3 populations are recorded. The diagnosis of events, case fatality and classification are defined according to MONICA criteria. The data are recorded from public and private hospitals, death certificates and autopsies. RESULTS: During the year 2001, the total number of myocardial infarction events was estimated at 942: in men, the age-standardized rates were 163.8/100000 in Tunis population vs. 161.9 in Ariana and 170.5 in Ben Arous. In women, the rates were respectively 43.4, 61.1 and 44.6. Medical causes of death registration was the most crucial problem in spite of the implementation of the death certificate designed according to WHO model. Specific surveys for clinical assessment and surveillance of risk factors were conducted in the register populations. CONCLUSION: It is the first time that data on coronary heart disease incidence and fatality are available in Tunisia through this experience which highlights the practical difficulties experienced in registering and coding coronary events in a developing country. The data source quality should be improved and the register should be integrated in the local health system.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

[Distribution of cardiovascular risk factors in a Tunisian cohort of 6901 coronary patients].

The Tunisian epidemiological data on cardiovascular disease in the hospital environment are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of cardiovascular risk factors and their association in patients hospitalised for coronary disease in coronary care units at Rabta, Charles Nicolle, Habib Thameur and Military hospitals, Tunis, over the period 1994-1998. The clinical features of 6901 patients (75.7% men, 3760 myocardial infarction, 3141 unstable angina) on hospital admission were analysed. The prevalence of smoking, dyslipidemia, hypertension, diabetes and obesity was 86; 49.8; 33.9; 40.7 and 15.2% respectively in the men and 12.9; 52.4; 64.6; 53.4 and 29.8% respectively in women. With this risk factor profile Tunisia has to implement a national strategy of primary prevention and heart health promotion in addition to the efforts recently made in secondary prevention of some chronic disease such as hypertension, diabetes and smoking.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

A novel mutation in the SLC19A2 gene in a Tunisian family with thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anaemia, diabetes and deafness syndrome.

Thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anaemia (TRMA) syndrome with diabetes and deafness was found in two patients from a Tunisian kindred. The proband was homozygous for a novel mutation, 287delG, in the high-affinity thiamine transporter gene, SLC19A2. We demonstrated that fibroblasts from this patient exhibited defective thiamine transport. These data confirm that the SLC19A2 gene is the high-affinity thiamine carrier and that this novel mutation is responsible for TRMA syndrome.

Anemia, Megaloblastic↗

PubMed2001

[Cardiac sarcoidosis revealed by ventricular tachycardia].

Cardiac sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease of unknown etiology, that is more seen in younger adults. The prognosis of myocardial sarcoidosis is poor and depends on arrhythmia, conduction disorders. We report the case of 35 years old woman with cardiac sarcoidosis and pulmonary involvement who presented acutely with sustained ventricular tachycardia well tolerated. She made a good recovery after steroid therapy and administration of antiarrhythmic agent.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

PubMed2001

[Atrial septum aneurysm. Report of 20 cases].

Atrial septum aneurysm (ASA) is an uncommon congenital malformation, which is more frequently diagnosed since the introduction of transoesophageal echocardiography. ASA is often involved in the etiology of cerebral and systemic embolic events. The purpose of our study is to determine from our experience the frequency, the diagnostic aspect and therapeutic modalities of ASA. We report in this study 20 cases of ASA collected from the echocardiographic register. The prevalence of this malformation is 0.08%, with a high male predominance. The mean age was 51 years. ASA was detected after brain embolism in 55% of cases. The diagnosis was established in all cases by transesophageal echocardiography, however only 5 cases were diagnosed by Transthoracic echocardiography. The patients showed favorable evolutions after a of follow up of three years.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

[Spontaneous contrast of the left atrium in mitral valve stenosis].

The left atrial spontaneous contrast is uncommon finding during transthoracic échocardiography. Transesophageal echocardiography provides superior imaging of the left atrium and left spontaneous contrast has been detected more frequently by this technique in rheumatic mitral stenosis. In order to analyze the significance of spontaneous contrast, we have studied 100 patients with mitral stenosis. Trans thoracic and transesophageal echocardiography were performed in all patients. Left atrial spontaneous echo contrast was detected in 60 patients (group A) and was absent in 40 patients (group B) The mean of mitral valvular area was 0.9 10.2 mm in group A and 48 9.5 mm in group B (p < 0.001). Ther was a high incidence of atrial fibrillation in group A; 63% VS 12% in group B (p < 0.001). A systemic embolization was noted in 20% of patients in group A; No one of group B has presented this complication (p < 0.001).

Adult↗

PubMed1996

[Level of cardiovascular risk factors in the urban and rural populations of Cap-Bon: Tunisia].

Cardiovascular risk factors were studied in a random sample from the urban and rural population of the Cap-Bon, including 692 men and women, aged 35-50 years. In this sample, including 56 % urban dwellers, the mean total cholesterol was higher in urban areas (4.64 mmol/l) than in rural areas (4.16 mmol/l). In urban areas 10.2 % of the subjects had values above 6.2 mmol/l compared with 6.6 % in rural areas. Obesity was much more frequent among women (35.2 % versus 26.3 %) but less frequent among men (16.0 % versus 5.4 %) in urban and rural areas. Diabetes was found in 8.8 % of men and 10.4 % of women in urban areas, and only 0.8 % and 3.9 % in rural areas. Hypertension was found in 13.8 % of women and 11.6 % of men in urban areas, 13.3 % and 4.0 % in rural areas (13.3 %). Cigarette smoking was found in 60.7 % of men in urban areas and 75.8 % in rural areas (p < 0.05).

Adult↗

PubMed1995

[Malignant non-Hodgkin lymphoma of cardiac localization. Apropos of a case].

Malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are rare in the absence of human immunodeficiency virus infection and it is exceptional for a cardiac site to be the prominent feature. In our case, the malignant lymphoma was revealed by pericardial effusion in a context of alteration of the general state. Echocardiography revealed a heterogeneous mass in the right atrium and an abundant circumferential pericardial effusion. Thoracic computed tomography allowed local staging and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allowed a better definition, than CT scan, of the extension of the tumour into the various cardiac structures. The histological diagnosis was established on biopsy of a mediastinal lymph node. The patient died 7 months after the diagnosis, despite chemotherapy. The authors emphasize the contribution of echocardiography in the diagnosis of cardiac tumours, computed tomography in local staging, and MRI in the analysis of the various cardiac structures.

Heart Neoplasms↗

PubMed1993