Biomedical subjects

A O Obasohan

Publications and source records attributed to A O Obasohan.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1998

Sodium-lithium countertransport activity in normotensive offspring of hypertensive black Africans.

OBJECTIVE: To assess sodium-lithium countertransport (SLC) activity and erythrocyte sodium (ENa) levels in black (Nigerian) hypertensive (HT) patients, normotensive (NT) offspring of hypertensive parents and normotensive offspring of normotensive parents, and to determine if increased SLC activity is related to a familial predisposition to hypertension in black subjects as in Caucasians. METHOD: The study was done using 60 Nigerian subjects of Edo ethnic origin in three groups of 20 each: (a) untreated new HT patients at the University Teaching Hospital, Benin City; (b) NT children of hypertensive parents (NTHT) traced home and matched for age, sex and body mass index (BMI) with (c) NT children of NT parents (NTNT). SLC activity was measured using a modified method of Canessa et al 1980 and ENa assessed by flame photometry. RESULTS: SLC was markedly higher in both HT patients and NTHT subjects than the NTNT subjects. The values were 0.351+/-0.011 vs 0.199+/-0.014 mmol Li/rbc (P < 0.0001) and 0.347+/-0.020 vs 0.199+/-0.014 mmol Li/rbc/hr (P < 0.0001), respectively. The values were not different between the HT and the NTHT group (P > 0.05). ENa was higher in the HT group than both NT groups which were similar. Values were 10.55+/-0.46 (HT) vs 7.78+/-0.62 (NTHT) (P < 0.0001) and 10.55+/-0.46 (HT) vs 8.62+/-0.47 mmol/L (P < 0.0001). There were no correlations between either SLC activity or ENa and any of the other measured variables such as age or BMT. CONCLUSIONS: SLC activity was elevated in normotensive children of hypertensive subjects to a similar degree as hypertensive patients and in a pattern reminiscent of that seen in Caucasians. SLC activity may thus be associated with a familial predisposition to hypertension in black subjects as in their Caucasian counterparts.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

How common is heart failure due to systemic hypertension alone in hospitalised Nigerians?

Hypertension is regarded as the most common cause of heart failure in Nigeria and other Black African countries. A few reports suggest that heart failure due to hypertension hardly occurs without the presence of an extra burden on the heart from the presence of other cardiac risk factors. This study assesses the occurrence of other potential causes of heart failure in 55 consecutive admitted cases of hypertensive heart failure. All but six cases (88%) were associated with the presence of one or other significant cardiac risk factors while 56.2% were associated with multiple heart failure risk factors. Five of the six were poor drug compliers. Of the six, only one was completely free of cardiac risk factors and he was unaware of his hypertension and so had never had therapy. The others either consumed alcohol moderately, had mild renal impairment or were grossly obese. The factors found were anaemia, renal dysfunction, abnormal glucose tolerance, alcoholic ingestion and co-existing valvular heart disease. The finding shows that among Nigerian patients hospitalised for hypertensive heart failure, heart failure was rare in those hypertensive patients who had no extra cardiac burden, and therefore control of these factors will help prevent the development of heart failure in hypertension with its dismal prognosis.

Heart Failure↗

PubMed1995

Heart failure in Nigerian hypertensive patients: the role of renal dysfunction.

Heart failure in hypertensive patients is known to be dependent not only on the absolute value of blood pressure but also on other factors, hence the prognosis varies. In this study, the effect of renal dysfunction on the development of heart failure in hypertensive patients was assessed. Fifty-five patients who were admitted in hypertensive heart failure (HHF) were compared with 55 hypertensive patients who had never been in heart failure (HT), in their renal function, assessed by serum creatinine and urea levels. The haemoglobin (Hb) and serum albumin (Alb) levels were also measured. The two groups were matched for age, sex, level of blood pressure and body mass index. The duration of hypertension was similar in both groups. Mean serum creatinine was higher in the HHF group: 4.50 +/- 0.90 vs. 0.97 +/- 0.06 mg/100ml (P < 0.001). Also the Hb and Alb levels were lower in the HHF than the HT group: 11.63 +/- 0.40 vs. 13.2 +/- 0.21 g/100 ml (P < 0.001) and 3.7 +/- 0.1 vs. 4.40 +/- 0.09 g/100 ml (P < 0.001), respectively. The proportion with abnormal renal function (creatinine > 1.5 mg%) was also significantly higher in HHF: 28/55 vs. 8/54, chi 2 = 16.3 (P < 0.001). When adjustment was made for low serum albumin, Hb and fundal changes by multivariate analysis, serum creatinine was significantly higher in the HHF group: F = 4.294 (P < 0.05). Low serum albumin was also independent of haemoglobin and creatinine: F = 19.52 (P < 0.001), but Hb was not significantly different after adjustment for Alb and creatinine. This study suggests that renal dysfunction is independently associated with the development of heart failure in HT patients.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1994

Prosthetic valve dysfunction and the law: a case presentation from Nigeria.

The possible legal implications of the failure of a mechanical prosthetic cardiac valve have been reviewed within the framework of the Nigerian legal system. This is the sequel to a clinical case we had recently, of primary mechanical failure of a cardiac prosthesis which led to the death of a 19-year-old medical student. A short account of the case as reported by the physicians is presented. As there has been no such case before any Nigerian Court, this review draws heavily upon salutary lessons from the USA and the UK, where such, or related, cases are more prevalent.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Prosthetic valve dysfunction in a Nigerian.

A case is presented of a mechanical cardiac valve dysfunction occurring in a 19-year-old Nigerian 7 years after valve surgery and presenting with cardiac failure, supraventricular tachycardia and later, cardiogenic shock but initially masquerading as generalised bleeding probably from Warfarin-drug interaction. The problem of management of an artificial heart valve in our setting is discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Multiple lentigines syndrome in a Nigerian family.

Three cases of the multiple lentigines syndrome are reported in a Nigerian family, involving a father and two of his children. The major abnormalities in this syndrome include: multiple lentigines, cardiac defects, genitourinary malformations, neurological deficits, growth retardation, cephalofacial dysmorphism and a family history consistent with an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. We hereby report these cases in whom the main features are multiple lentigines, ocular hypertelorism, electrocardiographic defects and a pattern consistent with an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

PubMed1989

Serum lipid and apolipoprotein levels in a Nigerian population sample.

Serum lipids and apoproteins have been measured in 307 men and 235 women living around Benin City in Nigeria. Total serum cholesterol values are low compared both to White Western populations and to American Blacks. HDL-cholesterol levels, however, are comparable to values in Western and Oriental men, but lower than in Western women. A highly significant correlation exists between total cholesterol and apo B and between HDL-cholesterol and apo A-I in men and women. The low serum lipid values are related to a low dietary fat intake, almost exclusively from palm oil, in the Nigerian population.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Relationship of the ECG with ventilatory function tests in chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) in Nigerians.

Although the most objective assessment of the severity of COLD is done by spirometer, this is not as readily available in Nigeria as the electrocardiograph, thus the ECG is often used to assess it. This study examines the relationship between the ECG findings and FEV 1 obtained by spirometry and expressed as a proportion predicted for age and sex in 92 Nigerians with COLD of which 39 had associated pulmonate. There was an inverse relationship between the mean electrical axis of the P wave on the ECG and the FEV 1 of predicted. The axis was more positive (82 +/- 12 degrees) among those with FEV 1 less than 50% of predicted (group 1) and this decreased progressively with increasing FEV 1 to 72 +/- 14 degrees in those with FEV 1 between 50-70% (group 2) and 67 +/- 16 degrees in those with FEV 1 greater than 70% (group 3). There was also a significant relationship between FEV 1 and the development of cor pulmonale and 71.4% of those who had the lowest FEV 1 (group 1) had cor pulmonale while the proportion decreased with the reduction in the severity of airway obstruction. A rightward P wave axis greater than 80% was statistically significant associated with development of cor pulmonale (X2 = 29.5 (P < 0.001) of those with COLD and cor pulmonale, 72.2% had a P wave axis greater than 80%. Only 13.2% of those with COLD alone had a P wave axis greater than 80 degrees. Cardiac arrhythmias were present in 28 patients, ventricular (VA) in 23 cases, and atrial (AA) in 7 cases. Both AA and VA were associated with more severe airway obstruction. All 3 patients who had atrial fibrillation (AF) and FEV 1 below 50% of predicted (group 1) and had cor pulmonale while 2 of the remaining 4 with AA also were in group 1 and the remaining 2 in group 2. The distribution of ventricular arrhythmias (VA) showed that 10 (43.5%) were in group 1, 9 (39.1%) in group 2, and 2 (8.7%) in group 3. Both VA and AA were also significantly related to the development of cor pulmonale. A P wave amplitude greater than 2.5 mm was significantly related to the development of clinical cor pulmonale X2 = 24.6 P < 0.001. The results show that ECG findings correlate well with spirometric assessments of FEV 1 and clinical severity in Nigerians with COLD and are, therefore, useful where spirometry is unavailable.

Adult↗