Biomedical subjects

A Saadeh

Publications and source records attributed to A Saadeh.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2000

Ankylosing spondylitis in north Jordan: descriptive and analytical study.

OBJECTIVE: A study of ankylosing spondylitis in Jordan, which has been under investigated in this region. METHODS: Twenty two patients were studied according to standard methodology during a period of four years. Information on HLA, the presence of uveitis, cardiac disease, and peripheral arthritis was recorded. Other variables such as age, sex, employment, and level of disability were also recorded. RESULTS: The results reflected the characteristics of the illness and the impact of the disease on the patients and their quality of life and were consistent with the findings of other workers in the region.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Microscopic polyangiitis presenting as schizophrenia.

Primary vasculitides can affect the central nervous system but the psychiatric manifestations are not well described. The hallmark of the disorder is an acute necrotizing inflammation of the vessel media with fibrinoid necrosis. We report a case of a 31-year-old man who had been treated for schizophrenia but was found to have vasculitides of the microscopic polyangiitis type and who improved on therapy with corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs. We would like to draw attention to this rare but important manifestation of vasculitis, and to the importance of its recognition.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

PubMed1999

QTc dispersion and complex ventricular arrhythmias in untreated newly presenting hypertensive patients.

Increased dispersion of ventricular repolarisation (increased QT dispersion) is believed to predispose to arrhythmias associated with sudden death in certain cardiac diseases. Hypertension is also associated with increased risk of sudden death, particularly in those with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Therefore, the first aim of this study is to look into the possible pathogenic role of QT dispersion on the ventricular arrhythmias occurring in a group of never-treated hypertensive patients. The second aim is to look at other possible determinants of QT dispersion (ie, level of blood pressure, hypokalaemia, electrocardiographic LVH and presence or absence of strain pattern) in hypertensive patients, and their relevance to complex ventricular arrhythmias. QTc (corrected QT) was measured in 70 newly presenting (never-treated) hypertensive patients (47 male, 23 female, mean age 51.9 +/- 12.5 years) from a standard 12-lead surface electrocardiogram (ECG). Blood pressure measurements and 24-h ECG holter recordings were performed in all patients. Serum potassium level was measured in 51 of the patients. Ventricular arrhythmias were classified using a modified Lown's scoring system. Maximum QTc, minimum QTc and QTc dispersion for all patients were 442 +/- 30.3 ms, 380 +/- 26.7 ms and 61.5 +/- 21.6 ms respectively. High grade ventricular arrhythmias (Lown's score >/=3) were found in 43% of the patients. The QTc dispersion was strongly correlated with the Lown's classification of arrhythmia and the age of the patients. Patients with more severe ectopy (Lown's score >/=3) were significantly older (57.4 +/- 10.3 years) compared to those with score </=2 (48.3 +/- 12.6 years) (P = 0.0067) and had a significantly greater QTc dispersion (69.9 +/- 22.5 ms vs55.2 +/- 18. 8 ms; P = 0.002). Presence of electrocardiographic strain did not affect the severity of arrhythmia, as 29% of the patients with LVH and strain had grade >/=3 Lown's score compared to 39% in the group with LVH but without strain. In the presence of relative hypokalaemia, hypertensive patients with LVH showed more QTc dispersion (85.7 +/- 15.5 ms) and a greater tendency for complex ventricular arrhythmias (100% grade >/=3 Lown's score) compared to those with LVH and normal serum potassium levels (64.1 +/- 22.6 ms and 35%, QTc dispersion and Lown's score >/=3, respectively P = 0. 05). The level of blood pressure had no effect on either the QTc dispersion or the prevalence of complex ventricular arrhythmias. Prevalence of complex ventricular arrhythmias in hypertensive patients is strongly correlated with QTc dispersion and age. When hypertensive patients with LVH have low potassium levels the risk of developing complex ventricular arrhythmias is significantly increased.

Aging↗

PubMed1996

Behçet's disease: clinical study of Jordanian patients.

BACKGROUND: Behçet's disease is a chronic, recurrent, inflammatory disorder characterized by the triad of oral and genital ulcers and ocular lesions. The etiology is unknown. This is the first report giving details of the clinical manifestations of Behçet's disease in Jordanian patients. METHODS: Twenty patients with Behçet's disease were studied to determine the clinical pattern in the North of Jordan. The patients were seen in Princess Basma Teaching Hospital in North Jordan. They presented to various clinics and underwent full clinical examination. Data for each patient on all features of Behçet's disease were recorded on a standard form. A comparison was made between Behçet's disease in Jordan and other countries in the region. RESULTS: Of the 20 patients, 14 were men and six women, giving a ratio of 2.3:1. Their ages ranged from 14 to 58 years. All had mouth ulcers, 65% genital ulcers, 65% ocular involvement, 55% joint involvement, 35% skin lesions, 20% vascular lesions, and 5% gastrointestinal involvement. The oral ulcers were the first manifestation of the disease process in 70% of our patients. Skin lesions, genital ulcers, and involvement of the central nervous system and the pulmonary system were less frequent in our study. CONCLUSIONS: Although it is difficult to obtain figures as to the incidence and prevalence of Behçet's disease in Jordan, the clinical manifestations, with a few exceptions, are similar to those in other countries in the region.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Dyspepsia in the general population in Jordan.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of dyspeptic symptoms in the general population of Jordan. METHODS: We selected families of final year students at the two medical schools in Jordan to represent the general population. The students were instructed to complete questionnaires for all their family members and all members of the close family above the age of 15 years living in the area. The questionnaire enquired about dyspeptic symptoms in the previous 12 months. Information about any chronic disease, medications used frequently, previous operations and cigarette smoking was obtained. RESULTS: Of 2254 completed questionnaires, dyspeptic symptoms were reported in 1354 (60.1%) during the previous 12 months. Heartburn was present in 1111 (49.3%), abdominal distension in 1224 (54.3%), recurrent abdominal pain with ulcer-like characters in 450 (20%), discomfort following meals in 316 (14%), symptoms related to fatty foods in 359 (15.9%) and symptoms related to ingestion of lactose-containing foods in 96 (4.3%). CONCLUSION: Dyspeptic symptoms are highly prevalent in Jordan. This may have an impact on the economy and health resources.

Adolescent↗