Biomedical subjects

Anekwe E Onwuanyi

Publications and source records attributed to Anekwe E Onwuanyi.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Comparative frequency of angiographic coronary artery disease in African Americans and Hispanics.

BACKGROUND: African Americans and Hispanics are the two largest racial minority groups in the United States. Both groups have a high prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors, and African Americans have the highest mortality from cardiovascular disease of any racial group in the United States. Whereas a large body of clinical data compares African Americans and Whites or Hispanics and Whites with regard to coronary artery disease (CAD), limited data are available for such comparison between African Americans and Hispanics. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively reviewed the angiographic and clinical data of 480 consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiography for suspected CAD in an inner city hospital between January 1997 and December 1998 in order to ascertain the frequency of CAD. One hundred eighty-nine (189) African Americans and 163 Hispanics met the inclusion criteria. The mean ages of African-American and Hispanic patients were similar, 56.3 +/- 10.9 years vs 55.6 +/- 11.4 years, respectively, P=.59. The frequency of angiographic CAD was 56.6% for African Americans and 54.6% for Hispanics, odds ratio [OR] 0.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.60-1.41, P=.71). Coronary artery disease (CAD) involving the left anterior descending coronary artery occurred significantly more in Hispanic compared to African-American patients (44.8% vs 33.7%, OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.03-2.44, P=.04). Coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors occurred more in Hispanics compared to African Americans. CONCLUSION: The frequency of angiographic CAD was not different for African-American and Hispanic patients (56.6% vs 54.6%, OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.60-1.41, P=.71) even though differences were seen in CAD risk factors.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Variable atrioventricular block in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a connective tissue disease characterized by the production of auto-antibodies and immune complexes, can affect all organs including the heart. The involvement of the conduction system in SLE has been less commonly described. We report a case of an asymptomatic 45-year-old woman with SLE referred to the emergency department (ED) for thrombocytopenia, and was found to have alternating first- and second-degree atrioventricular block (AVB) during routine electrocardiographic screening for hospital admission. Serial electrocardiograms (ECG) done in the ED when compared to those recorded 24 h prior revealed progression from mild first-degree AVB (PR interval = 216 ms) to significant first-degree AVB (PR interval = 510 ms), followed by second-degree AVB (Mobitz type I-Wenckebach phenomenon). The conduction abnormalities recorded over a 28-h period resolved with corticosteroid treatment. Review of the literature on the disruption of the cardiac conduction system in SLE is discussed.

Electrocardiography↗

PubMed2004

Acute myocarditis presenting as cardiac tamponade.

We report a case of acute fulminant myocarditis presenting with cardiac tamponade and shock. The patient was managed in the coronary care unit with emergency pericardiotomy, invasive hemodynamic monitoring, and supportive therapy for cardiac failure. Pleural effusion and pneumonia complicated her clinical course. She responded well to therapy with normalization of left ventricular systolic function. This case demonstrates the potential for complete recovery with appropriate management in acute myocarditis even with a fulminant course.

Cardiac Tamponade↗

PubMed2003

Eustachian valve thrombus:critical factor in outcome of venous thromboembolism.

This case report describes a patient with pulmonary embolism (PE) in whom transesophageal echocardiography showed a thrombus in the right atrium attached to the eustachian valve (EV). The EV is typically absent in the adult, but when present it is considered to be benign. It is an uncommon site for thrombus formation. This patient was treated with systemic anticoagulation.

Anticoagulants↗

PubMed2003

Cardiovascular disease mortality.

Although mortality from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) has been declining, it remains the leading cause of death among urban U.S. blacks. McCord and Freeman reported CVD as the major contributor to excess mortality in Central Harlem. However the disease-specific CVD mortality was not assessed. Thus, it was unclear what the distribution of specific CVDs was in Central Harlem and their contribution to excess mortality. We reviewed the vital statistics records of New York City (NYC) Department of Health for 1990 and identified all cases in which the cause of death was coded as cardiovascular (International Classification of Diseases-ICD, 9th Revision, codes 391, 393-398, 401-404, 410, 411, 414-417, 420-438 and 440-444). The total and disease-specific CVD mortality for NYC and Central Harlem were calculated using the appropriate 1990 census data as the denominator. Central Harlem residents aged between 25-64 years were at least twice as likely to die from cardiovascular causes, compared to NYC residents. Hypertension-related deaths, ICD codes 401 (essential hypertension), 402 (hypertensive heart disease), 403 (hypertensive renal disease), and 404 (hypertensive heart and renal disease), were the major cause of excess death for men and women in Central Harlem. These findings show the importance of hypertension as the main determinant of the excess cardiovascular mortality in urban blacks and suggest an increased risk of cardiovascular death in blacks residing in Central Harlem.

Adult↗