A Study of Cardiac Dysfunction in Patients of Hypothyroidism

Introduction: Thyroid disorders are probably the mostcommon endocrinal disorders affecting the populationworldwide. Hypothyroidism is associated with obesity,dyslipidemia and increased atherosclerotic cardiovasculardisease. Hypothyroidism are associated with increasedcardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The present study wasplanned to study the cardiac dysfunction in hypothyroidismcases by using non-invasive method ECG and 2 D ECHO.Material and methods: A total of 100 patients withhypothyroidism were enrolled in the study.They were clinicallyevaluated and underwent relevant investigations,includingthyroid profile, ECG and 2D ECHO for cardiac abnormalities.Results: Mean age of patients was 40.45±13.03 years.Majority of patients were females (71%). There were only29% males. Male to female ratio of study population was0.41:1. Among 100 patients,on ECG abnormal findings wereseen in 57% cases. Bradycardia alone was the most commonECG abnormality affecting 27% of patients. 25% patientsshowed low voltage complexs. A total of 5% patients showedboth bradycardia and low voltage complex. On 2D ECHO,62% patients had normal findings. Abnormal findings wereseen in 38%. Among abnormal findings, the most commonwas mild pericardial effusion (18%) followed by LVDDGrade 1 (16%), LVDD Grade 1 with mild pericardial effusion(2%) and LVDD Grade 2 respectively.Conclusion: Cardiac dysfunction was found in hypothyroidpatients.

Accidental isoniazid poisoning--a report.

Eight patients who had taken accidental overdose of Isoniazid were followed in relation to its clinical manifestations, EEG changes and management. All cases survived without any residual effect.

Visual evoked responses in ethambutol induced optic neuritis.

Pattern evoked responses were recorded in 46 patients of tuberculosis on ethambutol and 16 healthy subjects. Deterioration in visual acuity was documented in two patients (4.3%). P100 latency was delayed in 16 cases (34.8%), while in 12 patients (26.1%) both latency and amplitude were affected. A cut off latency value of > or = 140 ms was associated with ophthalmological findings. The incidence of subclinical toxicity as detected by visual evoked response (VER) was higher in older subjects, patients on higher doses of ethambutol (> or = 20 mg/kg/day) and longer duration of treatment. Of two cases with objective ocular signs, one who reported for follow up after two months had recovered completely after stopping ethambutol. Recording of VER is an extremely useful objective test for subclinical optic nerve damage.

Myocarditis and hemiplegia from scorpion bite--a case report.

A 16 year old boy presenting with features of myocarditis and pulmonary oedema following scorpion sting developed hemiplegia with patchy vasculitic lesions on CT scan. The possible pathogenic mechanism is discussed.

Isoniazid induced neuropathy in slow versus rapid acetylators: an electrophysiological study.

Clinical, biochemical and nerve conduction studies were performed in 100 cases of tuberculosis taking isonicotinic acid hydrozide (isoniazid) for more than 12 weeks. Electro-physiological studies were carried out in a similar number of normal age and sex matched controls. In 16 percent of cases an abnormality was documented in the motor nerve conduction velocity, amplitude and terminal latency of the common peroneal, ulnar and median nerves; of these, only two patients had objective evidence of neuritis. The occurrence of isoniazid neuropathy was found to be more in the fourth decade of life (10 of 16), in those who had taken the drug for over six months (13 of 16), and in 'slow' inactivators (10 of 16).

Contrast computed tomography in epilepsy with special reference to intracranial ring or disc enhancing lesions.

We report the results of computed tomography (CT) in 170 patients who developed seizures. Localized signs could be demonstrated by neurologic examination in 23.5%. CT findings were normal in 64 patients (37.6%). The commonest abnormality was a focal ring or disc enhancing lesion in 66 patients (62.3%) followed by calcification (18 patients; 16.9%), cerebral atrophy (9; 8.5%), vascular lesions (7; 6.6%), tumours (4; 3.8%) and congenital hydrocephalus (2; 1.9%). The occurrence of abnormal CT was higher (74.3%) in patients with partial seizures.