Cardiac echinococcosis: the diagnostic value of computed tomography scanning.

The diagnosis of cardiac hydatid disease is a difficult one. Conventional and specific cardiac investigations are not pathognomonic of this disease. In this report, the diagnostic value of computed tomography (CT) scanning was prospectively investigated in seven patients. In five patients, the diagnosis was confirmed surgically. The CT-information obtained correlated accurately to the operative findings. In all the patients, CT-densities of the lesions were measured and were found to coincide with values of mean CT-densities of hydatid cysts elsewhere in the body. The capability of measuring tissue densities is unique to CT-scanning and have been emphasized in this report.

Clinical features of early cases of systemic lupus erythematosus in Iraqui patients.

The clinical features of early cases of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in 67 (55 female and 12 male) patients are reported in a prospective study and its prevalence rate is calculated. The disease accounted for 0.67% of all medical admissions and it was the third most frequent inflammatory rheumatic disease. By comparison with rheumatoid arthritis and extrapolation of the data, the prevalence of SLE was one case per 1867 of the population, one per 1127 of the total female population and for women aged between 10 and 49 years it was one per 616. Multisystem involvement was noted in all patients. Our results were presented and compared with other studies. Significant differences between our study and others were noted with respect to alopoecia, mouth ulcers, pericarditis and pleurisy. Subclinical involvement of the liver was noted in 26% and of the lungs in 19%. Hepatomegaly was noted twice as often in younger compared with older patients. SLE is a disease with an apparently increasing prevalence in Iraq. There is a need for a greater awareness on the part of practising physicians and more widespread availability of sensitive laboratory tests for diagnosis of the disease.

Chronic cor pulmonale in Iraq.

The incidence of chronic cor pulmonale in Iraq has been studied for the first time. Of the total 1,102 cardiac cases admitted to the Medical City Hospital in a 1-year period, 168 patients belonged to this group (15.25%). The most frequent cause is chronic obstructive airway disease. Smoking is thought to be an important factor in the occurrence of obstruction. Chronic and repeated infections during different phases of life are thought to play a major role in the pathogenesis. Occupation and dust probably have no significant effect. Schistosomiasis and tuberculosis are rare causes.

A controlled comparison of the antihypertensive effects of labetalol and alpha-methyldopa.

An open crossover study was carried out in 10 Arab patients with mild to moderate hypertension to compare the effectiveness and tolerability of labetalol with alpha-methyldopa. Patients were started on either 100 mg labetalol or 250 mg alpha-methyldopa 3-times daily and, if necessary, the dosage adjusted by standard increments every 2 weeks over a period of a month until satisfactory control was achieved. This dosage was then maintained for a further 6 weeks before the patients were crossed over to the alternative treatment, similarly adjusted, after a wash-out period of 2 weeks on placebo. The results showed that both treatments produced effective blood pressure control and there was no significant difference in the maximum reduction achieved. The effect of the two drugs on heart rate was also similar. Both treatments were generally well-tolerated and side-effects were mild and similar with either drug.