AGT and RH blood group polymorphisms affect blood pressure and lipids in Afro-Caribbeans.

Population blood pressure variation is most likely due to multiple genes. This is likely the reason why monogenic testing with the angiotensinogen (AGT) gene polymorphisms on chromosome 1 (1q42-43), especially M235T, has met with negative results, especially in those of African descent. The RH blood group system, also on chromosome 1 (1 p36.2-34), has likewise been associated with blood pressure variation in African-Americans and with the rise in blood pressure with age in whites. Using a random sample of the population, we investigated the combined effects of single and combined variation of the AGTN M235T and RH genotypes on blood pressure, lipids, and lipoprotein concentrations in Afro-Caribbeans aged 18-60 years from the island nation of Dominica. In monogenic analysis, AGT M235T was not associated with blood pressure. However, it was associated with HDL (MM 42+/-23, MT 44+/-12, TT 52+/-14 (P=0.002)). RH genotype was significantly associated with systolic blood pressure (P=0.006) and Apo-A (P=0.003). These effects remained after adjustment for age, gender, weight, and BMI. In the polygenetic analysis, AGT M235T and RH were significantly associated with systolic blood pressure (P=0.037; interaction effects, P=0.068). The association of the AGT M235T with blood pressure across RH blood group haplotypes was then tested. Of the five RH haplotypes available for analysis, the AGT M235T was significantly associated with blood pressure within the "D" haplotype (P=0.01). The RH blood group and gender were significantly associated with systolic blood pressure and Apo-A levels (P=0.005 and 0.012, respectively). All interactions were independent of age and weight. In conclusion, we demonstrate a significant association of AGT M235T with blood pressure and cholesterol metabolism in an Afro-Caribbean population in the "genetic context" of the RH blood group system. Further investigation of these interactions may help understand the effects of genetic factors on cardiovascular risk in African-derived and other populations.

Severe refractory sarcoidosis in a 64-year-old man with persistent leucopenia.

We present a case of bone marrow granulomas in a 64-year-old West Indian man who presented with severe leucopenia, anaemia, thrombocytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly, hypercalcaemia, hypercalciuria, elevated angiotensin converting enzyme level and reticulo-nodular shadows on chest X-ray. Bone marrow biopsy revealed numerous non-caseating epithelioid granulomas. A diagnosis of sarcoidosis was made and he was treated with prednisolone 60 mg daily for four weeks and the dose was subsequently reduced to 30 mg daily. Eight months follow-up revealed persistent pancytopenia. Bone marrow granulomas are rare and, when they occur, sarcoidosis is an uncommon aetiology. This case illustrates that severe leucopenia may occur in sarcoidosis and may present therapeutic difficulties.

An atypical aggressive Kaposi's sarcoma in a HIV-negative bisexual man

We describe a case of Kaposi's sarcoma in a previously healthy 35-year-old bisexual West Indian man of African descent who was seronegative for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and human T-cell lymphotropic virus-1 (HTLV-1) and who presented with extensive mucocutaneous lesions, weight loss, visceral and generalized lymph node involvement, poor response to combination therapy with vinblastine and interferon alfa-2a, and a short survival of eight months from the onset of illness. This is the first documented case of Kaposi's sarcoma in Dominica. The presentation is unusual in that it is similar to the aggressive and disseminated Kaposi's sarcoma seen only in AIDS and the florid variant of the endemic disease in young men in Equatorial Africa.

Neuropsychiatric manifestations of typhoid fever

Neuropsychiatric manifestations of typhoid fever are not uncommon, occurring in 18 of 40 consecutive patients at the University Hospital of the West Indies. The clinical presentation ranges from a confusional state to hallucinations or meningism, and the diagnosis may be missed or unduly delayed unless there is a strong index of suspicion

Success of didactic gastroenterology teaching for postgraduate medical residents

Although the Doctor of Medicine programme in Internal Medicine at the U. W. I. is a structured course with several teaching formats, the optimally effective form of reaching remains unknown. An experimental didactic teaching course in Gastroenterology was preceded and followed by an examination. This was conducted to determine the effectiveness of this form of teaching. The maajority of residents ranked the course favourably. the mean examination score increased by 6.4%, form 25.4% before the course to 31.8% at the end. Although the more senior residents scored higher than their juniors in the pre-test, this difference disappeared in the post-test. Structured didactic teaching requirs close supervision, active participation by trainee and reinforcement for the full benefit to be attained

Renal artery stenosis in a jamaican with von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis

This report of a 30-year-old male Jamaican presenting with severe refractory hypertension describes the uncommon association between renal artery stenosis and neurofigromartosis, and seves to focus attention upon this potentially secondary cause of hypertension in such patients

Polyarteritis nodosa in jamaicans

This report describes the main features of the 5 cases of polyarteritis nodosa seen at the University Hospital of the West Indies over a 10-year period. The disease manifestations are protean and only 2 of the 5 patients were diagnosed antemortem, indicating the need to increase physician awareness, especially since response to therapy has improved significantly in recent years

Uncorrected coarctation of the aorta in a West Indian in the seventh decade of life

A 61-year-old blackhousewife, discovered to be hypertensive 37 years previously, was found to have coarctation of the proximal descending aorta. This disorder is only rarely diagnosed beyond the sixth decade. As coarctation of the aorta is uncommon and may remain undetected as a cause of secondary hypertension in adults, this case highlights the need for proper physical evaluation in all patients. The assumption that coarctation of the aorta is rare in vlacks may be due to inadequate diagnostic facilities available to this population