Ademola J. Adekanmi

Abdominal ultrasonography in HIV/AIDS patients in southwestern Nigeria

BackgroundThough the major target of the HIV-virus is the immune system, the frequency of abdominal disorders in HIV/AIDS patients has been reported to be second only to pulmonary disease. These abdominal manifestations may be on the increase as the use of antiretroviral therapy has increased life expectancy and improved quality of life. Ultrasonography is an easy to perform, non invasive, inexpensive and safe imaging technique that is invaluable in Africa where AIDS is most prevalent and where sophisticated diagnostic tools are not readily available. Purpose: To describe the findings and evaluate the clinical utility of abdominal ultrasonography in HIV/AIDS patients in Ibadan, NigeriaMethodsA Prospective evaluation of the abdominal ultrasonography of 391 HIV-positive patients as well as 391 age and sex-matched HIV-negative patients were carried out at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.ResultsOf the 391 cases studied, 260 (66.5%) were females; the mean age was 38.02 years, (range 15–66 years). The disease was most prevalent in the 4th decade with an incidence of 40.4%. Compared with the HIV-negative individuals, the HIV+ group of patients had a significantly higher proportion of splenomegaly (13.5% vs. 7.7%; p < 0.01), lymphadenopathy (2.0% vs. 1.3%; p < 0.70), and renal abnormalities (8.4% vs. 3.8%; p < 0.02). There were no differences in hepatic and pancreatic abnormalities between the HIV+ and HIV- groups. There were significantly fewer gallstones in the HIV+ group (1.4% vs. 5.1%; p < 0.01).ConclusionAIDS is a multi-systemic disease and its demographic and clinical pattern remains the same globally. Ultrasonography is optimally suited for its clinical management especially in Africa. Its accuracy and sensitivity may be much improved with clinico-pathologic correlation which may not be readily available in developing countries; further studies may provide this much needed diagnostic algorithms.

Transvaginal ultrasonography: a survey of the acceptability and its predictors among a native African women population

Objective To determine the acceptability of transvaginal ultrasonography (TVU) and associated factors among Nigerian women. Method A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 3137 women who presented for transabdominal ultrasound scan between August and November 2010 in two referral hospitals in Nigeria. Data were obtained using a questionnaire. Descriptive and multivariate analysis was performed applying logistic regression analysis; predictors of willingness of participants regarding transvaginal ultrasound were identified using SPSS Statistics (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL) version 17 software. Results The mean age of the women was 33.8 years (standard deviation = 7.9), with 88.8% currently married. About 84% were willing to have TVU, while 54.2% were indifferent about the gender of the sonologist. About 17.3% believed that the procedure is painful. Significant predictors of willingness to have TVU were previous sexual experience and douching, prior painful vaginal examination, and vaginal surgery. Conclusion The majority of Nigerian women expressed a willingness to have the TVU procedure without necessarily opting for any gender preference of the operator. Women should be adequately counseled on the operations of the procedure so as to be able to psychologically prepare for them.

Intracranial Arterial Calcification in Black Africans with Acute Ischaemic Stroke

Background: Intracranial arterial calcification (IAC), a recognized marker of atherosclerosis on cranial computed tomography (CT), is an independent risk factor for ischaemic stroke. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, distribution, severity, and associations of IAC in adults with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Methods: Cranial CT images of 130 consecutive adults who presented with AIS were acquired on a 64-slice multi-detector Toshiba Aquilion scanner and evaluated for IAC in bone window on Vitrea® software using a semi-quantitative scoring method for extent, thickness, and length of calcifications in the large intracranial arteries. Associations of IAC with clinical and laboratory data were determined by statistical analysis at p < 0.05. Results: There were 71 males (54.6%), and the mean age of all patients was 63.0 ± 13.2 years. Hypertension was the most common risk factor (83.1%). IAC was found in 121 patients (93.1%), predominantly in the carotid siphon (86.1%) followed by the intracranial vertebral arteries (9.3%), middle cerebral arteries (2.4%), basilar artery (1.2%), and the anterior cerebral arteries (1%). The burden of IAC ranged from mild (17.4%) to moderate (52.1%) to severe (30.6%). Age (p < 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.037), and alcohol use (0.046) were significantly different among the patients with mild, moderate, and severe degrees of IAC. IAC was associated with age (p < 0.001), hypertension (p = 0.03), diabetes mellitus (p = 0.02), hyperlipidaemia (p = 0.04), and alcohol use (p < 0.001) but not with sex (p = 0.35). Conclusions: The burden of IAC is very high among native African patients with AIS and preferentially involves proximal inflow arteries. Therefore, the role of large vessel atherosclerosis in ischaemic stroke in native Africans should be explored in future multinational, multimodality studies.

The state of radiology subspecialty training in the west african subregion: The residents' perspective

Background/Aim: Radiology residency was initiated nearly 30 years ago in the West African subregion, but accompanying formal subspecialty training has been developed within the 30 year time span. In contrast, subspecialization has evolved over the past 25 years in developed countries. The aim of this study was to determine residents′ perspective about radiology subspecialization training in West Africa. Materials and Methods: Semi-structured, self-administered electronic questionnaires were sent to residents at different levels of training via E-mail and during update courses. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 15.0 (IBM) package. Quantitative variables were expressed using summary statistics including means and medians. Descriptive analysis was performed for the qualitative variables using frequencies, proportions, and charts. Statistical significance was set at the 5% level using two tailed P values. Results: There were 117 respondents 85 (72.6%) males and 32 (27.4%) females. A total of 110 (94%) were aware of the various subspecialties in radiology with neuroradiology being identified by all as separate subspecialty. Interventional radiology topped the choice of subspecialty with 61 (52.1%) respondents, and 67 (57.3%) would prefer that subspecialties be introduced in phases. Ultrasound, basic X-ray, mamography equipment, and computed tomography scanners are available in many of the training centers. 116 (99.1%) of the residents believed that there is a need for subspecialization in the subregion. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates the need for subspecialization in West Africa. To achieve this goal, collaboration and support from well-established radiology residency and fellowship training programs based in developed countries is necessary.

Maternal ophthalmic artery Doppler velocimetry in pre-eclampsia in southwestern nigeria

Background Pre-eclampsia (PE) poses a serious challenge to maternal and fetal health in Africa. It is associated with hemodynamic changes that may affect the internal carotid/ophthalmic artery circulation with consequent neuro-ophthalmic manifestations. Ophthalmic artery Doppler (OAD) ultrasound is an important tool that can be used to detect hemodynamic changes in PE and monitor its severity. In this study, we evaluated hemodynamic changes on OAD ultrasound in the ophthalmic arteries of pre-eclamptic women and compared these with values in healthy pregnant women. Methods OAD parameters, such as, peak systolic velocity, peak diastolic velocity, end diastolic velocity, pulsatility index, and peak ratio, were measured on transorbital triplex ultrasound scan with a 7–10 MHz multifrequency linear transducer in 42 consenting pre-eclamptic patients and 41 pregnant controls matched for maternal age, gestational age, and parity at the Department of Radiology, University College Hospital, Ibadan. Univariate, bivariate, and receiver operating characteristic curve data analyses were performed. P<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results Mean resistivity index, pulsatility index, and peak systolic velocity were significantly lower in pre-eclamptic patients than in the controls. Mean peak diastolic velocity, end diastolic velocity, and peak ratio were significantly higher in the pre-eclamptic group. The receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the resistivity index (sensitivity 75%, specificity 77.8%) could distinguish mild from severe PE while the peak ratio (sensitivity 90.5%, specificity 81.3%) could accurately detect PE. Conclusion OAD ultrasound can be used to monitor patients with PE for early detection of progression to severe forms before cerebral complications develop. OAD screening of patients at high risk for PE can also detect early changes of hemodynamic derangement.

Evaluation of renal blood flow using Doppler sonography in children with acute Falciparum malaria in south-western Nigeria.

Background: Renal blood flow evaluation during malaria illness is rarely done despite the high incidence of kidney injury from malaria and availability of Doppler ultrasound scanners in malaria endemic areas. Aims: This study is to evaluate the renal blood flow changes using Doppler ultrasonography among uncomplicated and complicated malaria subsets of pediatric patient with laboratory Original Research Article Adekanmi et al.; BJMMR, 8(6): 503-515, 2015; Article no.BJMMR.2015.473 504 evidence of malaria parasitemia and without background clinical and laboratory evidence of renal impairment. And to compare these with parameters of age matched healthy pediatric control. Study Design: This was a prospective case control study of renal Doppler indices in children with acute malaria. Place of Study: The study was conducted among pediatric patients presenting at the children outpatient clinics, emergency and pediatric wards of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan Nigeria. Methodology: Doppler indices of 602 kidneys were evaluated among 85 uncomplicated (UM), 85 complicated malaria (CM) children that presented within 24 hours and follow up scans on days 3 and 5 of their illness. These were compared with that of 131 healthy children (control). Results: The main renal artery diameter of the CM group was 0.41±0.07 mm, UM=0.48±0.09 mm and 0.53±0.11 mm (p=<0.001) in the control group. The main renal vein diameter were 0.59±0.11 mm and 0.48±0.10 mm and 0.63±0.15 mm (P=<0.000) among the CM, UM and the control group respectively. The PSV and EDV were slightly lower in the malaria groups than in the control group. PSV=49.01±18.21 cm/s in the UM and CM=50.71±19.68 cm/s. The control group PSV was 56.95±15.47 cm/s. AT was however significantly lower in the two malaria subgroups than in the control. (UM=47.70±18.28 cm/s, CM=52.33±21.06 cm/s and control=75.20±27.66 cm/s respectively (p=<0.000). The Intrarenal S/D in UM was 2.73±0.49 and the CM group S/D was 3.05±0.65 and control=2.62±0.47 (P=0.04). Slightly lower but statistically insignificant mean values were seen in the RI and PI. Conclusion: The main renal arterial and vein diameters and the intra renal vessel AT are significantly reduced during acute falciparum malaria illness. The intra-renal PSV and EDV are likely to be lower in acute falciparum malaria than in the normal healthy children. The intra-renal S/D are significantly higher in the UM and CM. Also, the PI and RI are likely to be higher in the malaria groups. The AT and S/D both showed inverse and direct relationship respectively as malaria severity worsens. We propose that renal Doppler ultrasound can be used to monitor renal status and should be included in the management of children with acute malaria infection more so in malaria endemic area.