Seref Olgar

Cardiac Hydatid Disease: CT and MRI Findings

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this article is to review the CT and MRI findings of cardiac hydatid disease. CONCLUSIONS CT and MRI are helpful for localizing and defining the morphologic features of hydatid cysts. Specific signs include calcification of the cyst wall, presence of daughter cysts, and membrane detachment. CT best shows wall calcification, whereas MRI depicts the exact anatomic location and nature of the internal and external structures.

Can cystinosis cause coronary artery dilatation

In children, dilated coronary arteries are usually caused by Kawasaki’s disease. We report four children with dilated coronary arteries and nephropathic cystinosis.

Electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings in street children known to be substance abusers

Substance abuse is prevalent in adolescent street children, and death is reported as secondary to aspiration, accidental trauma, asphyxia, cardiac arrhythmia, anoxia, vagal inhibition and respiratory depression. In this study, we examined electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings from 53 street male adolescents, comparing our findings to those obtained from 61 controls in the same age group. The street children smoked cigarettes (98.1%) and had used, or were using, thinner (73.6%), glue (75.5%), hashish (79.2%), morphine or its products (24.5%), ecstasy (37.7%), anti-emetics (13.2%) and alcohol (60.4%). On examination, their blood pressures were lower than the control group. Electrocardiographically, PR, QRS, QT were found to be longer (p less than 0.05) than the values for healthy controls. Although it was not statistically significant, QTc duration was also longer than the control group. Echocardiography revealed increased diameters of the left ventricle and atrium, the aorta, and the coronary arteries as compared to the healthy children (p less than 0.05).

Prolonged Supine Hypertension Due to Midodrine Use in an Orthostatic Hypotensive Child

Midodrine hydrochloride is a potent peripherally-acting α1 agonist that is well absorbed and rapidly metabolized to its active metabolite. It has been used for the treatment of refractory syncope but has the important side effect of supine hypertension. A 10-year-old boy with severe symptomatic orthostatic hypotension was treated with midodrine. After therapy, syncope attacks ceased but he suffered nighttime headaches, nausea, transient rash and itchy/prickly scalp. Midodrine was discontinued when supine hypertension was noticed. However, his supine hypertension continued until day 19 after discontinuation. This case shows that patients receiving midodrine should be observed for supine hypertension for a prolonged period.