[Serum selenium and dilated cardiomyopathy in Cotonou, Benin].

Purpose: Peripartum cardiac failure is common in savannah-Sahelian Africa. It is due to a form of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) known as peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) that results from undetermined causes. Numerous risk factors have been identified and dietary selenium deficiency has been proposed as a possibility.

[Ventricular dysfunction during acute fever in Dakar, Senegal. Clinical data and serological studies].

During a study, the authors observed clinical and ultrasound evidence of "ventricular dysfunction during acute fever" due to ue to "severe acute myocarditis" supports therapeutic management since 4/8 patients in this study were infected either by Chlamydia (CT and especially CP) or by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, that are both sensitive to antimicrobial therapy using macrolides. Five of 8 patients presented coinfection with 2 and even 3 infectious agents (CP-enterovirus-adenovirus).

[Plasma selenium and peripartum cardiomyopathy in Bamako, Mali].

Peripartum heart failure due to unexplained dilated cardiomyopathy is a common disorder as Savannak-Sahelian Africa. One of the many suspected risk factors identified is selenium deficiency. The purpose of this study was to measure plasma selenium levels in patients with peripartum heart failure due to cardiomyopathy in Bamako, Republic of Mali and compare data with healthy Sahalian women with the same obstetrical status.

Are anti-Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies prognosis indicators for peripartum cardiomyopathy?

Background: The authors recently pointed out an epidemiological relation between specific anti-Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies and peripartum cardiomyopathy in Niamey (Republic of Niger).

Design: In this work, they studied the prognosis value of such specific antibodies.

Methods: The serological status for specific IgG, IgA and IgM anti-C.