Case report: marantic endocarditis in renal cell carcinoma: nephrectomy a treatment.

Background: Marantic endocarditis (non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis) is a rare condition that involves non-infectious thrombotic lesions typically of the aortic and mitral valves. It is predominantly associated with malignancy and less commonly systemic lupus erythematosus. In this case, we report a patient with marantic endocarditis secondary to a renal cell carcinoma that was successfully treated with nephrectomy and anticoagulation.

Risk stratification and timing of coronary angiography in acute coronary syndromes: are we targeting the right patients in a timely manner? (ANZACS-QI 1).

Aims: The New Zealand non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS) guideline recommends that clinically appropriate patients with combined high risk features (positive troponin and ischaemic ECG and a GRACE score >140) have coronary angiography within the first hospital day. All other ACS patients referred for angiography should be studied within 72 hours. We evaluated the relationship between risk criteria, and both the incidence and timing of angiography in our practice.

Double blind randomised placebo controlled trial of adjunctive prednisolone in the treatment of effusive tuberculous pericarditis in HIV seropositive patients.

Objective: To determine the effect of adjunctive prednisolone on morbidity, pericardial fluid resolution, and mortality in HIV seropositive patients with effusive tuberculous pericarditis.

Design: Double blind randomised placebo controlled trial.

Setting: Two medical school affiliated referral hospitals in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Endomyocardial fibrosis in Zimbabwe--how rare is it? A report of two cases.

In Africa endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) is rare outside countries where it is endemic, such as Uganda, Mozambique and Ivory Coast. The only published case in Zimbabwe was in 1957. We describe two female patients aged 22 and 19 years who presented within seven months of each other with typical clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiogaphic features of right ventricular EMF.

Acute myocardial infarction in Zimbabwe: the changing scene of coronary artery disease.

From 1988 to 1993 (six years), 127 suspected cases of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were admitted to the Parirenyatwa Hospital coronary care unit. AMI was confirmed in 76 cases, 37 were Black, 27 White, six Indian and six Coloured. For Blacks the male to female ratio was 5:1.

Comparison of the Tru-cut biopsy needle with the Abrams punch for pleural biopsy.

In a prospective study pleural biopsy specimens obtained with a Tru-cut needle were compared with those obtained with an Abrams pleural biopsy punch from 36 patients in Zimbabwe judged to have an effusion of at least 1.5 litres; one patient had two biopsies. Both instruments were used on each patient, the Abrams punch being followed by the Tru-cut needle.