[Comparative prognosis of pulmonary embolism in patients infected with COVID-19 and patients not infected with COVID-19 in Ouagadougou]

OBJECTIVE

the study's objective was to determine impact of COVID-19 on the prognosis of pulmonary embolism.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

An analytical multicenter cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection was carried out in three university hospitals and a private clinic in Ouagadougou from March, 2020 to July 2021. It included consecutive patients hospitalized for PE confirmed on chest CT angiography or by the association an acute cor pulmonale on echocardiography-Doppler with deep vein thrombosis on venous ultrasound-Doppler of the lower limbs and having carried out a COVID-19 test (RT-PCR or rapid diagnostic test). Control cases consisted of all COVID-19 negative PE cases. Data comparison was carried out using the Epi info 7 software. A univariate then multivariate analysis allowed the comparison of the prognosis of the two subpopulations. The significance level retained was p < 0.05.

RESULTS

96 patients with COVID-19+ and 70 COVID-19- PE were included. The prevalence of PE in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 was 7.05%. The average patient age was 61.5±17 years for COVID-19+ patients and 49.6±15.9 years for COVID-19- patients. Pulmonary condensation syndrome (p=0.007), desaturation (p=0.0003) and respiratory distress syndrome (p=0.006) were more common in COVID-19+ patients. The hospital death rate was 27.1% in COVID-19+ patients and 10% in COVID-19- patients (p=0.0024). Age > 65 years and COVID-19 pneumonia were the independent factors of death.

CONCLUSION

COVID-19 is associated with clinical severity and excess mortality in patients with pulmonary embolism.

[Contribution of the 6-minutes walking test and the plasma NT-proBNP at admission and discharge to the prognostic evaluation of patients with NYHA class II-III Heart Failure.]

OBJECTIVE

To study the 6MWT and NT-proBNP contribution to the prognosis evaluation of patients with NYHA class II-III heart failure in the Yalgado Ouédraogo Teaching Hospital.

METHODS

We carried out a nine months prospective observational cohort from the 1st February to the 31st October 2020. Patients with NYHA class II-III HF who consented to participate were included in the study. We identified two variables of interest: death and readmission.

RESULTS

We included 50 patients with congestive heart failure representing 37.3% of heart failure. The average follow up time of patients was 154.58 ± 74.8 days. Twelve patients (24%) were readmited and 11 passed away with five during hospitalisation. On admission, The average distance on the 6MWT (194.6 ± 85.5 m) on admission and average NT-proBNP (5812.1±4729.4 ng/L) measured on admission and before discharge wasn't significantly correlated to the risk of death and re-hospitalisation. The average distance on the 6MWT before discharge (306.2±84.6) was significantly correlated to an increase risk of death and re-hospitalisation. Patients with an increase in NT-proBNP superior to 30% from measurement on admission to the one before discharge had a high risk of re-hospitalisation and death compare to those with a decrease of more than 30% with a moderate to good correlation coefficient of 0.6 between the two.

CONCLUSION

6MWT and NT-proBNP variations from admission to discharge have been necessary to evaluate the prognosis of patients with CHF.

[Characteristics of effusive pericarditis in N'Djamena (Chad)]

INTRODUCTION

Pericarditis is a commun cause of hospitalisation in cardiology and internal medicine wards.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to describe the epidemiological profile of effusive pericarditis at the Department of cardiology of the National Referral Teaching Hospital of N'Djamena, Chad.

METHODS

We undertook a descriptive cross-sectional study from January 2017 to December 2019. Patients presenting with effusive pericarditis and who consent to participate were consecutively enrolled during the study period.

RESULTS

Overall, 1805 patients were hospitalized at the department of cardiology during the study period with effusive pericarditis accounting for 4.3% of all cases (n = 78). Patients' mean age was 35.84 ± 14 years, [range 16 and 73 years]. The sex ratio was 0.89. Exertional dyspnea, chest pain, poor general condition and fever were main symptoms reported in 90%, 89%, 81% and 51% of the cases respectively. Pericardial rub was found in 51% of the study patients. Eighteen patients (26%) were HIV positive and 97% of the study patients had cardiomegaly. ECG demonstrated low QRS voltage (97%) and diffuse abnormalities of repolarisation (96%). Pericardial effusion was found abundant in 57% of the cases. Etiologies of effusive pericarditis were mainly tuberculosis (47%), idiopathic (21%) and HIV infection (13%). Thirty patients (43%) benefited from pericardiocentesis. The in-hospital mortality rate of the disease was 17%.

CONCLUSION

Effusive pericarditis is frequent and associated with poor outcome. Treatment depends on etiology dominated by tuberculosis in Chad.

[Cardio-Renal Syndrome In Patients Hospitalized In The Cardiology Department Of The University Hospital Center Yalgado OUEDRAOGO (CHUYO): Epidemiology, Clinic, Paraclinic And Course's Aspects]

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this work was to study cardio-renal syndrome in patients hospitalized in the cardiology department of the University Hospital Center Yalgado OUEDRAOGO (CHUYO).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective, descriptive study for a period of three years, from 1st January 2010 to 31st December 2012. The study incorporated patients with associated signs of Heart Failure (HF) and Renal Insufficiency (RI). Sociodemographic, clinical and paraclinical parameters were considered in the study. We evaluated the value of creatinine clearance at admission and its progress during the hospitalization until patients were discharged.

RESULTS

Sample group of 119 patients over the period; the prevalence of the syndrome cardio-renal (CRF) was 10.93%. The mean age of our patients was 52.6 ± 16.6 years. (extremes: 15-85 years). The sex ratio was 1.33. Our patients' medical histories were dominated by high blood pressure (58.8%) and hypertensive heart disease (33.6%). Dyspnea was the major functional sign in our study (84.9%). Left heart failure syndrome (LHFS) was the most frequently encountered clinical picture (91.3%). The mean value of the creatinine clearance at baseline was 41.5 ± 24.3 mL/min/1.73m2. The signs ECGs and Doppler echocardiograms were those of underlying heart disease: the hypertensive heart disease. An abdominal-pelvic ultrasound found a bilateral kidney failure in 65.7% cases. The average length of hospitalization was 17.7 ± 17.5 days. Death occurred in 19.5% cases.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of CRS was high in the CHU-YO. The prognosis was largely influenced by whether it was an acute or chronic kidney failure. Emphasis should be placed on primary prevention of CRS, early diagnosis and etiology of renal failure.

Hypertensive crises in sub-Saharan Africa: Clinical profile and short-term outcome in the medical emergencies department of a national referral hospital in Burkina Faso

BACKGROUND

Data on hypertensive crises (HC) are limited in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We aimed to characterize the pattern and short-term mortality of hypertensive emergencies (HE) and urgencies (HU).

METHODS

This was a prospective cohort study. Consecutive patients with acute and severely elevated blood pressure (systolic>180mmHg and/or diastolic >120mmHg) with or without acute target-organs damage attending the emergency department (ED) of the Teaching Hospital of Yalgado Ouedraogo, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso were included with a one-month follow-up.

RESULTS

One hundred and sixty-six of 1254 patients presenting to the ED (January to march 2016) had HC (13.2%) and 113 of them (68.1%) had HE. The mean age was 50.9±15.9 years and males were 63.3% (n=105). Younger age (<45 years) accounted for 55% of the cases. History of known HTN was reported in 101 patients (60.8%). Among patients with HE, 62.8% had brain-related events, 30.1% had cardiac involvement and 31% had acute renal impairment. The overall survival rate was 89% within the first 72hours and 81% at fourteen days follow-up. At one-month follow-up, 36 patients died with a survival rate of 77.8%. Factors independently associated with death were history of known hypertension, acute brain-related damage and renal dysfunction and not being transferred to a specialized department.

CONCLUSION

HC are not rare in SSA and are associated with higher morbidity and mortality in HE. Further studies are needed to determine factors that promote HC in African patients in order to better address the prevention and management strategies of such hypertensive entity.

[Management and prognosis of pulmonary embolism associated with right heart thrombi: A prospective study at the University Hospital Yalgado Ouédraogo]

OBJECTIVE

To describe the management and evolution of high risk of death pulmonary embolism associated with right heart thrombi.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We conducted a prospective cohort survey over a 54 month-period, from March 1st, 2012 to September 30th 2015. Were included all patients with pulmonary embolism and having high or intermediate-high risk of death. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether cardiac Doppler-echography found a thrombus in the right chambers or not (ICT+ vs. ICT-). The survival curves for the patients were obtained using the software STATA.

RESULTS

The prevalence of pulmonary embolism associated with right heart thrombi was 4% in our study. Thrombi were mobile, straight localization in all cases. The ICT+group was characterized by a significantly higher proportion of congestive heart and chronic lung disease. The proportion of patients' thrombolysis was significantly higher in the ICT-group. In the ICT+group, thrombolysis significantly reduced mortality giving a 30-day survival of 80% against 20% among patients receiving only heparin.

CONCLUSION

Pulmonary embolism associated with right heart thrombi including the atrium are not exceptional. These patients are at high risk of early death. Thrombolysis is significantly improving the mortality of pulmonary embolism associated with right-sided heart thrombi.

[Evolution profiles of acute coronary syndromes and GRACE, TIMI and SRI risk scores in Burkina Faso. A monocentric study of 111 patients]

OBJECTIVES

The aims of this study was to assess evolution profile of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) based on risk level by GRACE, TIMI and SRI scores in the cardiology department, Yalgado Ouedraogo university hospital.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a prospective study of 111 consecutive patients admitted for ACS (mean age 57.61 years, 77.5% male) between January 1st and 2010 to May 31st 2015 in the department of cardiology. For each patient, risk scores were calculated and they were divided into risk group. Global survival at one month was described by Kaplan Meier method and prognostic factors were analyzed by multivariable Cox regression.

RESULTS

The prevalence of ACS was 4.2%. Patients were admitted for ST-elevation ACS and non-ST-elevation ACS in 88.3% and 11.7%, respectively. Nineteen patients (17.1%) were admitted before the 12th hour. Hospital mortality was 8.1% and increased to 16.2% in one month. After risk stratification, one-month survival of patients with high risk, was shorter than patients at low-risk regardless of the score GRACE (log-rank=9.93, P=0.007), TIMI (log-rank=14.91, P=0.001) and SRI (log-rank=10.01, P=0.006). GRACE score (HR=1.01; P=0.002), TIMI (HR=1.33; P=0.01) and SRI (HR=1.02; P=0.01) were major prognostic factors for overall survival.

CONCLUSION

ACS remains a serious disease with high morbidity and mortality in the days following the initial accident. These risk scores are applicable tools in Burkina Faso as evidenced statistic C (GRACE=0.75, TIMI=0.78 and SRI=0.74).

[Assessment of medical management of heart failure at National Hospital Blaise COMPAORE]

AIM

The aim of this study was to assess the quality of medical management of heart failure at the National Hospital Blaise Compaoré according to the international guidelines.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective study was performed including consecutive patients admitted for heart failure documented sonographically from October 2012 to March 2015 in the Medicine and Medical Specialties Department of National Hospital Blaise Compaore with a minimum follow-up of six weeks. Data analysis was made by the SPSS 20.0 software.

RESULTS

Eighty-four patients, mean age of 57.61±18.24 years, were included. It was an acute heart failure in 84.5% of patients with systolic left ventricular function impaired (77.4%). The rate of prescription of different drugs in heart failure any type was 88.1% for loop diuretics; 77.1% for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers and 65.5% for betablockers. In patients with systolic dysfunction, 84.62% of patients were received the combination of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers and 75.38% for betablockers. Exercise rehabilitation was undergoing in 10.7% of patients. The death rate was 16.7% and hospital readmission rate of 16.7%.

CONCLUSION

The prescription rate of major heart failure drugs is satisfactory. Cardiac rehabilitation should be developed.

[Five years assessment of cardiac stimulation in two public hospitals in Burkina Faso: An experiment of collaboration with two hospitals in Auvergne]

OBJECTIVES

Cardiac stimulation becomes a reality in Burkina Faso. The aim of our study was to evaluate this activity over five years and to appreciate the impact of collaboration with French hospitals of Auvergne area in its development.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Prospective study including consecutively patients who underwent pacemaker implantation since June 2011. Data collected included indications, time to care, type of stimulation, complications, cost of treatment, and education and quality of life of the patient.

RESULTS

Sixty-nine patients received definitive pacemaker from June 2011 to June 2016, of whom 45.5% were women. The mean age was 69 years (extremes 35 to 89s). Almost all patients (94%) were symptomatic (54% syncope and 30% dizziness and lipothymias). The main indication for definitive cardiac pacing was complete atrioventricular block of degenerative origin (83%). The mean time between indication and surgery was 8.2 days, and only 4% of patients received temporary stimulation. The lack of financial support was the main reason for the delay in taking charge. During the study period, the two health centers received support in the form of stimulation equipment, a technical platform, and regular training and practical training. This collaboration made it possible to overcome the lack of material, human and financial resources. We recorded as complications a case of case exteriorization, two cases of benign local hematoma and two cases of probe displacement. The quality of life of the patients improved markedly, none of patients undergoing surgery remained symptomatic.

CONCLUSION

The organization of cardiac stimulation in Burkina Faso is a reality. Efforts must be made to sustain the activity and strengthen collaboration with hospitals in the north.

[Severe pulmonary embolism and acute lower limb ischemia complicating peripartum cardiomyopathy successfully treated by streptokinase]

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a cardiac disease at high thromboembolism potential. The authors report a case of peripartum cardiomyopathy admitted for congestive heart failure. Echocardiography found a dilated cardiomyopathy with severely impaired left ventricular systolic function and biventricular thrombi. During hospitalization his condition was complicated by severe bilateral pulmonary embolism and left lower limb arterial acute thrombosis. The treatment consisted of thrombolysis with streptokinase associated with dobutamine (in addition to the conventional treatment of heart failure and bromocriptine). The outcome was favorable, marked by pulmonary and lower limb arterial unblocking.

[Neurological complications of infective endocarditis in Burkina Faso. Clinical features, management and evolutionary profile]

INTRODUCTION

Neurological complications are the most frequent extracardiac complications of infective endocarditis (IE). This study aimed to describe the epidemiological, clinical and paraclinical aspects, and outcome of neurological complications of infective endocarditis in three hospitals in the city of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

From 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2012, we included all patients suffering from IE and selected those in whom a neurological complication was objectified. Neurological involvement was sought on clinical examination but especially CT brain (ischemic infarcts, hemorrhages, aneurysms and abscesses). Blood cultures were systematic. Echocardiography was done for vegetations and characteristics.

RESULTS

Among 63 cases of IE, neurological complications were found in 14 patients (22.2%). The average age of patients with neurological complications was 37.4 ± 5.8 years. The sex ratio was 1.3 for women. Neurological damage consisted of nine cases of stroke (64.3%), three cases of hemorrhagic stroke (21.4%) and two cases of brain abscess (14.3%). Neurological complications had already occurred before hospitalization in 4 cases. Blood cultures were positive in 8 cases. Germs found were predominantly Staphylococcus aureus (5 cases) and Streptococcus a- viridans (2 cases). All cases of S. aureus were complicated by stroke. At echocardiography, vegetation was found in all cases. It was found on the mitral in 7 cases, the aorta in 3 cases, the mitral and aortic in 2 cases and the mitral and tricuspid in 2 cases also. The EI had occurred on a native valve in 11 cases, prosthesis in 4 cases (2 mitral and 2 aortic). The vegetations average diameter was 11.2 ± 2.1 mm (6.4 and 1 7.7 mm). Vegetations were mobile in 12 cases. The treatment consisted of antibiotics adapted to the antibiogram, neurological and cardiovascular monitoring. The evolution was marked by seven deaths (50%), including 5 deaths related to cerebral complication (71.4% of deaths).

CONCLUSION

This study shows that neurological complications during infective endocarditis are frequent, dominated by stroke with a high mortality.

[Epidemiological characteristics and clinical features of black African subject's resistant hypertension]

INTRODUCTION

Few studies in sub-Saharan Africa were interested in resistant hypertension. The objectives of this study were to determine the frequency of resistant hypertension in hypertensive black African population, and to describe its clinical and therapeutic features.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From May 1, 2010 to May 31, 2012, we included consecutively hypertensive followed in two hospitals in the city of Ouagadougou, under antihypertensive treatment at optimum dose and observant. Patients whose blood pressure was uncontrolled despite a triple antihypertensive therapy at the optimal dose including a diuretic associated with dietary measures have received ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Following this examination, patients whose blood pressure was ≥135/85mmHg during the day and/or ≥120/70mmHg at night were considered resistant hypertension. We investigated the cardiovascular risk factors as well as target organ damages. We combined spironolactone 50mg in treatment when absence of contra-indication appreciated the evolution of blood pressure under this treatment. The measurement of plasma renin activity was not performed. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Version 17 for Windows.

RESULTS

We included 692 patients with 14.6% of resistant hypertension. The average age of patients was 54.8±11.1years in the general population, 56.5±11.8years in the subgroup of non-resistant hypertension and 64.2±5.4years in the subgroup of resistant hypertension. The symptoms were represented by headache (11.9%), dizziness (9.9%) and chest pain (8.9%). Modifiable cardiovascular risk factors were dominated by dyslipidemia, diabetes and obesity/overweight. These risk factors were significantly more frequent in the subgroup of resistant hypertension. The global cardiovascular risk was high in 24.9% of cases in the general population, 22.5% in the subgroup of non-resistant hypertension and 38.6% in the subgroup of resistant hypertension. The target organ damages were significantly more frequent in the same subgroup of resistant hypertension. After addition of spironolactone, 21.8% of resistant hypertensive patients were controlled.

CONCLUSION

This study shows that resistant hypertension is common in black Africans. It is mostly subjects of the sixth decade, with limited economic income and living in rural areas. In the absence of contra-indication, spironolactone contributed to decrease the morbidity of this pathology.

[Management of end-stage kidney failure: a challenge for the countries of sub-Saharan Africa example of mineral and bone disorders in Burkina Faso]

INTRODUCTION

Meeting treatment targets for dialysis is a seemingly impossible challenge for most countries of sub-Saharan Africa. To assess this problem, we conducted this study of mineral and bone disorders in subjects undergoing hemodialysis at the Ouagadougou hemodialysis unit, the only such unit in Burkina Faso.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in January 2010. We included patients on hemodialysis for at least three months who had some minimal predialysis laboratory results available. The KDIGO guidelines served as our reference. Dialysis sessions lasted 5 h and took place once every five days. The statistical analysis of the data was performed with PASW statistical software, version 18 for Windows.

RESULTS

The study included 32 of the 53 patients in the unit: 19 men and 13 women with a mean age of 43.5 ± 12.7 years. Their mean serum levels were 2.2 ± 0.2 mmol/L for calcium, 1.4 ± 0.5 mmol/L for phosphorus, 934 ± 887.4 pg/mL for intact parathyroid hormone and 193.4 ± 125.7 IU/L for total alkaline phosphatases. No patient reached the target for all three of the first three indicators. Patients with parathyroid hormone ≥ 800 pg/mL (n = 14) had a serum phosphorus (1.6 ± 0.6 vs 1.2 ± 0.4; p = 0.044) and alkaline phosphatases (287.5 ± 100.5 vs 120.2 ± 90; p < 0.001), significantly higher than those whose parathyroid hormone level was < 800 pg/mL.

CONCLUSIONS

The bone and mineral status of our hemodialysis patients is worrisome and is due to suboptimal treatment conditions. The risk of deaths is high. Subsidies sufficient to provide adequate care would reduce these problems, which have, we note, an ethical dimension.

[Factors associated with poor blood pressure control in hypertensive black Africans: cross-sectional study of 456 hypertensive patients from Burkina Faso]

INTRODUCTION

Hypertension in black is more frequent with early onset and clinically more severe. The blood pressure control and the decrease of global cardiovascular risk are two main goals of the treatment of hypertension. The objectives of this study were to determine the proportion of uncontrolled hypertension in hypertensive patients followed as outpatients and to investigate the factors associated with poor control.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This is a descriptive cross-sectional study including 456 hypertensive patients known and followed as outpatients. Blood pressure measurement was performed between 8 am and 12 noon both arms in the supine position, after a compliance averaging 8 minutes of rest. We searched for conventional cardiovascular risk factors (age superior or equal to 45 years for men and superior or equal to 55 for women, physical inactivity, overweight/obesity, smoking, diabetes and dyslipidemia) and calculated the global cardiovascular risk according to the Framingham model. Was regarded as uncontrolled high blood pressure SBP superior or equal to 140 mmHg and/or DBP superior or equal to 90 mmHg. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression (using SPSS program version 17) were conducted to look for factors associated with poor blood pressure control.

RESULTS

We recruited 456 hypertensive patients including 259 women (56.8%). Modifiable cardiovascular risk factors also hypertension were dominated by dyslipidemia (29.8%) and diabetes (24.6%). The global cardiovascular risk calculated using the Framingham model was low in 21.3%, moderate in 34.0%, high in 24.8% and very high in 19.9% of cases. The proportion of uncontrolled hypertension was 54.2% (n=247 including 126 women and 121 men). This poor blood pressure control was associated (multivariate analysis) at age superior or equal to 60 years, low socioeconomic status, high to very high cardiovascular risk, antihypertensive monotherapy, treatment duration superior or equal to 10 years, an associated treatment and non-compliance therapy.

CONCLUSION

More than half of hypertensive patients in our study were not adequately controlled on antihypertensive therapy. Factors of poor control were age superior or equal to 60 years, low socioeconomic status, high to very high cardiovascular risk, antihypertensive monotherapy, treatment duration superior or equal to 10 years, an associated treatment and non-compliance therapy.

[Study of variations in preload on the new echocardiography parameters of diastolic function in health subjects]

The standard Doppler indices of transmitral filling are changed by variations in preload, relaxation and left ventricular compliance. Recent work in the literature suggests that the new parameters of diastolic function [mitral flux propagation speed in colour TM. (Vp) and tissue Doppler mitral ring velocities (Ea)] are independent of loading conditions. The objective of this work was to study the effect of modifications in the preload on Vp and Ea in normal subjects. Therefore, we have studied various Doppler echocardiographic measurements performed at rest, during a Trendelenberg manoeuvre at 60 degrees, and after sublingual administration of trinitrate in 25 healthy young (2 +/- 8 years) male volunteers. The end diastolic volume increased from 126 +/- 25 ml in the resting state to 145 +/- 24 ml during the Trendelenberg (p = 0.009) then decreased after trinitrate to 121 +/- 28 ml. The peak of the E wave increased from 88 +/- 12 cm/s in the resting state to 90 +/- 15 cm/s during the Trendelenberg and decreased to 70 +/- 11 cm/s after trinitrate (p < 0.0001). The peak Ea annular velocities of the septal and lateral walls were 22 +/- 4 cm/s and 15 +/- 1.6 cm/s in the resting state, without variation during the Trendelenberg (22 +/- 5 cm/s and 15 +/- 2 cm/s) but with a significant reduction after trinitrate to 19 +/- 5 cm/s and 13 +/- 2 cm/s (p = 0.02 and p = 0.002). In contrast, no significant variation was noted in Vp (60 +/- 14 cm/s in the resting state, 62 +/- 12 cm/s during the Trendelenberg and 59 +/- 14 cm/s after trinitrate). We conclude that Vp is not significantly affected by preload whereas Ea is not independent of the loading conditions.

[Knowledge and perception of cardiovascular risk factors in Africa South of the Sahara]

The objectives of our study were to evaluate the perception and the knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) by the population and their management by health care workers (HCW) in Burkina Faso. The survey targeted specific socio-professional groups representative of Burkina Faso. The survey team administrated a questionnaire and measured some constants. The sampling method was empiric selection by quotas. The sample was composed of 2,000 subjects: 1,073 men, 927 women, 1,800 represents of the general population and 200 HCW. Of 1,800 non health workers, 1,475 had ever heard about hypertension. The representation of hypertension as "a disease" decreased with instruction level while its reprentation "a risk factor" increased with instruction level (p < 0.001). The main sources of information on CVRF were talks with parents and friends, radio broadcasting and discussion with HCW. One hundred and forty of 200 HCW defined hypertension as an elevation of blood pressure, mainly systolic (130 cases) according to WHO criteria. Hypertension was classified after alcohol, tobacco smoking, obesity as the fourth CVRF. One hundred and seventy seven of 302 cases of hypertension were previously unknown: 97 of the 125 old cases were treated and 74 had not normal blood pressure levels. Hypertension and other CVRF are not well-known in Burkina Faso population and are not well-managed by HCW. Political decision makers and donor institutions should pay more attention on the public health problem represented by hypertension and other CVRF in developing countries because of they are not communicable.

[Fibrinolysis in myocardial infarction with EKG elevation. Optimization of myocardial reperfusion by treatment with antithrombotic agents]

In the case of acute coronary syndrome with prolonged ST elevation on ECG showing an acute coronary obstruction, the urgent institution of fibrinolysis is a widely validated treatment. Since the first placebo controlled studies with streptokinase until the development of bolus administration rt-PA varieties, fibrinolytic agents have lowered mortality. Associated anti-thrombotic drugs are multiplying in parallel. Their association is recognised as necessary in order to avoid early reocclusions which worsen the prognosis of infarction, the fibrinolysis triggering a harmful prothrombotic effect, notably due to the clot thrombin re-exposed during thrombolysis. Aspirin has an essential place formally demonstrated in ISIS 2. Non-fractionated heparin has more complex effects and its administration protocol in association with fibrinolysis has recently been reviewed with a reduction in dosage because prolonged clotting times during fibrinolysis have provoked a distinct increase in the risk of intracranial haemorrhage. The low molecular weight heparins seem to have become the adjuvant treatment of choice following publication of the ASSENT-3 trial. Pentasaccharide seems attractive. The place of hirudine and its derivatives in the acute phase of MI appear limited after the results of the HERO-2 trial, associating hirulog and streptokinase, with the earlier studies also having been disappointing. The GPIIbIIIa blockers in association with a half dose of fibrinolysis do not aggravate the intracerebral haemorrhagic risk before 75 years old and clearly reduce hospital morbidity in infarction, at the price however of an increase in transfusions.

[Anticoagulation in mechanical valve prostheses. A difficult situation]

Although long-term anticoagulant therapy in patients with mechanical valve prostheses is well codified, a number of difficult situations persists because of the high thromboembolic risk. The protocols of anticoagulation suggested in these situations are controversial as there are no large scale prospective therapeutic trials. However, modern protocols take more and more into account the thromboembolic risk in each individual case. The authors review the most common situations: the early postoperative period for which no precise consensus exists in the literature; anticoagulation in extra-cardiac surgery, a common situation for which the protocols remain very debatable; anticoagulation in pregnancy, a special situation because of the risk of embryopathy with oral anticoagulant therapy and the risk of thromboembolism with heparin; anticoagulation in cases of thromboembolic complications; anticoagulation during infectious endocarditis; anticoagulation during serious haemorrhage.