Non Invasive Assessment of Left Ventricular Structure and Functions in Nigerians with Keloids  

¹ Department of Medicine, Cardiology Unit, Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State. Nigeria.

² Department of Medicine, Cardiac Care Unit, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital complex, Ile Ife Osun State. Nigeria

³ Department of Dermatology, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile Ife, Osun State. Nigeria.

^*Corresponding Author

Folorunso Timothy Oluwarotimi

Department of Medicine, Cardiology Unit, Federal Medical Centre

Owo, Ondo State

Nigeria

Email:folorunsooluwarotimi@gmail.com

Abstract

Background: Keloid formation is an old phenomenon and it is almost exclusive to blacks. Nigeria is the most populous black nation in the world. Greater propensity to cardiac hypertrophy and higher prevalence and severity of hypertension in blacks compared with whites are well documented in literature.

Objective: To assess the influence of keloid on left ventricular size and functions.

Methods: Ninety (90) subjects with keloid were age, sex, body mass index and body surface area matched with 90 controls without keloid. All had echocardiographic examination done.  

Results: Subjects with keloid had statistically significant left ventricular end diastolic diameter in diastole (P<0.011), left ventricular posterior wall thickness in diastole (P<0.0001), interventricular septal wall thickness in diastole (P<0.0001), left ventricular mass (P< 0.048), left ventricular mass index (P<0.044) and relative wall thickness (P<0.0001) compared with controls. Keloid subjects have significant abnormal left ventricular geometric patterns compared to controls but no statistical difference was observed in diastolic and systolic functions.

Conclusion: Keloid is associated with increased left ventricular end diastolic diameter, interventricular septal thickness in diastole, posterior wall thickness in diastole, relative wall thickness, left ventricular mass, left ventricular mass index and abnormal left ventricular geometric patterns but has no influence on the systolic and diastolic function. However, there is need for more longitudinal studies to establish the prognostic implications of these findings.

Keywords:Keloid, Left ventricular mass and Left ventricular hypertrophy

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