The Echocardiographic Findings in Kwashiorkor

Echocardiography (ECHO), electrocardiography (ECG), and chest radiography (CXR) were performed in 44 children with kwashiorkor, and 44-age and sex-matched controls. In patients with kwashiorkor, mean values obtained for end diastolic dimension (29.2±3.8 mm), end systolic dimension (20.9±2.8 mm), posterior ventricular wall thickness (5.42±0.57 mm), and shortening fraction (28.2±4.3%) were significantly smaller than the corresponding values obtained in the controls -38.0±5.8 mm (P<0.001), 27.6±4.5 mm (P<0.001), 7.07±0.71 mm (P<0.001) and 31.4±4.5% (P<0.05), respectively. Similarly, mean cardiothoracic ratio (48.6±3.4%) and QRS amplitude (13.20±4.85 mm) were significantly (P<0.001) smaller in subjects than controls, corresponding values being 54±3.2 per cent and 20.18±5.12 mm, respectively. In the subjects, there was very good correlation between posterior ventricular wall thickness and cardiothoracic ratio (r=0.93; P<0.001) and also between the estimated left ventricular mass and S 1 +R 6 amplitude (r=0.89; P<0.001)