The clinical findings and the necropsy report of a 14-year-old girl suffering from Takayasu's arteriopathy have been presented. In addition to the typical arterial changes, thickening and puckering of the aortic valve and a patch of thickening in the left atrial endocardium were shown at necropsy. The histology of this lesion was found to be identical with the arterial intimal changes. It has been postulated that Takayasu's arteriopathy may rarely extend to the valvular and mural endocardium of the heart, producing cardiac murmurs. Similar cases with cardiac murmurs reported earlier and attributed to associated rheumatic endocarditis were probably due to the same pathological process extending to the endocarditis.

Background: Inflammation has been shown to play a role in atherosclerosis and acute coronary syndrome. This study was carried out to evaluate the relationship between baseline white blood cell (WBC) count and C-reactive protein (CRP) with angiographic severity of coronary artery disease in patients with acute coronary syndrome and to identify those subsets of patients with acute coronary syndrome who may need to undergo invasive or conservative strategies.Method: A total of 100 patients with acute coronary syndrome including unstable angina, non-ST elevated myocardial infarction & ST elevated myocardial infarction were evaluated in National Institute of Cardiovascular Disease (NICVD), Dhaka with a view to correlate angiographic findings, C-reactive protein and WBC count. Results: This study observed that either raised WBC count or raised CRP independently and combination of both WBC count and CRP elevation were significantly associated with more severe coronary artery disease. Either raised WBC count or raised CRP or combination of raised WBC    count and CRP were significant predictor of multivessel disease and high stenosis score. Conclusion: Elevation of WBC count and CRP in patients with acute coronary syndrome are associated with severe coronary disease. WBC count and CRP can be used as a new and even simpler tool for risk stratification in acute coronary syndrome. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/cardio.v5i1.12209 Cardiovasc. j. 2012; 5(1): 23-29

Background: Fibrinogen has been identified as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and associated with traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Few reports have so far investigated the relationship between fibrinogen levels and the extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) as evaluated by coronary angiography. Therefore the current study was carried out to evaluate the relationship between fibrinogen levels and the extent of CAD as evidenced by coronary angiography. Method: A total of 210 patients having ischemic heart disease including chronic stable angina, unstable angina, non-ST elevated myocardial infarction & ST elevated myocardial infarction were evaluated in National Institute of Cardiovascular Disease (NICVD), Dhaka with a view to find out the relationship between fibrinogen levels and the extent of CAD undergoing coronary angiography. Patients were divided in 3 groups according to fibrinogen levels: Group I = fibrinogen levels <400 mg/dl, Group II = fibrinogen levels (400-600) mg/dl, Group III = fibrinogen levels > 600 mg/dl. In this study, angiographic severity was assessed by vessel score, stenosis score and lesion morphology and tries to find out their relationship with angiographic severity and fibrinogen level. Result: Using a prospective analytic design we studied 210 patients who were divided into 3 groups : Vessel score in Group I, Group II & Group III were 1.14 ± 0.56, 2.24 ± 0.58, & 3.00 ± 0.65 respectively which was statistically significant (p < 0.01) and Stenosis score in group- I, group- II & group- III were 6.00 ± 4.19, 18.72 ± 4.94, & 32.41 ± 15.75 respectively which was statistically significant (p < 0.01). Regarding morphology of the lesions, complex lesions in group I, group II & group III were 21%, 32% & 39% respectively (statistically significant; p < 0.01). Conclusion: High fibrinogen level is independently and significantly associated with more severe coronary artery disease. Serum fibrinogen can be used as a new and even simpler tool for risk stratification in acute coronary syndrome. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/cardio.v7i1.20784 Cardiovasc. j. 2014; 7(1): 4-10

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/cardio.v3i2.9199  Cardiovasc. J. 2011; 3(2): 248-253

Introduction:Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the number one cause of death globally. An estimated 17.3 million people died from CVDs in 2008, representing 30% of all global deaths. Of these deaths, an estimated 7.3 million were due to coronary heart disease. The number of people who die from CVDs will increase to reach 23.3 million by 2030. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common cause of CVD mortality. 1 Cardiovascular diseases are becoming a significant burden on health care services in Bangladesh. 2 With the increase incidence of DM and hypertension, the prevalence of CKD is also alarmingly going up. CKD is strongly associated with accelerated CVDs and this association is independent of conventional risk factors such as DM, hypertension, dyslpidaemia 3 and caused by non-conventional risk factors such as anaemia, altered calcium-phosphorus metabolism, increased homocysteine level, inflammation and oxidative stress. 4 The glomerular filtration rate (GFR), determined by the Cockcroft-Gault equation, is a more precise and accurate way of estimating kidney function than measuring serum creatinine. 5 The United States National Kidney Foundation uses GFR rather than serum creatinine level to define renal dysfunction. National Kidney Foundation recommended estimated GFR for use in recognition, treatment and prevention of chronic kidney disease. It is considered as the overall best indicator of kidney function. Serum creatinine alone fails to identify many patients whose kidney function is reduced.