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VOLUME 14 , ISSUE 3 ( July, 2010 ) > List of Articles

RESEARCH ARTICLE

A case control study of cardiovascular health in chemical war disabled Iranian victims

Atoosheh Rohani, Vahid Akbari, Fatemeh Moghadam

Keywords : Cardiovascular abnormalities, chemical warfare, mustard gas

Citation Information : Rohani A, Akbari V, Moghadam F. A case control study of cardiovascular health in chemical war disabled Iranian victims. Indian J Crit Care Med 2010; 14 (3):109-112.

DOI: 10.4103/0972-5229.74168

License: CC BY-ND 3.0

Published Online: 01-06-2017

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2010; The Author(s).


Abstract

Background: Sulfur mustard (SM) is an alkylating chemical warfare agent that was widely used during Iran-Iraq war between 1983 and 1988. SM exposure leads to various late complications. The aim of this study was to determine the late cardiovascular effects of SM in war-disabled Iranian victims. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective cohort case control study on 50 patients with symptoms of SM exposure and 50 cases who had been in Iran-Iraq war, without chemical injury. We performed exercise stress test and echocardiography for all of patients. Results: The study group comprised 100 males of mean age 45.6 ± 6.2 years. In chemical war injury group, two patients (4%) had positive exercise stress test. On coronary angiography, they were found to have coronary artery disease. One patient had severe mitral regurgitation and normal coronary angiography; he was referred for mitral valve replacement. Left ventricular (LV) diastolic abnormality was detected in 23% of these subjects. In another group, 5% had LV diastolic abnormality (P = 0.02) and all of them had normal stress test. Conclusions: Cardiovascular abnormalities are another late complication in chemical war disabled Iranian victims. Diastolic dysfunction was the most common abnormality in both groups of patients.


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