Evaluation of Cardiovascular Effects of Chronic llllheezing in Infants and Young Children

Abstract

Bronchial asthma is one of the respiratory diseases that involve the heart and can lead to pulmonary hypertension. We studied 125 cases of wheezy infants aged from 3 months to 3 years presented to the pediatric allergy clinic, New Children Hospital, Cairo University, divided into three groups : Group (I) included 84 cases with intermittent asthma. Group (II) included 18 cases with mild persistent asthma. Group (III) included 23 cases with moderate persistent asthma. All cases underwent thorough clinical examination, laboratory, radiological and echocardiographic investigation. A higher incidence of asthma was found in males, there was a positive family history for other allergic manifestation in 36.8% of cases. A positive relationship was found between upper respiratory infections and worsening of as asthmatic status. There was a higher incidence of hospitalization found with increasing severity of asthma. A higher level of total serum IgE than normal was detected in all patients. Increased incidence in bronchovascular markings in X-ray films especially with increasing grades of asthma. Echocan:liographic examination revealed increased in PAP in all patients with no significant difference between the three groups.