Manjiri Pramod Dhamangaonkar 1 , Jayant Kashinath Golwalkar
BACKGROUND Anaemia is one of the commonest clinical problems in our country. It affects various organs including heart. Clinical manifestations of anaemia referable to cardiovascular system may closely simulate symptoms and signs of organic heart disease, especially cardiac murmurs. The cardiac murmurs show either improvement or disappearance after correction of anaemia. The aim of this study was to evaluate various clinical changes (symptoms and signs) related to cardiovascular system in patients of severe anaemia and their reversibility after treatment of anaemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS 94 patients admitted in medicine wards in government general hospital, Solapur for severe anaemia (Hb concentration less than or equal to 7 gm%) were studied. Symptoms, general examinations signs and systemic examination signs related to cardiovascular system were assessed on admission. All patients were treated with deworming, iron therapy (oral or parenteral) or blood transfusion. All symptoms, general examination signs and systemic examination signs were reassessed after treatment. RESULTS 1) Majority symptoms and signs related to cardiovascular system, in patients of severe anaemia were found in females. 2) 54 patients were having cardiac murmur, out of which 45 were females. 3) All symptoms and signs related to cardiovascular system were either improved or disappeared after treatment. CONCLUSION Patients with cardiac symptoms and or signs should be scrutinized for anaemia and treated accordingly especially females. Majority of these patients show disappearance of symptoms and signs after treatment
