Cardiomyopathy and Selenium Deficiency in a Two-Year-Old Girl

Abstract
To the Editor: Keshan disease is an endemic cardiomyopathy in China that has been linked to selenium deficiency,1 2 3 Between 1974 and 1977 a prevention study was undertaken. Among 36,603 children given selenium supplements, 21 cases of the disease occurred during the study; three patients died and one became chronically afflicted. Among 9642 children in a control group, 107 cases occurred; 53 patients died and six had chronic illness.We describe a two-year-old black girl on Long Island who had the typical features of the disease. She was admitted to the hospital with dyspnea, cardiomegaly, and congestive heart failure. Five days . . .

This publication has 6 references indexed in Scilit: