[Serum selenium and dilated cardiomyopathy in Cotonou, Benin]

Peripartum cardiac failure is common in savannah-Sahelian Africa. It is due to a form of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) known as peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) that results from undetermined causes. Numerous risk factors have been identified and dietary selenium deficiency has been proposed as a possibility. The purpose of this study was to measure serum selenium levels in patients presenting cardiac insufficiency due to PPCM and DCM (nonpostpartum) in Cotonou, Benin and to compare patients with healthy postpartum women with comparable or identical obstetric features.

Measurements of selenium status were performed in 10 women (mean age, 27.1 years) with PPCM, 18 patients of both sexes (male/female, 11/7; mean age, 38.9 years) with DCM (non-peripartum), and 46 healthy recent post partum women (mean age, 29.8 years). The Wilcoxon nonparametric test was used for data analysis with a statistical significance level at a p-value <0.05.

Mean serum selenium values were near similar in patients presenting PPCM and DCM (non peripartum): 94 +/- 12 microg/L versus 97 +/- 19 microg/L respectively. This difference was not significant. No value was less than 72 microg/L. Conversely significantly lower mean values were observed in the 46 healthy recent postpartum women: 76 +/- 13 microg/L (p = 0.0002). The lowest value was 57 microg/L.

Serum selenium measurements in Cotonou showed that levels were higher in patients presenting PPCM or DCM (nonperipartum) than in healthy controls. Extremely low values were never observed. These results differed from those obtained in Bamako, Mali and in Niamey, Niger and argue against considering selenium deficiency as a risk factor for development of DCM (peripartum or not) in Cotonou.