The heart pathology is characterized by foci or necrosis throughout the myocardium. Keshan disease occurs with symptoms of congestive heart failure or less frequently, as sudden death or stroke from diffuse cardiac thromboses. Symptoms include ECG changes such as right branch block and cardiogenic shock.
Keshan disease was predominantly found in children between 2 to 10 years old, and to a lesser extends women of child bearing age.
The epidemiology of Keshan disease suggested an environmental factor because of the distribution of the disease occurred in a belt-like fashion from northeast to southwest China and in very specific hilly and mountainous areas. It is the selenium poor areas of the iodine deficient band of land.
Widespread selenium supplementation of the population in affected areas has caused a dramatic decrease in the incidence of Keshan disease.
Keshan disease
