[Oesophageal motility abnormalities in systemic sclerosis: frequency and predictive factors]

Esophageal involvement is frequent during systemic sclerosis. It consists on esophageal motor abnormalities. Esophageal manometry is the gold standard for the diagnosis. To determine the frequency and the type of the esophageal motor abnormalities among patients presenting a systemic sclerosis; and to look for factors associated with a greater risk of theses disorders. A retrospective study relating to all the esophageal manometries carried out among patients presenting a systemic sclerosis was undertaken. During a 12 years period, 128 cases were studied. Esophageal motor abnormalities were found among 97 patients [76%]. Specific esophageal involvement was found among 52 patients [42%], and non specific motor abnormalities among 31 patients [24%]. The only associated factor with a specific esophageal involvement is occurrence of dysphagia. Esophageal motor abnormalities are frequent in patients with systemic sclerosis. They can be specific and nonspecific. Esophageal manometry should be systematically performed among these patients, even in the absence of dysphagia

Salivary gland biopsy: experience of La Rabta Hospital's pathology department

The minor salivary gl and s biopsy is a very common diagnostic procedure in oral medicine rather its efficiency has not been statistically proved. Assessment of Rabta pathologic department experience. 297 biopsies have been studied with special attention to the suspected diagnosis before biopsy and the final histologic result. The minor salivary gl and biopsy confirmed the initial diagnosis in 78 cases. Although if the minor salivary gl and biopsy is in most cases not contributively, it is a very simple procedure which gives the diagnosis of Gougerot-Sjogren disease, amylosis and sarcoidosis

Does lowering hyperhomocysteinemia by folic acid beneficial for oculo-behcet's disease? a pilot study

To determine the effect of folic acid supplementation in Behset's disease [BD] patients with ocular involvement associated with hyperhomocysteinemia [Hhcys]. 19 BD patients, all with uveitis and/or retinal vasculitis associated with Hhcys [plasma hey > 15 /

L'hyperprolactinemie au cours du lupus erythemateux systemique. Etude prospective a propos de 38 cas

Objective To study prospective the serum prolactin concentrations among patients with systemic lupus erylhematosus and their possible relationship to disease activity and manifestations. Serum prolactin levels were measured by Radioimmunoossay in 38 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and 22 age matched controls. Patients with known secondary causes for hyperprolactinaemia, such as pregnancy, lactation, prolactinoma and taking medications known to induce proiactin secretion, were excluded from the study. Demographic, clinical and laboralory Features of the patienrs were obtained. Patients were divided into two subgroups according to their disease activity. Mean prolacim levels from both groups were compared using student test, and prolactin from patients with systemic lupus erythemotosus was correlated with variables of disease activity, including the Systemic Lupus Erylhematosus Disease Activity Index [SLEDAI]. Results Mean proloctin levels were higher In patients with systemic lupus erythematosus [15,4] than healthy controls [9,83] however, the difference did not reach statistical significance [p=]. Hyperprolactinaemia was found in 24 patients with systemic lupus ery-themotosus and 5 controls. The frequency of hyperprolactinaemia in systemic lupus erythematosus group was higher than healthy controls. No significant difference in mean proloctin levels was found between patients with active versus inactive disease [1 8,9 vs 1 8,5], Conctusion; hyperprolactinaemia occurred significantly in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, but did not correlate with disease activity

Esophageal Involvement in Behcet's Disease

Esophageal involvement in Behcet's disease is very rare, and normally is observed as aphtosis and esophagitis, but serious complications such as erosions, perforations, and stenosis may occur. We carried out this prospective study to evaluate the prevalence of esophageal involvement in Behcet's disease and to establish if routine endoscopy and/or manometry are necessary. Twenty-three patients who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of the international study group for Behcet's disease were enrolled. None were taking drugs or had disease that might produce esophageal abnormalities or alter any existing changes due to the Behcet's disease itself. Twenty- three patients underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy by a single observer. Esophageal biopsies were performed in thirteen patients and esophageal manometry in twenty. At the beginning of the study, the disease activity was defined by the presence of more than one symptom related to Behcet's disease, and upon the classification of Behcet's disease. Of the twenty three patients enrolled two were excluded from final analysis because of the presence of hiatus hernia. Thus, 13 men and 8 women, ranging in age from 20 to 63 years with a mean age of 36.2 years were included. Ten patients (47.6%) had active disease and four (19%) complained of upper gastrointestinal symptoms at the time of the study. Fourteen patients had endoscopic, manometric and/or microscopic abnormalities. Esophageal manometry was performed in twenty patients and was abnormal in 7 cases (35%). Esophageal biopsies were done in 13 patients and revealed histopathological abnormalities in 5 cases. Microscopic findings showed vasculities in one case, and non-specific inflammatory infiltration mainly consisting of neutrophils in 4 cases. Our results suggest that the prevalence of esophageal involvement in Behcet's disease is rather high and occur even in asymptomatic patients, but that this usually does not result in specific abnormalities.