ABSTRACT
Our objective was to determine the vitamin D profile in Moroccan lupus patients. This is a retrospective study performed in the immunology laboratory of the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca, concerning 84 patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus confirmed by the revised criteria of American College of Rheumatology. 25-hydroxy-vitamin D [25 [OH] D] was assayed by an enzyme immunoassay [ELISA]. Status of vitamin D sufficiency is defined by a serum concentration of 25 [OH] D beyond 30ng/ml. After studying the clinical records of patients, an evaluation based on both of the vitamin D status and the associated systemic involvement was performed. The mean age of patients was 34.2 +/- 9.1 years, with extremes of 14 and 69, 85% of patients were female [sex ratio: 0.18]. The mean serum 25 [OH] D is 24ng/ml with a rate of 28 +/- 8.3 ng/ml in women, and 15 +/- 7.4 ng / ml in men. 67.7% of patients are vitamin D insufficient, and 15.1% are deficient. The lowest concentrations of 25 [OH] D were obtained in patients with glomerular disease with an average of 11ng / ml. Low levels of vitamin D should be common among Moroccan lupus patients. Studies in this direction are needed to confirm our results and to better understand the role of vitamin D in the prevention and the treatment of SLE and autoimmune diseases in general
ABSTRACT
Chronic Kidney disease [CKD] is characterized by impaired of innate and adaptive immunity. No studies have been conducted on disturbance of the immune system in Moroccans patients on hemodialysis. The aim of this study is to describe the cellular and humoral immune status in these patients. Fifty hemodialysis patients were recruited for this study. Lymphocyte subpopulations and assay of immunoglobulins and complement were determined for each patient. The analysis of the humoral response [dosage of IgGAM] showed increased levels of IgG, IgA and IgM in respectively 92, 28 and 2% of patients. Futher more a deficiency of IgM and IgA was found in 2 and 6% of patients respectively. Our results have shown high levels of C3 and C4 in 18 [36%] and 23 [46%] patients, respectively. Also a C3 deficiency in 3 patients [6%] and C4 in 5 patients [10%] was noted. Hemodialysis is accompanied by abnormalities of the innate and acquired immune system. Understanding the mechanisms underlying immune dysfunction on IRC, can improve lifestyle and reduce mortality in this group of patients. Several therapeutic strategies [targeted therapy] are being evaluated in order to avoid immune alterations in uremia
ABSTRACT
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is an autoimmune disease characterized by the production of a heterogeneous group of autoantibodies: unavoidable element for diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic monitoring. The aim of this study was to establish the profile of some autoantibodies in Moroccan lupus patients. This is a prospective study conducted over six months, in the Immunology Laboratory of the Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine of the University Hassan II of Casablanca, including 30 patients with Systemic lupus erythematosus. The average age of our patients was 34, 6 years, with a female predominance [sex-ratio: 0, 2] Clinical signs were polymorphic, dominated by hematological [25 cases], skin [22 cases], rheumatological [21 cases] and kidney disorders [8 cases]. Immunologically, anti-nuclear antibodies were positive in 77% of cases, and anti-dsDNA in 73, 9% of cases. For soluble anti-antigen antibodies, they were dominated by anti SSA antibodies [52%]. The involvement of anti-dsDNA and anti-SSA in disease activity was deducted, hence the crucial importance of systematic research of these autoantibodies for regular monitoring of lupus patients preventing the occurrence of systemic manifestations
ABSTRACT
Ataxia telangiectasia [AT] is an autosomal recessive disorder, caracterized by progressive cerebellar ataxia, oculocutaneos telangiectasia, immunological abnormalities and increased susceptibility of malignancies. Our study objectives are to provide the last data in genetic, clinical and therapeutic fields concerning AT in order to help our doctors to establish the diagnosis in the first stages and so participite to the diagnosis of the primary immunodeficiency diseases. Our 11 patients are from 7 families and the consanguinity was found in 8 cases. The median age of diagnosis is about 7 years and 7 months. The clinical study had found out eight cases of manifest ataxia, nine times bulbar telangiectasias and eight cases of bronchectasias. On the immunological side, the serum IgA deficiency was found 5 times and one case had showed lymphopenia. The taking in charge consisted in infectious episodes treatement and continuous antibiotic prophylaxis, IGIV infusion was used only four times. The course of our patients was characterized by regression of infectious signs in five cases and the death of five others. One patient had never been seen again. Our set was charactezed by the heterogenecity of the features. In one hand we had severe form with a very soon start and in the other hand we had a mild clinical form with a late start
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Ataxia Telangiectasia/genetics , Ataxia Telangiectasia/therapy , Retrospective Studies , AtaxiaABSTRACT
Primary immunodeficiencies [PID] seem to have two particularities in the Maghreb countries: a higher frequency than in the occidental countries and a higher proportion of deficiency of HLA class II antigens. Patients and method: a four-year study reports 73 PID cases between 1997 March and 2001 February in the Clinical Immunology Unit of the Casablanca Children Hospital. These 73 cases were diagnosed, according to the WHO criteria, among 358 children with recurrent and/or severe infections. They had an immunological assessment: tuberculin IDR, blood cells, serum immunoglobulin A G and M, lymphocytes classes. we found 18 combined immunodeficiency including 5 deficiencies of HLA class II antigens, 18 antibody defects, 17 complex immunodeficiencies including 11 ataxia-telangiectasia syndromes, 13 PID associated to an other disorder including 4 hyper IgM syndrome, 6 phagocyte disorders and one complement defect. Because of their high cost, the intravenous immunoglobulins were used in only 29 children and the bone marrow transplantation is not available in our country. Twenty six children died in this study. Comments: as in Tunisia, our study confirms the high frequency of combined and complex PID in comparison to the occidental studies, and we have to develop the PID diagnostic and treatment resources in our country