[Thoracic manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus]

Systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] is an autoimmune disease. The respiratory system is more commonly involved in SLE than in any other collagen vascular disease. To study the pleuropulmonary manifestations of SLE. Retrospective study including 10 patients hospitalized between January 2000 and December 2008 for pleuro-pulmonary manifestation revealing or complicating the SLE. Nine women and only one man aged between 21 and 67 years-old were included in this study. Two patients had already SLE and for the other patients the pleuro-pulmonary manifestations were revealing the SLE. Pleural effusion was the most common manifestation witch represents 50% of the patients. For the other patients we find one case of interstitial pneumonia, one case of pulmonary embolism, on case of pneumonia, on case of pulmonary haemorrhage and on case of pulmonary hypertension. All these patients were treated by corticoids and only one patient takes high doses of corticoids for managing a massive pulmonary haemorrhage. The evolution was favourable for 9 patients, one patient dead because of massive pulmonary haemorrhage complicated with acute respiratory failure. Pleuro-pulmonary involvement in SLE is common and may be life threatening, in which case prompt and aggressive treatment is mandatory

[Pulmonary atinomycosis: a great clinical polymorphism]

Pulmonary actinomycosis is a rare bacteriological disease, caracterized by local suppuration and an extensive fibroinflammatory process, with a possible pseudotumoral outcome. To report a new observation of a pulmonary actinomycosis. A 52-year-old patient, smoker, admitted in our department for infectious pneumopathy complicated by purulent pleurisy. Clinical and radiological findings were not contributive.Fiberoptic had evocate the diagnosis of bronchopulmonary cancer. Evolution had been marqued by abondant hemoptysia indicating right low lobectomie. The diagnosis of actinomycosis was obtained by the pathology of the surgical resection. Diagnosis of pulmonary actinomycosis can be difficult because it can mimic the presentation of lung carcinoma.If the diagnosis is no late established, and if the patient is correctely treated medically, the prognosis still excellent

[Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis: a review of 3 cases]

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis [ABPA] is a rare affection, initially described in 1952. Its pathophysiology incriminate several mechanisms in relation with the organism of the patient and the bronchial colonisation by the fongic agent. To report three cases of ABPA. Three patients had been treated for ABPA in Ibn Nafiss department in Abderrahmen Mami hospital in Ariana. ABPA had been discovered in the three cases by a corticodependant asthma, refractory for different therapeutics. Positif diagnosis reposed in the 3 patients at 6 major and one minor criterion. Traitment was essentially based in corticotherapy. Positif diagnosis of ABPA is actually well established, however, its traitement, although based on corticotherapy, remind not clearly codified. Association of antifongic treatment may improve the prognosis

[Palliative chemotherapy of non small lung cancer in Tunisia. prospective study of the cost and impact on the quality of life]

Bronchopulmonary cancer is actually the first cancer in the world. In Tunisia, recent statistics are alarmous. The most bronchopulmonary cancer in tunisian series are diagnosis at metastatic states. To evaluate the cost of the global treatment by chemotherapy in patients with metastatic non small lung cancer and its impact over the quality of life in Tunisia. It's a prospective study lead between January 2006 and Juin 2007 to evaluate the quality of life for patients hading metastatic non small lung cancer treated by palliative chemotherapy in Ibn Nafiss department in Abderrahmen Mami hospital.The evaluation of the qualitt of life is inspired by the questionnary of EORTC: QLQC30 version 3 translated in en arab langage, filled before chemotherapy, after the le 3rdcycle, and at the end of the first ligne. The study of the cost is effectued for the 2 protocols whose the most used in first ligne: Cisplatin-Vinorelbine [P-V] and Cisplatin- Gemcitabine [P-G]. 30 patients had benefit from palliative chemotherapy based on P-V [18 cases] or P-G [12 cases]. All patients had responded for the questionnary in the opportunt moments. After 3 cycles of chemotherapy, we note an improve of the symtomatic, physical, activity, emotional and global health scales. In opposition, we note a deterioration of cognitive and social scales without any supplementary improvement[no significant difference] if we add other cycles in the twice protocols. At the same level of the benefit in term of quality of life and survival without supplementary toxicity, the choice is made by the less cost's protocol in other words P-V. Our results confirm the benefit from chemotherapy in term of survival and quality of life in our context, howewer, the important cost of the chemotherapy necessitate to rationnalize the indications and the le choice of the treatments in this palliative indication