[Lupus pancreatitis: A case series of six patients]. / La pancréatite lupique : une série de six cas.

PURPOSE: The occurrence of acute pancreatitis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is known but rare, and is exceptionally the presenting manifestation. Its pathogenesis is multifactorial, and it is difficult to separate what belongs to vasculitis, thrombotic phenomena in the context of an associated antiphospholipid syndrome, or iatrogenic complications. We report on six cases of lupus pancreatitis. METHODS: This is a retrospective monocenter study of 110 patients with SLE. The diagnosis of lupus pancreatitis was established after exclusion of other causes of pancreatitis. RESULTS: Five women and one man (5.4%) with a mean age of 36.3 years presented with lupus pancreatitis. In four patients the pancreatitis was concurrent with the diagnosis of SLE and it occurred later during an exacerbation of the disease in the two remaining patients. In all patients, pancreatic manifestations were associated with other organ involvement. Clinical manifestations were: abdominal pain (n=6), vomiting (n=3), and fever (n=3). Elevated pancreatic enzyme was noted in all cases. All patients were treated by high doses of glucocorticoids. The outcome was favorable in five patients, and one patient died. CONCLUSION: Pancreatitis may be the presenting manifestation of SLE. Its pathogenesis is often multifactorial. The outcome is usually favorable with corticosteroids.

[Specific treatments of the psychiatric community and thrombogenesis]. / Traitements spécifiques au milieu psychiatrique et thrombogenèse.

BACKGROUND: The causes of venous thrombosis (DVT) are multifactorial. Psychiatric patients present several etiologic features. AIM: Our objective was to determine the role of specific treatments of the psychiatric community on thrombogenesis. STUDY POPULATION: retrospective, descriptive and analytical study of 20 cases of DVT in psychiatric patients. LITERATURE REVIEW: We searched MEDLINE (PubMed) between 1959 and 2009. We reviewed article titles and abstracts and full text of selected studies of psychiatric patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) disease. We identified 31 studies that investigated the association between psychiatric disease and venous thromboembolic events. RESULTS: Our population was young, with an average age of 44.8 years. Lower limb VT is predominant (16 cases). The most common psychiatric disorders are: anxiety-depression (12 cases), unclassifiable psychotic disorders (seven cases) and major depressive disorder (five cases). Their average duration was of 6.4 years. Seventy percent of our patients were taking first generation neuroleptics (NLP), of short half-life (13/14 cases) and at high doses (11/14 patients). Our sample is characterized by the frequency of thrombophilia (45%) and detention in a psychiatric community (35%). Our results are relatively consistent with aggregate data from the literature, underlining a facilitating and pejorative role of the psychiatric community with regard to venous thromboembolic disease. In the psychiatric community, venous thromboembolic disease is conditioned by a combination of several thromboembolism risk factors: linked in part to the psychiatric illness itself; but above all to the specific therapeutic methods in the psychiatric community (antipsychotics, restraint…) which are easily preventable. The relationship between antipsychotic medication and VTE was first suggested about four decades ago, only a few years after the introduction of phenothiazines and reserpine. An association between atypical antipsychotic agents and VTE has been previously suggested for clozapine among young adults with psychiatric disorders. More recently, an increased risk of VTE was suspected for olanzapine or risperidone. The risk for VTE seems to be highest during the initial months of treatment with antipsychotics. Several biological mechanisms of action have been proposed to explain this relationship. One plausible mechanism derives from research suggesting that conventional antipsychotic drugs are associated with enhanced platelet aggregation. A second possible explanation stems from the presence of anticardiolipin antibodies, which increase the risk of venous or arterial thrombosis, as well as in some patients prescribed chloropromazine. A third hypothesis is that venous stasis exacerbated by sedation, commonly found in patients treated with low-potency antipsychotic drugs, may contribute to processes that increase the risk of thrombosis. CONCLUSION: Other than the medical aspect, the psychiatric community itself is characterized by a large number of variables, providing a particularly encouraging and derogatory hypothesis on the advent and development of VTE.

[Intrathoracic lymphadenopathy: an unusual manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis]. / Les adénopathies intrathoraciques: une manifestation méconnue de la polyarthrite rhumatoïde.

Lung disease is the most frequent extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis. It is detected in nearly 50% of patients with this multisystem affection, his knowledge has benefited from advances in computed tomography (CT). The inflammation can affect the pleura, the airways and the lung parenchyma. Intrathoracic lymphadenopathy complicating rheumatoid lung are not usual, and then pose the problem of differential diagnosis. We report a 51-year-old man, with a history of tobacco intoxication, suffering from rheumatoid arthritis who developed an interstitial lung disease at stage of fibrosis with mediastinal and hilar adenopathy. We will discuss the clinical, paraclinical, evolutionary and therapeutic particularities case.

[Bronchopulmonary amyloidosis: report of four cases]. / L'amylose bronchopulmonaire : à propos de quatre cas.

Amyloidosis limited to bronchopulmonary apparatus is expressed as tracheobronchial deposits in diffuse plaques that can cause stenosis or parenchymal nodules or masses. In this regard, we report four cases of pulmonary amyloidosis and discuss the diagnostic difficulties of this location. These are two women and two men aged 60, 68, 44 and 57 years. They presented a pulmonary parenchymal amyloidosis in all cases associated with bronchial in one case. The diagnosis was confirmed by histology in all cases. The staging was negative in all cases. The evolution was marked by the stabilization of the lesions in all cases. Localized amyloidosis, which may be the only telltale sign of a systemic illness, its diagnosis requires finding other locations to better tailor the treatment strategy.

[Unusual presentation of Wegener's granulomatosis]. / Présentation inhabituelle d'une granulomatose de Wegener.

We report an unusual case of Wegener's granulomatosis revealed by spleen infarction and complicated by reno-vascular hypertension. A 33-year-old man with a history of spleen infraction and cerebral venous thrombosis was admitted for malignant hypertension, renal failure and nephritic syndrome. On Doppler renal ultrasonography, ostial stenosis of the right renal artery was evidenced. Right kidney was non functional on scintigraphy and the patient underwent a right nephrectomy. Granulomatous vasculitis of the right renal artery was found but anti-neutrophilic cytoplasmic antibodies were absent. The diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis was suspected. The patient was treated with cyclophosphamide, corticosteroids and plasma exchanges, and renal function markedly improved.

[Liver involvement in sarcoidosis: study of seven cases]. / L'atteinte hépatique au cours de la sarcoïdose: à propos de sept cas.

INTRODUCTION: Sarcoidosis is a systemic disorder of unknown aetiology that may involve many organs including the liver. METHODS: This is a monocentre retrospective and descriptive study over 12 years of patients with systemic sarcoidosis who presented with liver involvement. RESULTS: Amongst 21 patients with systemic sarcoidosis, seven presented a liver involvement (five males and two females; mean age 42.5 years). The liver involvement was the presenting manifestation in three. Liver enlargement was noted in five patients and abnormal liver function tests in four. In one patient, abdominal computed tomographic scan showed a nodular hepatomegaly. Liver histology demonstrated typical granulomatous lesions in six. One patient developed a Budd-Chiari syndrome that responded favourably to corticosteroids. Six out of the seven patients were treated with corticosteroids. CONCLUSION: Liver involvement in common in sarcoidosis and commonly asymptomatic. Treatment is not systematic.

[Interstitial pneumonia complicating amyopathic dermatomyositis: a case report]. / Pneumopathie interstitielle compliquant une dermatopolymyosite amyopathique : à propos d'un cas.

Amyopathic dermatomyositis (ADM) is a clinical subtype of dermatomyositis, characterized by the absence of motor weakness and the presence of normal muscle enzyme levels. ADM is sometimes accompanied by neoplasm or interstitial pneumonia that shows a rapid progressive course both of them are associated with a poor prognosis. A 56-year-old woman with no medical history was referred to the department of medicine because of arthralgia with a remarkable weight loss. She also complained of rapidly progressive dyspnea, cough and photosensitivity. Physical examination on admission showed scaly erythema on the dorsum of the hands (Gottron sign) and periorbital edema with a purplish appearance (heliotropic rash), arthritis, but no muscle weakness. Auscultation of the chest identified audible fine crackles on the lower aspects of both lungs. Results of laboratory findings on admission revealed a lymphopenia. The serum creatine kinase and serum lactate dehydrogenase concentration were normal. IRM muscle and electromyography were normal. Antinuclear antibody was positive 1:80 and anti-Jo-1 antibody and other autoantibodies to specific antigens were all negative. High resolution computed tomographic chest scans also revealed diffuse ground-glass opacities in both lungs with basilar predominance. Arterial blood gas analysis revealed hypoxia and hypocapnia. LBA was not performed because of the deterioration of respiratory symptoms. There was no neoplasm associated. The diagnosis of ADM complicated with ADM rapidly progressive interstitial pneumonia was made. Despite of IV methylprednisolone pulse therapy (1g*day-1 for 3 days) and cyclophosphamide, she died by respiratory failure.

[Giant insulinoma]. / Un insulinome géant : à propos d'un cas.

Islet-cell tumors are the most common neuroendocrine tumors that arise from the endocrine pancreas. They are typically benign and sporadic. Diagnosis is generally established late because clinical signs lack specificity. The insulinoma is difficult to localize since it is very small in size, often not exceeding 2cm. We report an exceptional case of giant insulinoma initially revealed by a pseudo-polycythemia in an 80-year-old man. He had been treated for hypertension for a few months. Routine biological investigations showed elevated hematocrit and haemoglobin, suggesting Vaquez disease. History taking revealed recent episodes of nocturnal agitation. On admission, he had reddish skin with a suspected enlarged spleen, but total blood volume was normal. Imaging studies showed a voluminous tumor located between the pancreas and the spleen. The presence of an insulinoma was confirmed on the basis of an elevated level of proinsulin at the time of an asymptomatic episode of hypoglycemia. Spleno-pancreatectomy was performed. Histopathological examination revealed a malignant, well-differentiated neuroendocrine malignant tumor.

[Clinical spectrum of cobalamin deficiency in Tunisia]. / Le spectre clinique des déficits en cobalamines en Tunisie.

PURPOSE: the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of cobalamin (vitamin B12) deficiency in different populations of patients with clinical manifestations associated or secondary to cobalamin or folates deficiency and to analyse the demographic, clinical, paraclinical investigations in cobalamin deficient patients in Tunisia. METHODS: it was a prospective (1999-2001) multicenter study of 604 patients divided into four groups. The first group is composed of 478 consecutive patients with anaemia and/or macrocytosis with megaloblastic haemopoiesis on bone marrow examination without myelodyslasic or malignancy signs. The second group is made up of 34 patients with unexplained neurological symptoms without the presence of anaemia. The third group was composed of 82 invidious with isolated psychiatric disorders and the 10 patients with Hashimoto thyroïditis constituted the last group. RESULTS: serum cobalamin level was low in 98 %, 23%, 14% of cases, respectively, in the first three groups. Only one case of patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis has serum cobalamin deficiency. Pernicious anaemia (Biermer's disease) was established by dual isotope schilling examination in 103 patients among a sample of 120 serum cobalamin deficient patients (86%). The median age at presentation was 45.5 years. Severe chronic atrophic gastritis was diagnosed in 97.5% of patients with Biermer's disease. Serum antibodies against intrinsic factor and gastric parietal cells were detected in (42.5%) and (60.6%) patients, respectively; (25.5%) patients had the both types of antibodies. 23.4% patients were positive for antithyroid antibodies. Anti-nuclear antibodies were detected in 3% patients. CONCLUSION: an interesting finding of our study was the high frequency of cobalamin deficiency in Tunisia, particularly in relative young patients. Our patients had classic features of florid cobalamin deficiency (severe haematological manifestations and neuro-psychiatric disorders). The main underlying causes of such deficiencies were Biermer's disease. Subtle clinical manifestations should be recognized and investigated even in young patients at risk.

[Estrogen use in systemic lupus erythematosus]. / Rôle des estrogènes dans le lupus érythémateux systémique.

The role of exogenous estrogen in the initiation and maintenance of human systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remains very controversial. To review the current literature of the safety of using exogenous estrogens in patients with SLE, a Medline search for articles published between 1970 et 2004 regarding this relationship was performed. Although cohort studies suggest an increase in the incidence of SLE with both oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy, recent retrospective studies suggest that the risk of flares is not increased with hormone replacement therapy. Large prospective double blind placebo controlled studies inclusive of all ethnic groups such as the Safety of Estrogen in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment (SELENA) trial had to provide the basis for definitive recommendations but it had been interrupted after WHI study results.

[Pulmonary hyalinizing granuloma: review of two cases]. / Le granulome pulmonaire hyalinisant: à propos de deux cas.

Pulmonary hyalinizing granuloma is a rare fibrosing nodular disease of the lung characterized by solitary or multiples pulmonary nodules. This report describes two cases of this rare disorder. MRI was available in one case. For the first case, the stability of the lesions and past history of retroperitoneal fibrosis suggested the diagnosis. For the second case, open lung biopsy was required for diagnosis. When multiple nodules are present, metastatic disease cannot be excluded and biopsy may be required. Evolution is usually benign but follow up is necessary.

Effects of spironolactone and fosinopril on the spontaneous and chronic ventricular arrhythmias in a rat model of myocardial infarction.

We documented chronic ventricular arrhythmias in a first group of 58 rats after myocardial infarction (MI), then assessed the effects of spironolactone and fosinopril on morphological indexes and arrhythmias in a second group (n = 33). Rats underwent Holter monitoring at 2 months after MI. Treatment was randomly given from 1 until 4 months after MI: placebo in 12 rats (P), fosinopril in 9 (F) and spironolactone + fosinopril in 12 (SF). The score of ventricular premature beats (VPBs) was related to the MI size and the delay from MI (p < 0.01). VPB's reduction/increase required to demonstrate anti/pro-arrhythmic effects were 55 and 59%. Mass indexes were lower in F and SF (p = 0.01). VPB's difference (4 months vs. 1) was positive in P, significantly lower in F and negative in SF (p = 0.04). In this relevant model of spontaneous and chronic ventricular arrhythmias, SF association did not increase mortality but lowered the arrhythmic score.

[Systemic manifestations of chronic hepatitis C]. / Les manifestations systemiques des hépatites virales C chroniques.

It's well known that hepatitis C virus (HCV) related chronic liver disease may be associated with various extra hepatic disorders. These manifestations can revealed the hepatic disease. We review the available data on the conditions and asses their clinical implications: vascular, cutaneous, articular, neurological or renal disorders. There is no correlation between these extra hepatic manifestations and the severity of liver disease. Several recent studies have established a strong link between HCV infection and essential mixed cryoglobulinemia but some other extra hepatic associations are just fortuitous. Others datas are necessary to better analyze these extra hepatic disorders and to offer the beneficial treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C.

[Value of magnetic resonance imaging in neuro-lupus: report of 10 cases]. / Apport de l'imagerie par resonance magnetique au diagnostic du neuro-lupus: a propos de 10 cas.

This study shows the contribution of MRI to diagnosis and follow up of the cerebral lesions in neuro-lupus. Ten cases of neuro-lupus have been reported. The affected patients are 7 women and 3 men having an average age of 34 years. For 8 patients, MRI revealed lesions that were not detected using computed tomography. These lesions were high signal zones on T2, scattered with predilection to deep and sub-cortical cerebral white matter. MRI has also shown cortical and sub-cortical cerebral atrophy for 3 cases, cortical and deep infarcts for 2 cases and both atrophy and infarcts in one case. The MRI diagnosis was normal for the two remaining patients. MRI contributes to the diagnosis confirmation and localization of the cerebral lesions and to the follow-up. In spite of MRI sensitivity, the detection of these lesions remains non specific to neuro-lupus. New methods of exploration as the spectroscopy by magnetic resonance and the cerebral scintigraphy with Technetium 99m could be very helpful in diagnosis of cases for which MRI has shown limitations.