[Infectious complications of implantable infusion ports in patients with HIV infection]. / Complications infectieuses des chambres implantables chez les patients VIH.

Thirty-four implantable ports were consecutively implanted in 27 AIDS patients (mean CD4 lymphocyte count: 39/mm3) from January 1993 to December 1995. We observed 33 complications in these patients. Perioperative complications included: one pneumothorax (3%), one haematothorax (3%) and one septic shock (3%). Later complications included one venous thrombosis (3%) and 26 infectious complications (79%). Fever of unknown origin was observed in three patients (9%). A total of 19 bacteremias occurred in 12 patients. The global rate of infection for 100 catheter-days was 0.51 for a total of 5,096 catheter-days. The following microorganisms were isolated: Staphylococcus (n = 21; 72%), Pseudomonas (n = 3; 11%) and others (n = 5; 17%). Thirty-eight percent of the ports (n = 13) were removed, after a mean of 89 days. During the study, 21 patients died. Two patients died from a catheter infection with septic shock (8%). It seems to be important to clearly define the indications of implantable infusions ports in AIDS patients with respect to their life expectancy.

Magnetic resonance imaging in adults presenting with severe acute infectious cellulitis.

BACKGROUND AND DESIGN: Early categorization of some acute soft-tissue infections, such as severe infectious cellulitis (IC) without or with secondary abscess formation, necrotizing fasciitis (NF) or pyomyositis, is frequently difficult. The first one requires only medical treatment, the remaining ones require either surgery or closed drainage. To determine the presence and the extent of these infections early, we have prospectively studied the value of magnetic resonance imaging in patients admitted for IC with local or general criteria of severity. Images were analyzed on a blind basis. Definite diagnosis was obtained by reviewing clinical records and, in most patients, the results of an invasive procedure. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients (56 +/- 23 years old) were included in this study. Among them, 13 received gadolinium-diethylene-triaminepenta-acetic acid intravenously. The final diagnosis was pyomyositis (five patients), NF (three patients), or IC with (seven patients) or without (11 patients) subcutaneous abscess. Images specific for these diseases were best outlined with T2-weighted sequences. In patients with pyomyositis or subcutaneous abscess(es), we observed spindle-shaped or round, well-defined areas of high signal intensity within the muscles or subcutis, respectively. Patients with NF exhibited numerous homogeneous, well-defined dome-shaped areas of hypersignal in the deep hypodermis. In patients with uncomplicated IC, these dome-shaped areas of hypersignal appeared ill-defined, heterogeneous, smaller, thinner, and less numerous than those in patients with NF. CONCLUSIONS: In patients presenting severe IC, magnetic resonance imaging provided an early clue in the diagnosis of pyomyositis, NF, and abscess-complicated IC. By precisely defining the extent of these infections, it helped to plan surgical treatment.

[Inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor and its derivatives in inflammatory syndromes]. / Inter-alpha-trypsine inhibiteur et ses dérivés dans les syndromes inflammatoires.

Modifications of inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor (ITI) in inflammatory syndromes were determined by studying its serum components: ITI 80 (the native form) and serum derivatives (SD), as well as urinary ITI derivatives (UID) excretion in 31 controls and 128 patients with inflammatory of various origins. The patients were divided into 4 groups: Group I bacterial infections (n = 29); Group II cancers (n = 50); Group III inflammatory diseases (n = 14); Group IV inflammatory syndromes due to other causes (n = 35). Other markers of inflammation were also studied. In bacterial infections and cancers ITI 80 concentrations were significantly decreased, with values of 0.55 +/- 0.15 g/l and 0.54 +/- 0.15 g/l respectively vs 0.65 +/- 0.11 g/l in controls. SD concentrations were significantly increased in all 4 groups: Gr I: 0.31 +/- 0.12 g/l; Gr II: 0.30 +/- 0.11 g/l; Gr III: 0.25 +/- 0.08 g/l; Gr IV: 0.24 +/- 0.10 g/l, as compared with 0.16 +/- 0.09 in controls. UID excretion was increased in all cases, particularly in bacterial infections and cancers (10.8 +/- 13.4 and 6.0 +/- 8.8 mg/mmol of creatinine vs 1.5 +/- 1.7 g/mmol). A significant correlation was observed between CRP levels and SD levels. In bacterial infections and cancers, a fall in ITI associated with a rise in SD and an increase in UID excretion is suggestive of degradation of the native form. In inflammatory diseases and inflammatory syndromes of other causes, the rise in SD without significant variations in ITI 80 suggests and increase in SD synthesis. The correlation between CRP and SD seems to indicate that SD are produced in the early stage of inflammatory syndromes.

[Granulomatous hepatitis in cytomegalovirus infection in healthy adults]. / Les hépatites granulomateuses au cours des infections à cytomégalovirus chez l'adulte sain.

The authors report 16 cases of cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease in previously healthy adults. Constant features included pyrexia lasting 3 to 8 weeks and mononucleosis occurring 2-3 weeks after the onset of fever. Moderate hepatomegaly without jaundice, splenomegaly and morbilliform or petechial rush were observed in 30 to 50 p. 100 of cases. None had pharyngitis. Mild increase in serum transaminase activity (2 to 5 N) was present in 13 of the 16 patients, but increased alkaline phosphatase activity was observed in only 3 of them. Liver biopsy was obtained in 10 patients. Liver lesions were characterised by the association of intra lobular granuloma, abundant mononuclear cells in the sinusoids and hepatic peri-venous inflammation but hepatocellular necrosis was not prominent. Typical intracellular inclusions were not seen, either in hepatocytes or in cells of biliary ducts. The diagnosis was ascertained by positive viremia and or viruria and presence of IgM antibodies. The outcome was favourable although clinical and biological signs lasted for about 8 weeks. The authors conclude that adults with chronic pyrexia, no pharyngitis and sub-clinical hepatitis with mild increases in transaminase activity and histologic mononucleosis hepatitis showing mononuclear infiltrates and granuloma formation are likely to have CMV disease.

[Cytomegalovirus and chronic fever in adults]. / Cytomégalovirus et fièvre au long cours chez l'adulte.

Three cases of CMV infection in normal adults are described. The clinical course was benign but with a long period of fever (average 4 weeks), hepatic and immunologic abnormalities (hemolytic anaemia, thrombocytopenia, monoclonal gammopathy). The clinical and biological features of CMV infection in these patients are compared with those of other recently reported series.

[The Schilling test in Biermer's disease, problems of false negative reactions. Apropos of a case]. / Test de Schilling dans la maladie de Biermer, problèmes de faux négatifs. A propos d'un cas.

A case of pernicious anemia in a 30 years old men is described. This disease was typical for the hematologic, immunologic and medullary patterns, for his evolution, but the Schilling test, a dual tracer method, did not confirm the diagnosis. The contradictory of this result can be explained wether by the bias of the test itself, or by the intestinal malabsorption due to the vitamin B12 deficiency, or by other factors like bacterial overgrowth state (associated in the pernicious anemia) and a high level of antibodies to intrinsic factor.

[Multiple hypersecreting lesions of the parathyroid glands during treatment with lithium]. / Lésions hypersécrétantes multiples des parathyroïdes au cours d'un traitement par le lithium.

A 64 year old woman had been on lithium carbonate for 12 years for manico-depressive psychosis. Mild asthenia leads to the diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism based on the findings of hypercalcemia up to 2.85 mmol/l inappropriate levels of parathormone and a non-suppressive rise of nephrogenic cyclic AMP. These symptoms were not relieved by removal of a chief cell adenoma of the left inferior parathyroid; surgical reexploration leads to the removal of an adenoma in a high, ectopic situation. Further venous samplings were collected during cervico mediastinal phlebography because of persistent hypercalcemia: parathormone levels were high in a thymic vein and a new cervicotomy revealed a fifth gland with an adenoma in the high mediastinum. After removal of the third adenoma, the patient became hypocalcemic. Lithium was not discontinued according to the patient's wishes. Eighteen months later she was well and normocalcemic on alfacalcidol therapy. Multiple adenomas of the parathyroids are rare (1.7 p. 100 to 5 p. 100) and the recurrence of an adenoma on a supernumerary gland is exceptional. Eighteen clinical cases of primary hyperparathyroidism under lithium therapy have been reported, but mild asymptomatic hypercalcemia with inappropriate increased parathormone levels seems to be more common. Duration of treatment is very variable: 1 day to 12 years, and serum calcium levels or up to 3.9 mmol have been observed. Ten patients underwent cervicotomy with removal of an adenoma 6 of them remaining under treatment, with 2 recurrences in our case. Five of the 8 non-operated patients remained on lithium therapy and showed mild hypercalcemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Diagnostic value of the determination of nephrogenic cyclic AMP, and the value of cervical echography for localization in primary hyperparathyroidism. 13 cases]. / Intérêt diagnostique de la détermination de l'AMP cyclique néphrogénique et valeur localisatrice de l'échographie du cou dans l'hyperparathyroïdie primaire. Treize observations.

The authors report the cases of 13 patients with parathyroid adenomas and hyperparathyroidism. They estimate that this disease may be observed in about 70/100,000 patients hospitalised in a non-specialised medical department. In four of these patients, the disease was asymptomatic while only four patients presented with symptomatic renal stones. In five patients, immuno reactive parathyroid hormone levels were within normal limits. In contrast, nephrogenic cyclic AMP, measured in 11 patients, was found to be increased in the totality of these patients and could not be decreased by the administration of calcium. An ultrasonographic examination of the neck, performed in 11 patients, showed the adenomas in 6 patients; in three other patients they were located in the neck but measured less than 1 cm in their greater diameter and in other two patients the adenomas were located in the thymus.

[Malignant lymphoma initially of the buttocks: possible role of repeated intramuscular injections]. / Lymphome malin initialement fessier: rôle possible des injections intra-musculaires répétées.

The authors report the case of a patient who received intramuscular injections of bismuth and penicilline for three consecutive years. Twenty-five years later, a lymphoma of the right buttock developed. The tumor was treated with radiotherapy and remained localized for two years. It then diffused to lungs, maxilla and skin. The occurrence of a lymphoma in muscles is thought to be exceptionnal. It has been suggested that lymphomas may develop at the site of silicone injections or of protracted infections. Fibrosarcomas have been reported after intramuscular injections of iron. The observations may suggest that the muscular lymphoma observed in our patient may have been related to the injections of bismuth performed twenty-five years earlier.

[Iatrogenic colitis during flucytosine treatment for neuromeningeal cryptococcosis]. / Colite iatrogène au cours d'un traitement par la flucytosine pour cryptococcose neuroméningée.

The authors report a case of colitis, with anatomo-clinical confrontation, during a treatment with flucytosine. In this fatal colitis, there were neither ulcerations nor pseudo-membranes. The histological data, with significant cytonuclear lesions, were consistent with a toxic-induced disorder of protein synthesis.

[Vasculitis. Immunological, anatomo-clinical and therapeutic study (author's transl)]. / Les vascularites. Etude immunologique, anatomo-clinique et thérapeutique.

Vasculitis may give rise to different clinical symptoms according to the vessels involved, but its pathology is always the same: inflammation and, sometimes, necrosis of blood vessels. Most vasculitis are associated with immune mechanisms, notably formation of immune complexes. Infections, drug reactions and systemic or malignant diseases are sometimes accompanied with vasculitis, but they do not confer specificity to the anatomo-clinical picture. A classification of the various types of vasculitis including these factors provides a more rational approach to therapy. It must be remembered, in particular, that corticosteroids and cytotoxic agents, already used successfully in Wegener's granulomatosis, have a place in the treatment of other forms of systemic necrotizing vasculitis.

[Drepanocytosis and diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis (author's transl)]. / Drépanocytose et fibrose pulmonaire interstitielle diffuse.

Respiratory disorders in homozygous drepanocytosis and double SC heterozygosis are mainly dependent on two factors : repeated infections with, more particularly, pneumococcus or mycoplasma, and epidoses of occlusion of the pulmonary circulation. Mutual reinforcement of these two factors occurs, in so far as the relative hypoxia of an infected lung increases the risk of falciform and thrombosis formation in the pulmonary arterioles. The particular physical and chemical properties of the drepanocyte red cell, and the anaemia, themselves lead to parallel disturbances in pulmonary circulation function and gas exchanges. Possible development of respiratory insufficiency is generally, therefore, the result of chronic pulmonary arterial hypertension. However, the results of respiratory function tests are often fairly analogous to those observed in moderate interstitial fibrosis : reduction in vital capacity, alveolo-capillary block, reduction in CO diffusion space, a shunt effect, and diminished pulmonary compliance. This problem is discussed in relation to findings of diffuse interstitial fibrosis in a 34-year-old man with double SC heterozygosis, who had numerous episodes of bone, abdominal, and pulmonary microinfarcts. The presence of a diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, evoked by radiological criteria and respiratory function tests and confirmed by transbronchial biopsy, no other aetiology being established, raises the question of the possible genesis of the fibrosis from repeated episodes of microvascular occlusion. Many factors may therefore be involved in the formation of fibrosis of this type, not only the pulmonary artery obstruction from the microthrombi but also the macrophagic perivascular inflammatory response related to the presence of foci of infarction and precipitation of pathological intravascular material.