[An unusual cause of jaundice]. / Une cause inhabituelle d'ictère.

Hepatic impairment is common during hyperthyroidism. It is most often asymptomatic. Hyperthyroidism revealed by jaundice has been rarely described in the literature. We here report the case of a 52-year old patient in Dakar (Senegal) presenting with jaundice associated with pruritus. Laboratory tests showed elevated alanine aminotransferases (1.1 N), aspartate aminotransferase(1.5 N), alkaline phosphatases (3 N), gamma glutamyl transferases (1.3 N) and bilirubinemia (22 N). Abdominal ultrasound was normal. A toxic or drug-related cause, bile duct obstruction, viral or autoimmune hepatitis as well as primary biliary cholangitis were excluded. The dosage of thyroid hormones showed elevated free T4, 24 ng/dL (9-20 ng/dL) and undetectable plasma TSH less than 0.01µUI/mL (0,35-4,94 IU/mL). TSH receptor antibodies were positive 7.04 IU/L (n < 1.75 IU/L). Thyroid ultrasound objectified diffuse homogeneous hypervascular goiter. The diagnosis of hepatic impairment secondary to Graves-Basedow disease without cardiac dysfunction was retained. Clinical outcome and laboratory test results were favorable under carbimazole. Jaundice can be an indicator of hyperthyroidism. An investivation of clinical signs and laboratory parameters for hyperthyroidism is essential in patients with unexplained jaundice.

[Viral Hepatitis B: clinical, paraclinical and evolutionary features within the Hepatogastroenterology Department at the Aristide Le Dantec Hospital: about 728 cases]. / Hépatite virale B: aspects cliniques, paracliniques et évolutifs dans le service d'Hépato Gastroentérologie de l'Hôpital Aristide Le Dantec: à propos de 728 cas.

Viral Hepatitis B is a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa accounting for approximately 65 million of chronic carriers and 56.000 deaths per year. Our study aims to investigate the epidemiological paraclinical, therapeutic and evolutionary features of viral hepatitis B in patients followed up in our Department and to describe their serological profiles. We conducted a retrospective, longitudinal study in the Hepatogastroenterology Department at the Aristide Le Dantec Hospital in Dakar from 2010 to 2014. We included all HBsAg positive patients followed up on an ambulatory basis or hospitalized. We collected data from 728 medical records of patients infected with Hepatitis B virus: 7 cases of acute hepatitis, 442 cases of chronic infections, 161 cases of cirrhosis and 118 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma. The average age of patients was 33 years [14 - 83 years] with a sex ratio of 2.2. The circumstances in which it was diagnosed included systematic screening (26.2%), right hypochondrium pain (23%) and donation of blood (18.6%). Fifty nine were Hepatitis B virus mono-infected and had chronic active hepatitis. Inactive carriers were 118. Serological status was undetermined in 252 patients due to clinical examination inadequacy related to economic constraints. Antiviral Hepatitis B treatment wasn't performed in 58 patients. Patients' virologic and biochemical response after 120 weeks of treatment with Tenofovir was 85% and 100% respectively. Hepatitis B virus is a major cause of liver disease in Senegal.

[Costal metastasis revealing esophageal squamous cell carcinoma]. / Métastase costale révélant un carcinome épidermoïde de l'œsophage.

Esophageal cancer is associated with poor prognosis. Its severity is linked to delayed diagnosis which is most often made once a cancer has metastasized, in Africa. Costal metastases are rare. We report a case of a 38-year old Senegalese patient with squamous cell carcinoma of the lower esophagus with lytic metastases to the ribs. Mrs. TD, aged 38, was admitted with painful swelling in right hemithorax associated with weight loss. The patient also reported mechanical dysphagia evolving during 4 months which had not motivated consultation. Clinical examination showed a poor general condition, a hard, sensitive swelling measuring 3 cm along its longer axis, located on the anterolateral surface of the right hemithorax at the level of the 5thrib. Biological examinations showed normocytic normochromic anemia with hemoglobin level of 9.4 g/dl, non-specific biological inflammatory syndrome, and hypercalcemia (corrected calcium = 107 mg/l. Oesogastroduodenal endoscopy showed a ulcerative, budding, stenotic lesion 32 cm from the dental arches. Anatomopathological examination of the biopsies revealed moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. In addition to oesophageal tumor, thoracoabdominal-pelvic computed tomography showed bone lysis involving the anterior arch of the 5th rib, carcinomatous pulmonary nodules and bilateral pleural effusion. Pleural fluid aspiration through an exploratory needle showed serohematic fluid and the cytological examination of this fluid objectified carcinomatous cells. The diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the lower esophagus with rib, pleural and pulmonary metastases was retained and palliative treatment was initiated. The evolution was marked by the death of the patient 3 months after gastrostomy, within a context of respiratory distress. The originality of this observation is related to the atypical seat of metastases of this cancer of the esophagus as well as the risk factors of this tumor. Cancer of the esophagus in young adults is a major problem in Africa. The challenge is to determine its risk factors in order to prevent its occurrence.

Population genetic structure and isolation by distance of Helicobacter pylori in Senegal and Madagascar.

Helicobacter pylori has probably infected the human stomach since our origins and subsequently diversified in parallel with their human hosts. The genetic population history of H. pylori can therefore be used as a marker for human migration. We analysed seven housekeeping gene sequences of H. pylori strains isolated from 78 Senegalese and 24 Malagasy patients and compared them with the sequences of strains from other geographical locations. H. pylori from Senegal and Madagascar can be placed in the previously described HpAfrica1 genetic population, subpopulations hspWAfrica and hspSAfrica, respectively. These 2 subpopulations correspond to the distribution of Niger-Congo speakers in West and most of subequatorial Africa (due to Bantu migrations), respectively. H. pylori appears as a single population in Senegal, indicating a long common history between ethnicities as well as frequent local admixtures. The lack of differentiation between these isolates and an increasing genetic differentiation with geographical distance between sampling locations in Africa was evidence for genetic isolation by distance. The Austronesian expansion that started from Taiwan 5000 years ago dispersed one of the 10 subgroups of the Austronesian language family via insular Southeast Asia into the Pacific and Madagascar, and hspMaori is a marker for the entire Austronesian expansion. Strain competition and replacement of hspMaori by hpAfrica1 strains from Bantu migrants are the probable reasons for the presence of hspSAfrica strains in Malagasy of Southeast Asian descent. hpAfrica1 strains appear to be generalist strains that have the necessary genetic diversity to efficiently colonise a wide host spectrum.

Primary antibiotic resistance and associated mechanisms in Helicobacter pylori isolates from Senegalese patients.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic combination therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication must be adapted to local resistance patterns, but the epidemiology of H. pylori resistance to antibiotics is poorly documented in Africa. The aim was to determine the antibiotic resistance rates, as well as the associated molecular mechanisms, of strains isolated in Dakar, Senegal. METHODS: One hundred and eight H. pylori strains were isolated between 2007 and 2009 from 108 patients presenting with upper abdominal pain to the Gastroenterology Department of Le Dantec Hospital. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed for amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, levofloxacin and tetracyclin using the E-test method. Mutations in the 23S rRNA gene of clarithromycin-resistant strains and in gyrA and gyrB of levofloxacin-resistant strains were investigated. RESULTS: Isolates were characterized by no resistance to amoxicillin (0%), tetracycline (0%), and very low rate of resistance to clarithromycin (1%), but a high rate of resistance to metronidazole (85%). The clarithromycin-resistant strain displayed the A2143G mutation. A worrying rate of levofloxacin resistance was detected (15%). N87I and D91N were the most common mutations in the quinolone-resistance-determining region of gyrA. CONCLUSIONS: The first-line empirical regimen for H. pylori eradication in Senegal should include clarithromycin. Increasing rates of fluoroquinolone resistance detected should discourage the use of levofloxacin-containing regimens without prior antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

[Adherence to therapy in sub-Saharan non-dialysed patients with chronic kidney diseases]. / Observance thérapeutique chez les patients non dialysés atteints de pathologies rénales chroniques en Afrique sub-saharienne.

BACKGROUND: Poor adherence to medication regimens accounts for substantial morbidity, mortality and increased health care costs in developing countries. The aim of this study is to assess adherence to therapy in patients with chronic kidney diseases and to identify the major barriers to adherence. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A prospective study of non-dialysed patients with chronic kidney diseases followed during three months. Sociodemographic, clinical and therapeutic data were collected from medical records and patient interviews. Rate of adherence (ROA) was defined as the percentage of the prescribed doses of the medication actually taken by the patient over a four-week period. Statistical analysis was done with SPSS 11.0. RESULTS: Mean age of the 118 included patients was 39.28 years +/-16.4 (range 13-76 years); they were 56% female and one third had low instruction level. Socio-economic level was low for 38.5% of patients. Mean ROA was 81+/-12% (range 46 to 100%) but there was a difference between male (75%) and female (84%). Almost three quarters of patients (71%) had ROA more than 80%. Patients' adherence was inversely correlated to daily frequency of dose but not number of drugs. Major obstacles to adherence were complexity of drug regimen, forgetfulness, healthcare system inaccessibility, lack of information, side effects, automedication with phytotherapy and high cost of medications. CONCLUSION: Most of barriers to adherence can be overcome by improving communication between patients, health provider and healthcare system.

[A multiple myeloma long term survival case]. / Survie prolongee au cours du myelome multiple: à propos d'une observation.

Multiple myeloma is a malignant plasma cells proliferation in the bone marrow leading to a monoclonal immunoglobulin hypersecretion. The survival duration of this disease ranges usually from 2 to 3 years. However, as this reported case, a long-term survival remains possible. A 29 year old woman was admitted to the internal medicine department for bone pain, weight loss and pathologic fractures. The clinical examination revealed an anaemia, a spinal compression (D10) and atrophia of quadriceps and gluteus muscle. The radiologic findings observed were multiple fractures. The bone marrow aspiration confirmed the plasmocytosis greater than 50%, with immature plasma cells and other lineages rarefication. The disease belonged to the stage III A of the Salmon and Durie classification. Chemotherapy with melphalan associated to prednisone was started with a two to three months biological and clinical follow-up. This treatment allowed 12 years survival. Because of this variety, the search for new prognostic factors would be relevant.