[Ito hypomelanosis: Four case reports]. / Hypomélanose d'Ito : à propos de 4 cas.

Ito hypomelanosis is a rare neurocutaneous condition. We report on four observations in infants aged between 8 and 20 months. They all presented with epilepsy, psychomotor delay, and diffuse hypomelanosis. The electroencephalograms showed diffuse irritative abnormalities. Brain imaging was normal in two infants and showed hemispheric atrophy in another case. Despite antiepileptic treatment and physical therapy, no significant progression was noted and all children continued to have drug-resistant epilepsy and psychomotor delay.

Sleep quality assessment in 35 Parkinson's disease patients in the Fann Teaching Hospital, Dakar, Senegal.

INTRODUCTION: Sleep disorders are diverse in Parkinson's disease. We aimed to assess the quality of sleep in patients with Parkinson's disease in an African population. METHODS: In a transversal and prospective study from April to June 2014, all parkinsonian patients followed at the Fann Teaching Hospital Neurology Clinic (Dakar, Senegal) were assessed using the Hoehn and Yahr's scale and filled out the following questionnaires: Parkinson's disease sleep scale (PDSS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). A PDSS score<82 (or a subscore<5) and a PSQI score>5 indicated poor quality or impaired sleep. An ESS score>10 indicated excessive daytime sleepiness. We used the Pearson coefficient to search for correlation between age, disease stage, disease duration, and the importance of sleep impairment. RESULTS: Hoehn and Yahr staging was 2.42±0.90 in the 35 patients (60% male, mean age 65.7±7.4years, disease duration 32.4±23.4months). The mean total PDSS score was 99.5±24.1 and 74.3% of the patients had an abnormally high PSQI score, indicating high frequency and intensity of sleep disorders. Most frequent disorders were pain or cramps interrupting sleep, night waking to urinate and fatigue or sleepiness on waking. Patients exhibited excessive diurnal sleepiness in 22.9% of the cases; they often had an abnormal PSQI score. Both the total PDSS score and the difficulty to sleep increased with disease stage, but not with age or disease duration. CONCLUSION: We found evidence of major alteration of sleep quality in Senegalese Parkinson patients.

Giant Arteriovenous Malformation of the Neck.

Arteriovenous malformations (AVM) have a wide range of clinical presentations. Operative bleeding is one of the most hazardous complications in the surgical management of high-flow vascular malformations. In the cervical region, the presence of vital vascular structures, such as the carotid artery and jugular vein, may increase this risk. This is a case of massive arteriovenous malformation deforming the neck and the face aspect of this aged lady and growing for several years. A giant mass of the left neck occupied the carotid region and the subclavian region. The AVM was developed between the carotid arteries, jugular veins, and vertebral and subclavian vessels, with arterial and venous flux. The patient underwent surgery twice for the cure of that AVM. The first step was the ligation of the external carotid. Seven days later, the excision of the mass was done. In postoperative period the patient presented a peripheral facial paralysis which completely decreased within 10 days. The first ligation of the external carotid reduces significantly the blood flow into the AVM. It permitted secondarily the complete ablation of the AVM without major bleeding even though multiple ligations were done.

Penetrating Heart Injury due to Screwdriver Assault.

Penetrating heart injuries cause wounds in the cardiac chambers. Most of them are due to gunshot or stabbing by knives. Screwdriver is an uncommon weapon. Authors report a case of stab wound by screwdriver, treated at cardiovascular center in Dakar. This is a 16-year-old boy who experienced physical aggression. He was assaulted with a screwdriver and had stab wound on the anterior wall of the chest. Physical examination showed a screwdriver penetrating the sternum bone over a right angle. He had a mild pericardial blood effusion and a right ventricle wound 5 mm in diameter with transection of the right coronary vein. The screwdriver was removed without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and the ventricle wound repaired by direct suture of stitches reinforced with Teflon pledgets. The right coronary artery was ligated. Postoperative period was free of events. Screwdriver is uncommonly used as a weapon. It is a dangerous device because of its rigid structure and narrow tip.

[Epilepsy and reproductive health: Senegalese cohort]. / Épilepsie et santé de la reproduction : cohorte sénégalaise.

INTRODUCTION: Epilepsy is a public health problem in Senegal and Africa because of its severity and its social importance. It occurs at any age sparing no sex. It can influence sexual life and reciprocally. Our aims were to study the effects of antiepileptic drugs on the sexual lives of women with epilepsy, the influence of these drugs on pregnancy and breastfeeding. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study from 1st March to 31st August 2011 in the neurological department of the Fann-Dakar teaching hospital Senegal. Only women with epilepsy were included. RESULTS: We collected 120 patients aged 16-64years with a mean age of 30.58years, 45% married, 44.16% were uneducated preponderant. All patients were taking antiepileptic drugs, 89.16% was alone. Fifty-five percent of our patients had epilepsy for at least 6years; 45.83% had generalized epilepsy; 44.17% of partial seizures. In our cohort, 64.16% were under phenobarbital, 69.16% had good adherence. As side effects of drugs, 90% had sexual problems. Seventy-five percent enjoyed an active sex life. A decrease in the number of sex per week for the disease [31/55=56.66%] was noted. In addition, 51.17% were using contraception, including 38.7% of oral kind and 64.86% had noticed an increase in seizure frequency during their pregnancies. Of the 74 women who had contracted a pregnancy, 41.89% had premature infants, 16.21% have made abortions and 61.17% had psychosocial life affected. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: People with epilepsy often experience sexual problems that may be caused by epilepsy, antiepileptic and/or reactions of the partner and the other facing the diagnosis of epilepsy.

[Acute transverse myelopathy after intramuscular injection of benzathine-benzylpenicillin. Case report in Dakar, Senegal]. / Myélopathie aiguë transverse après injection de benzathine-benzyl pénicilline: une observation à Dakar (Sénégal).

Intramuscular injection of benzathine-benzylpenicillin can cause acute transverse myelopathy. The purpose of this report is to describe a case of acute transverse myelopathy observed after injection of benzathine-benzylpenicillin in a 38-year-old man. The patient who was married and had a history of eczema was admitted to the Department of Neurology of the Fann University Teaching Hospital in 2006. All laboratory findings were normal except high serum immunoglobulin E level. An immunoallergic reaction involving inflammatory transverse myelopathy secondary to vasculitis was proposed as the most likely underlying mechanism. Treatment with corticosteroid and physiotherapy led to a favorable outcome. Health personnel should know the indications for use of benzathine-benzylpenicillin and be aware of the possible medullary complications.

[Epidemiology of stroke at the Clinic of Neurology, Fann University Teaching Hospital, Dakar-Senegal]. / Epidémiologie des accidents vasculaires cérébraux (AVC) à la clinique neurologique du CHU de Fann, Dakar-Sénégal.

OBJECTIVE: Describe the epidemiology of stroke among patients hospitalized at the Clinic of Neurology , Fann University, Dakar-Senegal. METHODOLOGY: Retrospectively, sociodemographic, medical history and clinical data were collected for patients hospitalized for stroke from January 1st 2001 to November 1st 2003 and to whom a Computed Tomography scan of the brain was done. RESULTS: The population of study (314 patients) had a mean age of 61.3 years (+/-13.8) and was composed of 56.1% of women. The mean time of admission was 8.4 days (+/-23.5). The leading risk factors of stroke were hypertension, history of stroke and diabetes. Ischemic stroke represented 60.2%. The occurrence of stroke was associated with coma and hypertension. The letality rate was 24.8%. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to develop and implement health education program against risk factors for the population to reduce stroke morbidity and mortality.

[The management of cerebrovascular events in Senegal]. / Prise en charge des accidents vasculaires cérébraux au Sénégal.

OBJECTIVES: Because of its acuteness and rapid progress to irreversible injury, stroke is a dramatically high priority medical emergency. The purpose of this prospective study was to ascertain the average time limit for primary management of stroke victims referred to the Senegalese national medical center considered as the final link within the country's healthcare organisation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed the files of 170 patients aged 25-90 (average 61+/-13 years). The sex ratio was 0.68. Seventy percent of the patients resided in the nation's capital, Dakar. RESULTS: Most of the patients were referred to a medical center late. Admission was before the 6th hour for only one patient and none of the patients were admitted before the 3rd hour. Late treatment was related to the remoteness of medical centers. Among patients residing in Dakar, the first visit occurred between 6 and 24 hours for 30p.cent versus 7.8 p.cent for patients residing in rural areas of the country. Educational level and socio-economic status had no effect on late treatment. None of the patients were given prehospital care. Treatment was essentially symptomatic in patients with hemorrhagic stroke. Anticoagulants or anti-platelet agents were prescribed for patients with ischemic stroke. Only 29.4 p.cent of patients were given rehabilitation care. Mortality was 50.6 p.cent and the rate of dependency 41.7 p.cent. CONCLUSION: In Senegal, stroke victims receive care too late. This situation arises because of insufficiency of human and material resources and inaccessibility to care centers.