Bullous Pemphigoid Associated With Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors: A Case Report and Review of Current Evidence.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i), or gliptins, are a widely used glucose-lowering agents. A growing amount of evidence pointed to a possible role of DPP-4i in the induction of bullous pemphigoid (BP), which is an auto-immune skin blistering disease that mainly affects the elderly. In this article we discuss a case of DPP-4i associated BP and we provide an updated review of the current knowledge regarding this emerging entity. Use of DPP-4i, particularly vildagliptin, was found to significantly increase the risk of BP. BP180 would be in the center of the aberrant immune response. DPP-4i induced BP is thought to be associated with male gender, mucosal involvement, and milder inflammatory phenotype especially in Asian population. Generally, patients may not remit fully after DPP-4i withdrawal only and require either topical or systemic glucocorticoid courses.

[Masked arterial hypertension in patients with type2 diabetes mellitus: Prevalence, associated factors and cardiovascular impact]. / L'hypertension artérielle masquée chez les diabétiques de type 2 : Prévalence, facteurs associés et retentissement cardiovasculaire.

PROBLEMATIC AND OBJECTIVE: Masked arterial hypertension (MHTN) is a recently described entity that is associated with the same cardiovascular risk as permanent hypertension. Its prevalence is more frequent in patients with diabetes. The objective of this study is to assess the value of systematic screening for MHTN by 24-hour blood pressure monitoring in a population of type 2 diabetic patients by estimating its prevalence and looking for predictive factors of MHTN in this population. METHODS: Through a prospective study, we recruited normotensive type 2 diabetics for clinical measurement, in whom we systematically searched for MHTN by performing an ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM). The diagnosis of MHTN is established if: mean daytime BP ≥ 135/85 mmHg and / or, mean nighttime BP ≥ 120/70 mmHg and / or, mean 24 hour BP ≥ 130/80 mmHg. We then compared the two populations of MHTN (G1) and normotensive (G2) on clinical and laboratory parameters and we assessed end-organ damage in order to identify the predictive factors of MHTN. RESULTS: We recruited 53 patients whose mean age was 55.3 ± 8.4 years (range 35-72 years) with a female predominance (53%). The duration of diabetes was on average 8.7 ± 3.9 years with extremes between 2 and 17 years. The average BMI of our patients was 28.2 ± 5.3 Kg/m2. Overweight was found in almost half of our patients (47.2%). Obesity was found in 32.1% of cases. Metabolic syndrome was found in 64.2% of patients. In our study, the prevalence of HTAM in type 2 diabetics was 64%. We also found that MHTN was more often nocturnal (58.5%) and occurred mainly in non-dipper patients. Left ventricular hypertrophy, microalbuminuria and arterial stiffness evidenced by pulse pressure greater than 60mmHg were more common in the MHTN group. For the predictive factors of MHTN, we were able to collect in univariate analysis the following factors: duration of diabetes, fasting blood sugar, weight and microalbuminuria. In multivariate analysis, the predictive factors that emerged in our study are poor glycemic control (HbA1c ≥7%), high BMI and duration of diabetes. CONCLUSION: MHTN should be sought in diabetics because it allows a better assessment of the cardiovascular risk, in particular by identifying end-organ damage.

Homozygous pArg610del Mutation Unusually Associated With Severe Delay of Growth in 2 Acid Sphingomyelinase Deficiency-affected Sibs.

BACKGROUND: Typically, patients with Acid Sphingomyelinase Deficiency (ASMD) because of p.Arg610del mutation, have mild phenotype with normal linear growth. OBSERVATION: We reported the case of 2 Tunisian brothers who have been referred for splenomegaly, polyadenopathies, pubertal, and growth delay. Molecular testing of SMPD1 gene revealed the presence of a homozygous p.Arg610del mutation. Lysosphingomyelin and its isoform-509 were both increased confirming ASMD for both cases. Growth hormone deficiency was highly suspected but growth hormone response after stimulating tests was acceptable for both patients. CONCLUSIONS: There is no correlation between phenotype-genotype in case of p.Arg610del mutation that could be associated to a severe delay of growth.

[Insulinoma associated with adrenocorticotropic insufficiency and hypergonadotropic hypogonadism: a case study]. / Insulinome associé à une insuffisance corticotrope et un hypogonadisme hypergondadotrope: à propos d'une observation.

Pancreatic insulinoma is a rare, often benign, neuroendocrine tumor which may give rise to life-threatening consequences due to hypoglycemia-related accidents. Adrenal deficiency can also cause hypoglycemia. We report the case of a 68-year old patient hospitalized for recurrent hypoglycaemia. Tests were performed that showed endogenous hyperinsulinism, adrenocorticotropin deficiency and hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. The patient received hydrocortisone without improvement. Five years later topography showed insulinoma. This study highlights the clinical, biological, radiological and therapeutic features of insulinoma as well as laboratory test results and shows that insulinoma can cause adrenocorticotropic deficiency and peripheral hypogonadism.

Successful Treatment of Insulin Allergy with Desensitization Therapy: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Insulin therapy is an essential treatment for type 1 and uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Hypersensitivity reactions have been described since the first administration of insulin, the same as any other therapy. Despite being a rare situation nowadays, it requires careful intra-hospital monitoring and multidisciplinary management. Here, we present a case of a 57-year-old patient with type 2 DM, an average glycemic control, and both penicillin and insulin allergy. Heunderwent a desensitization protocol which allowed successfully dismiss him with intermediate-acting insulin.

Metabolic syndrome and physical activity measured by pedometer among adolescents.

AIM: To describe the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and to study the association of physical activity measured by pedometer with the metabolic syndrome components, in a sample of overweight and obese adolescents from Sfax City. METHODS: This study concerned 51 obese and overweight adolescents (28 girls and 23 boys), between the ages of 15 and 18 years, recruited by the unit of obesity and metabolic syndrome department of endocrinology, Hedi Chaker Hospital, University of Sfax, between december 2012 and october 2013. Metabolic syndrome was defined with the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. Physical activity was monitored with pedometer (Digi-Walker SW-200; Yamax Co, Tokyo, Japan). RESULTS: The frequency of metabolic syndrome was 21.6%. It was significantly higher in obese (25%) than in overweight (15,81%) adolescents (p=0.04). The most common component, associated with abdominal obesity, was hypoHDLemia observed in 58.8 % of the sample. The average steps / day measured by pedometer was significantly higher in subjects without metabolic syndrome than with (9648, 25±2297, 726 vs 7365, 91±1505, 65 steps/day; p=0, 03). Pedometer determined steps/day was inversely correlated with waist circumference (P<0.05), blood pressure (P<0.05) and triglycerides (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Metabolic syndrome is prevalent in our young population. A more physically active lifestyle appears to be associated with lower probability of metabolic syndrome.