[Pericardial effusion with pretamponade leading to diagnosis of hypothyroidism: two cases in Congo]. / Epanchement péricardique en pré-tamponnade révélant une hypothyroïdie: deux observations au Congo.

The purpose of this report is to describe two cases of pericardial effusion with pre-tamponade leading to diagnosis of underlying hypothyroidism. Both patients were women with large longstanding pericardial effusion. The first patient was 47-years-old and the second was 46. Diagnosis of hypothyroidism, whose clinical features were equivocal in the first case case and frank in the second, was confirmed by hormone tests. Treatment consisted of pericardial drainage and hormone replacement therapy with increasing doses. Outcome was favorable in both cases with restoration of euthyroidism. Clinical status was satisfactory in both cases with a follow-up of five months in the first patient and three months in the second. Pericardial effusion with pretamponade is an exceptional complication of prolonged hypothyroidism that should be considered in patients presenting with large longstanding but well tolerated pericardial effusion with no evidence of infection or inflammation.

[Arterial hypertension: epidemiological aspects and risk factors on pregnant and delivered woman]. / Hypertension artérielle: aspects epidémiologiques et facteurs de risque chez la gestante et l'accouchée.

OBJECTIVES: Determine frequency of hypertension in pregnancy and delivered women at the Teaching Hospital of Brazzaville and identify epidemiological aspects and risk factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective and transversal study was realized from november 2004 to january 2005 in the Teaching Hospital of Brazzaville. Forty two patients (8 pregnant women, 34 delivered) with hypertension, have been enregistered among 825 admissions in the departments of gynecology and obstetric. Arterial hypertension was defined by a blood pressure at 140/ 90 mm Hg or above. RESULTS: Arterial hypertension constituted 5.1% of the total admissions. Average of the patients was 27 +/- 8 years (age range: 14 and 40 years). Two patients (4.8%) haven't been sent to school, 29 (69%) had the secondary level, twenty (47.8%) were housewives. Seventeen patients (40.5%) had realized 2 prenatal consultations at the most. Patients were divided in 4 groups: Chronic hypertension (n = 4), pre eclampsia surimposed on chronic hypertension (n = 4), pregnancy hypertension only (n = 15), preeclampsia (n = 19). Prim gravidity (38.1%) and family history of hypertension (40.4%) were the most frequent risk factors. Obesity, gemality, previous pre eclampsia represented respectively 14.3%, 9.5% and 4.8%.

[Thyroid disorders in the Brazzaville Teaching Hospital]. / La pathologie thyroïdienne au Centre hospitalier universitaire de Brazzaville.

The authors report their experience with thyroid disorders. Between January 1994 and December 2003, a total of 567 patients (sex ratio: 1/20, men to women) with thyroid disease were examined in the endocrine and metabolic department of the Brazzaville Teaching Hospital. Their mean age was 43 years. 333 (58.7%) had a simple goiter, 118 (20.8%) hyperthyroidism, most often related to Graves' disease (60.8%). Other disorders included multinodular goiters (19.2%), toxic adenoma (7.1%) and thyroiditis (13.8%). Hypothyroidism was identified in 7.4% of cases, mainly following thyroid surgery. Thyroid cancer was rare (4 cases).

Pancreatite chronique calcifiante et diabete sucre

La pancreatite chronique calcifiante (P.C.C.) est decrite comme une cause relativement frequente du diabete sucre (D.S.) en zone tropicale. L'etiologie dominante de cette P.C.C. est la malnutrition suivie de l'alcoolisme. Un seul element aide au diagnostic: c'est le cliche de l'abdomen sans preparation. 24 dossiers ont ete selectionnes parmi les malades hospitalises dans le service des maladies metaboliques et endocriniennes du C.H.U. de Brazzaville