Mortality of diabetic on chronic dialysis in Tunisia.

Survival rates of diabetic patients on maintenance hemodialysis (HD) are reported to be poorer in Tunisia than in developed countries. This study aims to specify the epidemio-logical, clinical, and biological characteristics of diabetic disease, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and comorbidities at the initiation of HD and investigate factors associated with mortality during the dialysis period. We retrospectively analyzed the outcome of diabetic patients who were initiated on HD from 2007 to 2012 at the Rabta Hospital of Tunis. During the follow-up period, all morbid events and deaths were recorded. Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis were performed to identify risk factors associated with mortality in our population. The study population included 142 patients. The mean age was 58.7 ± 11.9 years. The sex ratio male/female was 1.4. One hundred and twenty-seven patients were type 2 diabetics (89.4%). Diabetic nephropathy was the main initial nephropathy (87.3%). CKD was diagnosed at Stages 4 or 5 in 95.1% of cases. HD was started in emergency conditions in 68.6% of cases. The one-year and the five-year survival rates were 42% and 17%, respectively. At initiation of HD, low socioeconomic status (P = 0.001), advanced age (P = 0.008), low body mass index (P = 0.04), history of stroke (P = 0.04), peripheral neuropathy (P = 0.02), initial vascular access (P = 0.03), secondary hyperpara-thyroidism (P = 0.03), nephrotic-range proteinuria (P = 0.01), and glycated hemoglobin ≤7% (P = 0.03) were associated with higher mortality rate. During dialysis period, cardiovascular events (P = 0.02), infectious complications (P = 0.04), and secondary hyperparathyroidism (P = 0.04) were significantly more noticeable among deceased patients. Due to poor survival rates of diabetic patients on HD, prevention, early detection, and management of diabetic CKD patients should be the way to go forward.

[Kaposi sarcoma in a patient with ANCA vasculitis requiring hemodialysis]. / Sarcome de kaposi compliquant une vascularite à ANCA en hémodialyse chronique.

INTRODUCTION: Iatrogenic Kaposi's sarcoma is widely reported after transplantation. Less commonly, it occurs in patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy for ANCA associated vasculitis. We report here the rare association of Kaposi's sarcoma, prurigo nodularis and ANCA associated vasculitis in a hemodialysis patient. CASE REPORT: We describe a 58-year-old woman who presented granulomatosis with polyangeiitis with alveolar hemorrhage and renal failure requiring hemodialysis. She developed cutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma seven weeks after the beginning of immunosuppressive therapy. Biological tests showed negative HHV8 virus infection. Lesions of Kaposi's sarcoma responded to a discontinuation of immunosuppressive drugs and a decreasing dosage of corticosteroids. CONCLUSION: Our case showed that the immunosuppressed state related to multiple factors such as underlying disease, immunosuppressive therapy and hemodialysis may all have contributed to the development of this neoplastic disorder in our patient.

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome: A monocentric adult Tunisian study and review of literature.

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is characterized by microvascular thrombosis resulting in thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, and multiorgan dysfunction. It is associated with genetic or acquired disorders of regulatory components of the complement system. For our study, we collected data from 16 patients diagnosed with aHUS between January 2010 and January 2014. The mean age was 33.6 years. The female-to-male ratio was 3. The median follow-up duration was 27 ± 3.5 months. The most common clinical presentation was hypertension. Renal involvement was noted in all cases. Ten patients had extrarenal manifestations. Semi-quantitative dysfunction of the alternative pathway of complement was found in all cases. A genetic study was not available for our patients. During the acute stage, all patients received plasma therapy, and among them, seven required dialysis and five were still on dialysis at the time of discharge. One patient underwent renal transplantation. None of our patients received eculizumab perfusion. The renal survival was inversely correlated to young age (<30 years) (P = 0.001), presence of anti-factor H antibodies (P = 0.003) and serum creatinine at diagnosis >5 mg/dL (P = 0.02). Mortality rate was significantly correlated to young age (<30 years old) (P = 0.01). Collecting multicentric data on adult patients with aHUS will enable better characterization of the spectrum of adult aHUS in our country and the evaluation of current treatments and different outcomes.

A case of exorbitism in association with Wegener's granulomatosis with renal involvement.

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is a necrotizing granulomatous vasculitis involving the nose, paranasal sinuses, lungs, and kidneys. Ocular involvement can occur in about 50% of cases. There are very few reports of WG with orbital inflammation and exorbitism. We report a case of a female patient who presented with exorbitism related to orbital inflammation secondary to WG, with renal involvement. A 29-year-old woman with a previous history of recurrent pan-sinusitis presented with bilateral exophthalmos and renal failure with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. Computed tomography showed extensive bilateral soft tissue in the retro-orbital area. Immunologic tests showed the presence of type-C anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies and renal biopsy revealed pauci immune crescentic glomerulonephritis. The patient was treated with corticosteroids and pulses of cyclophosphamide followed by azathioprine and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. After a follow-up of 10 months, the renal outcome was favorable with improvement of renal function but there was persistence of exorbitism and loss of visual function. Our case suggests that WG should be considered in the differential diagnosis of persistent bilateral exophthalmos. Prompt recognition of this early manifestation is important for the institution of early treatment.

[Retroperitoneal schwannoma. Diagnostic and therapeutic outcome]. / Schwannome rétropéritonéal. Démarche diagnostique et thérapeutique.

Two cases of retroperitoneal benign schwannoma are described with a review of literature. Are analysed the clinical and anatomopathologic features of this rare tumor and the methods of diagnosis. The treatment is the surgical ablation of the tumor commonly easy and complete. When malignancy is established, adjuvant procedures add little to life expectancy and total surgery is done likely to be effective.

[Contusions to the pathologic kidney. A retrospective study, apropos of 34 cases]. / Les contusions sur rein pathologique. Etude rétrospective, à propos de 34 cas.

The authors report a retrospective study of 34 cases of blunt renal trauma affecting a pathological kidney out of a total of 156 cases of renal trauma. The patients were between the ages of 3 and 60 years, with a male predominance (sex-ratio: 2.4). The predominant cause of trauma was a household accident, in 15 cases (44%). The clinical features were dominated by haematuria and pain. The underlying renal disease was dominated by renal stones (15 cases, 44%) and ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) abnormality (10 cases, 29%). Twelve patients with benign trauma and minimal underlying renal disease were treated conservatively. Surgery was indicated in the remaining 22 patients, but only 20 were actually operated. Nephrectomy was performed in 9 patients and partial nephrectomy was performed in 3 patients. Treatment consisted of UPJ plasty in 2 cases, uretero-caliceal anastomosis in one case, stone surgery in 4 cases and suture of ruptured renal pelvis in one case. The postoperative course was marked by the development of a urinary fistula in 1 patient, cured by drainage and deterioration of hydronephrosis in one patient. Lastly, one patient died from Wilms' tumour. This disease therefore tends to have a fairly benign course, which nevertheless depends on the underlying renal disease.

[Kidney injuries in children. Apropos of 65 cases]. / Le traumatisme du rein chez l'enfant. A propos de 65 cas.

The authors report a retrospective series of 65 cases of renal contusion in children affecting 45 boys and 20 girls between the ages of 10 months and 15 years (mean age: 10 years). The causes of renal trauma were dominated by household accidents (53.8%) and road accidents (33.8%). Associated extrarenal lesions were observed in 21.5% of cases. 55.4% of the 65 contusions were considered to be benign, 27.7% of moderate severity and 16.9% were serious. The blunt trauma affected a pathological kidney in 19 cases. Exclusively medical treatment was recommended in 31 patients, while surgery was indicated in the other 34 patients. Apart from one death in a context of multiple trauma, few complications were observed in the group of operated patients and consisted of 4 cases of urinary fistula and 4 cases of infection, all of which resolved.

[Trans-urethral bladder lithotripsy using the Lithoclast in children. Apropos of 7 cases]. / Lithotritie vésicale trans-urétrale au Lithoclast chez l'enfant. A propos de 7 cas.

We report our experience with a new simple machine for endoscopic disintegration, the "Swiss Lithoclast". The principle of this lithotriptor is based on pneumatic shock waves induced by the central compressed air system of a hospital. This device was used to treat 7 children with bladder stone (5 boys, 2 girls); their age was between 7 and 9 years (average 8.2 years). Endoscopic fragmentation was successful in all patients and all were stone free before leaving the hospital. We have found the Swiss Lithoclast to be a safe, effective and inexpensive means of performing intra-corporeal lithotripsy for bladder stone in children.

[Treatment of kidney and retroperitoneal abscesses using percutaneous drainage. Apropos of 17 cases]. / Traitement des abcès du rein et du rétro-péritoine par drainage percutané. A propos de 17 cas.

For a long time, the treatment of retroperitoneal abscesses was exclusively surgical. Ultrasonography and computed tomography provide new therapeutic approaches to these lesions. The authors report a series of 17 renal and retroperitoneal abscesses treated by primary percutaneous drainage. This treatment generally ensures a favourable course, avoiding the need for surgery, which is still indicated in patients with associated uropathy or after failure of percutaneous drainage.

[Ultrasonographic aspects of kidney pelvis tumors associated with infectious hydronephrosis of lithiasic origin]. / Aspects échographiques des tumeurs pyéliques sur hydronéphrose infectée d'origine lithiasique.

The ultrasonographic findings of 4 patients with surgically confirmed urothelial tumors associated with calculic pyonephrosis are presented. All the involved were markedly enlarged and hydronephrotic with obstructive calculi, stigmata of pyonephrosis and, an echoic pelvic mass, extending in calyceas in 2 cases. The sonographic appearance correlated well with the gross pathological findings. The histological types were 2 squamous cell carcinomas, 1 adeno-squamous cell carcinoma and 1 transitional carcinoma. The chronic calculic irritation was proved to induce squamous and glandular metaplasia. The subsequent squamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma were documented in the literature. The preoperative diagnosis of the associated tumor was rarely done. The sonographic features reported are highly suggestive of urothelial tumor and may lead to an accurate preoperative diagnosis.