[Evaluation of the prescription of long-term systemic steroid-therapy associated measures]. / Mesures adjuvantes à une corticothérapie systémique prolongée : que faut-il prescrire ?

INTRODUCTION: To prevent the occurrence of corticosteroid's side effects, adjuvant measures are prescribed in a very different way depending on the practitioner's experience. The aim of this study was to assess the physicians' practices regarding the prescription of long-term corticosteroid therapy. METHODS: In May 2010, we realized a cross-sectional study among physicians in Ibn Sina University Hospital in Rabat. With a data collection form, we assessed the principal indications for prescribing steroids and the frequency of prescription of measures sometimes associated with systemic corticosteroid. RESULTS: Fifty-nine out of eighty physicians completed the data collection form (response rate: 69.4%). Calcium-vitamin D supplementation was recommended by most of the physicians. Half of them were prescribing biphosphonate therapy. Most of them propose a low-sodium, a low-fat and a low-carbohydrate dietary regimen. Regular physical exercise was recommended by 35% of physicians. Gastric protection was indicating by 54.4% of practicians and potassium supplementation by 42.1% of them. Finally, the recommendation for influenza vaccination, hydrocortisone prescription and Synacthen(®) test, varied between physicians. CONCLUSION: The prescription of adjuvant measures with a long-term corticosteroid therapy was very heterogeneous. There is no consensus regarding most of the measures.

[Iatrogenic Kaposi's disease in Morocco in a non-transplant context]. / La maladie de Kaposi iatrogène au Maroc en dehors du contexte de la transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Kaposi's disease (KD) is a multifocal disease affecting the skin and viscera. KD can occur in an endemic setting: it may be associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or it may occur as a complication of immunosuppression, particularly of iatrogenic origin in transplant patients. The purpose of this study is to describe the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic profile and the course of iatrogenic KD in Morocco in a setting not involving organ transplantation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study conducted at the dermatology department of the Ibn Sina hospital centre in Rabat, Morocco, covering a 21-year period and including 14 patients presenting histologically confirmed iatrogenic KD. RESULTS: Eight men and six women were included with a mean age of 56 years. All patients received corticosteroids, in combination with cyclophosphamide in three cases and with azathioprine in one case. The mean time to onset of lesions after the start of treatment was 16.5 months. The presentation in all cases was cutaneous. Impaired mucosal membrane was seen in 35.7% of patients, with visceral involvement being seen in only one patient. HIV serology tests were negative in all patients but HHV8 serology tests were positive in 78.5% of patients. Treatment consisted primarily of reduction or withdrawal of the immunosuppressant. The outcome was favourable in the majority of cases. CONCLUSION: In Morocco, KD is a rare but not exceptional complication of immunosuppressant therapy, particularly corticosteroids. The disease presented as a skin disorder in all of our patients, thus emphasising the value of regular follow-up and routine dermatological examination of patients on immunosuppressant therapy, and suggesting the value of screening for HHV8 infection before initiating such therapy.