Young ischemic stroke in Tunisia: a multicentric study.

PURPOSE: There is wanting data regarding young ischemic stroke in developing countries, especially in Tunisia. The purpose of this study was to investigate risk factors and etiologies of young ischemic stroke in Tunisian and make a comparison with previous reports. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 102 young ischemic stroke patients (15-45 years old) were admitted, between January 1996 and August 2007, to 11 departments of internal medicine in different Tunisian hospitals. The risk factors for stroke were documented and assessed. Diagnosis workup consisted of anamnesis, complete physical examination and extensive laboratory, radiologic, immunologic, neurologic and cardiologic examination. Stroke etiologies were classified according the Trial of ORG 10172 in acute stroke treatment. RESULTS: There were 42 men (41.2%) and 60 women (58.89%) with a mean age at onset of 35.7 years. As regards stroke subtype, large-artery atherosclerosis was diagnosed in 6.9% of cases, cardioembolism in 11.8%, small-vessel occlusion in 8.8%, other determined etiology in 37.3% and undetermined etiology in 35.3%. Concerning the traditional risk factors, smoking (31.4%), hypertension and diabetes mellitus (12.7% for each one) and a family history of stroke (10.8%) were the most common. The mean follow-up period was 30.5 months. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, traditional risk factors were not-so-uncommon in young adults with ischemic stroke suggesting that prevention can go through controlling these factors. Stroke of other determined etiology was the most common among our patients, so that a broad and detailed diagnostic workup is crucial to puzzle out the etiology for more and better stroke prevention.

The incidence of serious adverse events in a tunisian hospital: a retrospective medical record review study.

AIM: To describe the epidemiology of serious adverse events (SAE) reported in the division of internal medicine at the Mongi Slim university hospital in Tunis, to analyze their causes and contributing factors and compare them to that reported in literature so as to establish prevention strategies when these events were deemed preventable. Methods This retrospective study collected the medical records of randomly selected 500 index hospitalizations. Records review was conducted in two stages: a primary review that aimed to detect hospitalizations where a SAE was likely to have occurred then a secondary review which purpose was to confirm the presence of the SAE, to determine its nature and its preventability. RESULTS: SAE were detected in 5.2% of hospitalizations with a preventability of 57.7%. These events were responsible for a prolongation in 27.0% of hospitalizations and disability in 15.4% of cases. They were the cause of admission in 42.9% of hospitalizations in which a SAE occurred. The SAE consisted in adverse drug events in 73.0% of cases, healthcare-associated infections in 19.0% of cases, non-surgical procedures in 4% of cases and pressure ulcers in 4.0% of cases. Age and number of comorbidities were identified as the main risk factors for the occurrence of SAE. CONCLUSION: Awareness of the extent and severity of the problem of iatrogenesis is necessary because it is a prerequisite to establishing a culture of patient safety among caregivers.

[Neuroacanthocytosis: a diagnosis that should be considered]. / Neuroacantheocytoses: un diagnostic à ne pas méconnaître.

BACKGROUND: Neuroacanthocythosis regroup heterogeneous neurodegenerative diseases. These conditions share neurological, hematological and even systemic features. In spite of the genetic progress, their pathogenesis is still unknown. AIM: To report a new case of neuroacanthocythosis CASE REPORT: A 37-year-old woman was admitted for orofacial choreatic movement disorder. These movements were associated to dysarthria, lip and tongue mutilation, areflexia and raised plasma creatine kinase level. Examination of blood smear reveled 10% of acanthocytosis. Neuro-acanthocytosis diagnosis, precisely choreaacanthocytosis, was done. CONCLUSION: Neuro-acanthocytosis should be considered in any movement disorder in order to attempt a genetic counseling.

[Acute pancreatitis associated with hemophagocytic syndrome in systemic lupus erythematous: a case report]. / Pancréatite aiguë et syndrome hémophagocytaire au cours d'une poussée lupique: a propos d'une observation.

Exceptionally, acute pancreatitis and reactive hemophagocytic syndrome (RHS) are observed in the course of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the association of the two conditions has never been reported before. A 31-years-old woman with a 7-year history of SLE was admitted for abdominal pain and fever. Elevated serum amylase and pancreatic enlargement on computerized tomography confirmed the diagnosis of pancreatitis. Laboratory examinations revealed pancytopenia, abnormal hepatic tests, and elevation of serum LDH and triglyceride levels. Bone marrow aspiration showed hemophagocytosis. The patient responded well to high dose corticosteroids. About eighty cases of pancreatitis have been reported in patients with SLE. The mechanisms are still unclear: SLE as the primary etiologic factor, drug toxicity, especially steroids which play a controversial role, or infection. About 40 cases of RHS have been reported in patients with SLE, sometimes associated with active infection. Overall mortality is 38.5%. When RHS occurs as an initial manifestation of SLE, or in the course of active SLE, it responds well to immunosuppressive therapy.

[Wolfram syndrome. A new case report]. / Le syndrome de Wolfram. A propos d'une nouvelle observation.

The WOLFRAM syndrome (SW) is a rare hereditary disorder described for the first time in 1938 as the coexistence of a diabetes mellitus and an optic atrophy to which join frequently a diabetes insipidus and a bilateral deafness. Several genetic studies are current to determine transmission mechanisms, physiopathology of the disorder to update a curative therapy. On the occasion of a new case report we remind the main characteristics of this syndrome. The SW is a rare neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the coexistence of diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, optic atrophy and deafness. Several other manifestations are frequently associated: neurological, urologic and endocrinous abnormalities as well as growth troubles. Only diabetes mellitus and optic atrophy are compulsory for the diagnosis. This Syndrome is transmitted to the autosomic recessive mode. Mitochondrial heredity is in the course of study. The systematic practice of a cerebral IRM during a SW allows finding several malformative abnormalities of which the most typical is the agenesis of the post-pituitary gland. The prognosis of the affection is essentially conditioned by the evoluting complications of the uropathy and the diabetes mellitus. The treatment is symptomatic. Genetic therapy is in.