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1.
Rev Med Interne ; 28(4): 213-7, 2007 Apr.
Article in French | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17207561

ABSTRACT

UNLABELLED: The Fine's score, a predictive score of infectious pneumonia gravity, does not integrate inflammatory parameters, which are routinely used in the management of infectious pneumonia. The aim of our study was to establish a correlation between the Fine's score and C reactive protein. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred patients hospitalized for infectious pneumonia, 57 men and 43 female, with an average age of 85 years were retrospectively recorded. RESULTS: The median level of C reactive protein was 157 mg/L. Global mortality rate was 26% and respectively 5, 16 and 45% in the grades III, IV, V of the Fine's score. Beyond 75,5 mg/L C reactive protein concentration, the mortality rate was contained between 28 and 32%. The comparison of the ROC curves of the Fine's score and C reactive protein did not showed any difference. CONCLUSION: C-Reactive protein is less precise than the Fine's score to assess infectious pneumonia gravity but seems to be an indicator of the potential gravity of the pneumonia.


Subject(s)
C-Reactive Protein/analysis , Pneumonia/blood , Pneumonia/mortality , Severity of Illness Index , Aged, 80 and over , Female , France/epidemiology , Humans , Male , Prognosis , Retrospective Studies
2.
Rev Med Interne ; 27(11): 813-27, 2006 Nov.
Article in French | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16982117

ABSTRACT

This is a multicentric retrospective study of aspergillosis in patients treated by corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressive drugs for systemic diseases and a review of the literature. Nine patients, 5 men and 4 women, mean age of 62.8 years old were included among which Horton's diseases (3 cases), systemic lupus erythematosus (2), polymyositis (1), microscopic polyangiitis (1), idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (1), rheumatoid polyarthritis (1). Aspergillosis occurred in average 28.4 month after the diagnosis of systemic disease, and 28 months after the beginning of its treatment: corticosteroids in all cases, at a dose of 50.8 mg/day (equivalent prednisone) in average, cyclophosphamide (2 cases), methotrexate (1), intravenous immunoglobulins (1), leflunomide (1). All cases were invasive or chronic pulmonary aspergillosis located in the lungs (6 cases), or in the brain (3). Revealing symptoms were mild and non specific. Lymphopenia was severe in most cases, in average 472 lymphocytes/mm3 and 283 CD4+/mm3. The diagnosis was confirmed 20.75 days after the first symptoms in invasive aspergillosis, and 18.5 months in the chronic pulmonary cases, by cultures in 7 cases (broncho-alveolar lavage: 4; cerebral biopsy: 3), and direct microscopy examination of broncho-alveolar lavage in 2 cases. Specific serology was positive in 4 cases. Patients were treated by voriconazole (4 cases), itraconazole (2), amphotericin B (1), association of caspofungin and voriconazole (1), successive voriconazole and itraconazole (1). Six patients recovered from aspergillosis with 10.8 months of following time, 3 patients died a few days after confirmation of the diagnosis. Fifty-four cases of the literature are analysed.


Subject(s)
Adrenal Cortex Hormones/therapeutic use , Aspergillosis/complications , Aspergillosis/drug therapy , Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Arthritis, Rheumatoid/complications , Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy , Aspergillosis/diagnosis , Aspergillosis/mortality , Drug Therapy, Combination , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Giant Cell Arteritis/complications , Giant Cell Arteritis/drug therapy , Humans , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/complications , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/drug therapy , Male , Middle Aged , Polymyositis/complications , Polymyositis/drug therapy , Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic/complications , Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic/drug therapy , Retrospective Studies
4.
Lupus ; 15(4): 223-31, 2006.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16686262

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to evaluate the response to treatment and the long-term outcome in a cohort of patients in whom severe autoimmune hemolytic anaemia (AHA) was the leading manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Twenty-six women with severe isolated AHA were included. Corticosteroids were used as the initial treatment for all patients in our study. An initial response was obtained in all but one patient (96%). The overall recurrence rate was three per 100 person-years, with an expected recurrence-free proportion of 73% with a 180 months median follow-up. Seven patients (27%) experienced a relapse of AHA. We found a higher proportion of pleuritis in relapsing patients. Only three patients experienced multiple relapses despite splenectomy and several immunosuppressants. Steroid-sparing effect of hydroxychloroquine and azathioprine could not be assessed because most of the patients received these treatments for other reasons than AHA. Intravenous immunoglobulins induced transient response in three cases. Splenectomy was efficient to definitively control AHA in one patient but two patients quickly experienced relapses while one patient did not benefit. Five patients received immunosuppressants that induced only transient responses. Rituximab was long-term efficient in one case. In conclusion, severe AHA is a serious complication of SLE that warrants appropriate management. On the basis of our experience, the ideal treatment of isolated AHA should be oral corticosteroids in first-line treatment. Our study does not support an important role for splenectomy. Patients refractory to conventional therapy should be treated either with few toxic immunosuppressive drugs, danazol or rituximab.


Subject(s)
Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune/drug therapy , Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/complications , Prednisone/therapeutic use , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune/etiology , Child , Female , Humans , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/drug therapy , Middle Aged , Recurrence , Treatment Outcome
5.
Rev Med Interne ; 27(1): 5-9, 2006 Jan.
Article in French | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16260070

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Influenza vaccination reduces the mortality of the patients when the vaccination rates of healthcare workers is important. PURPOSE AND METHOD OF THE STUDY: To investigate the vaccination rates at the Universitary Hospital of Besançon by anonymous questionnaire. RESULTS: Three thousand hundred seventy-seven answers were analyzed (228 men and 1145 women). Two hundred seventy-seven persons declared receiving the vaccine (20.1%) corresponding to sixty-three men (27.6%) and two hundred thirteen women (18.6%) (P = 0.001). The average age of the healthcare workers vaccined was of 38.9+/-11 years. Among most than 50 years, 34% was vaccined. Among the doctors, 40.5% were vaccined against 20.6% of the nurses. In the services of geriatrics, 78.5% of the staff was vaccined. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate a weak rate of influenza vaccination in our establishment and a misunderstanding of the character nosocomial of the influenza among the nurse.


Subject(s)
Hospitals, University , Influenza Vaccines , Personnel, Hospital , Vaccination/statistics & numerical data , France , Humans , Seasons
6.
Rev Med Interne ; 26(11): 891-3, 2005 Nov.
Article in French | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16137798

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Sometimes, in front of a clinical setting of thrombophilia, the biological findings are helpless. Therefore we suggest to test a protein Z deficiency. EXEGESIS: Protein Z is a vitamin-K dependent protein forming a complex with the Z protein-dependent protease inhibitor for inhibiting the activated factor X; so protein Z acts as a "natural low molecular weight heparin". The prothrombotic phenotype associated with protein Z deficiency includes early fetal losses (before the 20th week of gestation), early and relapsing venous thrombosis in patients with factor V Leiden mutation and somehow ischaemic stroke in young people. CONCLUSION: The protein Z deficiency seems to be associated with a particular prothrombotic phenotype including early fetal losses as well as early and relapsing venous thromboses in patients carrying the factor V Leiden mutation. It is unclear whether or not it plays a role as a thrombophilic factor especially in the arterial vascular field.


Subject(s)
Blood Proteins/genetics , Blood Proteins/physiology , Thrombophilia/genetics , Adolescent , Adult , DNA Mutational Analysis , Humans , Phenotype , Stroke/etiology , Thrombophilia/physiopathology , Venous Thrombosis/etiology
8.
Rev Med Interne ; 26(3): 238-41, 2005 Mar.
Article in French | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-15777586

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Oncogenic osteomalacia (OO) is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome characterized by severe hypophosphatemia induced by phosphaturic factors which are secreted by some tumors of mesenchymal origin. Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 (FGF-23) belongs to this family. Measurement of FGF-23 might improve the diagnosis of OO. EXEGESIS: We report the case of 71-year-old Caucasian man who had a history of severe osteomalacia with multiples fractures and extreme hypophosphatemia with hyperphosphaturia and normal serum calcium level. Serum FGF-23 was 199 RU/ml (N < 100 RU/ml). The tumor, detected by F-18 FDG PET/CT SCAN was localized in the mandible. Surgical removal of the tumor relieved all symptoms with normalization of serum phosphate levels within 3 days after surgery. CONCLUSION: We conclude that FGF-23 measurement is likely to be of considerable importance for facilitating early diagnosis of OO.


Subject(s)
Biomarkers/analysis , Fibroblast Growth Factors/blood , Osteomalacia/diagnosis , Osteomalacia/etiology , Aged , Fibroblast Growth Factor-23 , Fractures, Bone/etiology , Humans , Male , Mandible/pathology , Positron-Emission Tomography
11.
Rev Med Interne ; 25(2): 129-34, 2004 Feb.
Article in French | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-14744643

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Amyloidosis is a rare disease associated with an underestimated frequency because of the need of a pathological diagnosis identifying extracellular deposits with affinity for Congo red. There are moreover 20 proteins that can form extracellular fibril deposits. Some amyloidosis forms are more common than others, especially AA amyloidosis and AL amyloidosis. Among genetic amyloidosis, the transthyretin related amyloidosis is the most prevalent. The amyloid frequency could also be increased if amyloidosis related to Alzheimer's disease or prion's disease is included. In the absence of specific treatment for amyloidosis, researches are focused on amyloidosis pathophysiology especially, on AA amyloid pathophysiology. CURRENT KNOWLEDGE AND KEY POINTS: Amyloid is not only composed of fibrils but also of proteoglycanes, P component and amyloid-enhancing factor. A new research aim is focused on the cells involved in amyloid formation and on the relationship between amyloid, proteoglycanes and P component. FUTURE PROSPECTS AND PROJECTS: It was demonstrated that, in the absence of macrophages, an extracellular amyloid formation was possible with amyloid-enhancing factor as starting point. Some inhibitors of intra or extracellular amyloid formation are still to be discovered. Anti-P component has been recently developed; it was successful in the treatment of murin AA amyloidosis and gave some hope concerning the treatment of human amyloidosis.


Subject(s)
Amyloidosis/genetics , Amyloidosis/physiopathology , Serum Amyloid P-Component/pharmacology , Amyloidosis/immunology , Glycoproteins/pharmacology , Humans , Proteoglycans/pharmacology
12.
Rev Med Interne ; 25(2): 141-6, 2004 Feb.
Article in French | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-14744645

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Temporal arteritis involves large vessels in 15% of cases. Their discovery is usually late, commonly several years after the diagnosis. EXEGESIS: We describe three cases of temporal arteritis with thoracic aorta involvement: two patients presented with aorta aneurysm which revealed temporal arteritis, one patient had aortic insufficiency. Clinical features of temporal arteritis were absent in two patients. Temporal artery biopsy, performed in two cases, was positive. Two patients were treated with corticosteroids, associated in one case with immunosuppressive agent. Surgery was necessary in all patients. CONCLUSION: Thoracic aorta involvement in Horton's disease is most often discovered when corticotherapy is decreased. Aneurysm rupture or aortic dissection in aortic affection are the major complication. Patient with thoracic aorta involvement need a clinical and radiological follow up over long period.


Subject(s)
Aorta, Thoracic/pathology , Aortic Aneurysm/etiology , Aortic Valve Insufficiency/etiology , Giant Cell Arteritis/complications , Giant Cell Arteritis/diagnosis , Adrenal Cortex Hormones/therapeutic use , Aged , Aortic Aneurysm/pathology , Aortic Valve Insufficiency/pathology , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Giant Cell Arteritis/surgery , Humans , Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use
13.
Rev Med Interne ; 24(7): 431-5, 2003 Jul.
Article in French | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-12829215

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The value of eosinopenia as a test in favour of an infectious disease was suggested by Schilling since 1929. We tried to verify this hypothesis with a prospective and multicentric study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One thousand and thirty-eight patients were included (82 females and 56 males, means age: 71.8 years). Diagnoses were: 83 infectious diseases, 38 systemic diseases, 10 neoplasia and 7 miscellaneous. RESULTS: The mean value of eosinophils was 72/mm3 in bacterial infectious diseases and 214/mm3 in non infectious diseases (p < 0.01). When leukocytes were higher than 10,000/mm3 and eosinophils counts less than 40/mm3, predictive value for an infectious bacterial disease was 100% as well as specificity. Under same conditions, when protein C reactive was higher than 100mg x l(-1), the predictive value was 85% and the specificity was 57%. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that an inflammatory syndrome associated with hyperleucocytosis above 10,000/mm3 and eosinophils counts under 40/mm3 seems strongly related to bacterial infectious diseases.


Subject(s)
Bacterial Infections/diagnosis , Bacterial Infections/microbiology , Biomarkers/analysis , Eosinophils , Inflammation/immunology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Inflammation/diagnosis , Leukocyte Count , Male , Middle Aged , Predictive Value of Tests , Prospective Studies , Syndrome
15.
Rev Med Interne ; 23(8): 696-702, 2002 Aug.
Article in French | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-12360751

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The value of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) detected in the sera of the patients of an Internal Medicine department is not univocal and is still much debated. To test the contribution of such new markers, we reviewed the records of patients having antiphospholipid antibodies detected between 1996 and 1997. METHODS: One hundred and twenty four patients, having at least one of these two aPL: lupus anticoagulant (LA), anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL), or one of these two anti-proteins: anti-beta 2glycoprotéin I antibodies (anti-beta 2GPI) or anti-prothrombin antibodies (aPT), were studied. LA was detected by a PTT-LA technique and aCL, anti-beta 2GPI and aPT by ELISA-sandwich techniques. For each patient we recorded sex, age, personal and familial history of thrombosis, fetal losses and systemic disease, the reason of aPL detection, the final diagnosis, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), platelets count and type of aPL. RESULTS: The population was composed of 77 women (62%) and 47 men (38%) with a mean age of 54 years [12-92 years]. A thrombocytopenia was strongly correlated to aCL presence (OR = 6.15 et p = 0.03). The reason of aPL detection was venous thrombosis, recurrent fetal losses, systemic disease, infectious disease or fortuitous discovery of a prolonged aPTT. The final diagnosis was a systemic disease in 57% of cases, an infectious disease in 14.5%, a thrombosis in 4.5% and a neoplasia in 3%. LA was detected in 54% of patients, aCL in 39.5%, anti-beta 2GPI in 23% and aPT in 31%. No relationship between the aPTT value and the type of aPL could be established. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that familial histories of venous thrombosis or systemic disease are useful to enhance antiphospholipid antibodies detection; that LA is mostly associated to systemic and infectious diseases; that aCL and anti-beta 2GPI are predominant in case of venous thrombosis and that thrombocytopenia has to enhance aCL detection and the discussion about a possible APS.


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Antiphospholipid/analysis , Biomarkers/analysis , Venous Thrombosis/complications , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Child , Female , Humans , Internal Medicine/statistics & numerical data , Male , Medical History Taking , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Thrombocytopenia/complications , Venous Thrombosis/diagnosis
16.
Rev Med Interne ; 23(6): 554-7, 2002 Jun.
Article in French | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-12108180

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Livedoid vasculopathy is characterized by early, focal painful purpuric lesions of the lower skin extremities without histologic finding of small vessel vasculitis. EXEGESIS: A 38-year-old man was seen in our unit for painful purpuric lesions of both feet localized on toes and external sides. Skin biopsy showed dermic vessel thrombosis and endothelial cell proliferation. Lupus anticogulant antibody was positive in association with a heterozygous factor V (Leiden) gene mutation (G1691A). Anticoagulation failed to relieve pain and cutaneous lesions. Intravenous iloprost, a prostacylcin analogous (Ilomedine) was dramatically and rapidly effective in our patient. CONCLUSION: Livedoid vasculopathy is a cutaneous affection related to vascular thrombotic events in which thrombophilia plays a central role. Iloprost might be an interesting alternative treatment of painful purpuric lesions when anticoagulant treatments are ineffective.


Subject(s)
Iloprost/pharmacology , Skin Diseases, Vascular/drug therapy , Thrombophilia/etiology , Vasodilator Agents/pharmacology , Adult , Anticoagulants/therapeutic use , Foot/blood supply , Foot/pathology , Humans , Iloprost/administration & dosage , Infusions, Intravenous , Male , Pain/etiology , Skin Diseases, Vascular/complications , Treatment Outcome , Vasodilator Agents/administration & dosage
18.
Rev Med Interne ; 22(6): 542-8, 2001 Jun.
Article in French | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11433563

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), a disease contracted through tick bites, is caused by a Flavivirus. Its geographical distribution comes from the geographical distribution of the reservoir of infection--i.e., mainly the tiny mammals living in the forests and bushes. The endemic area spreads from the Rhine to the Urals, from Scandinavia to Italy and Greece. CURRENT KNOWLEDGE AND KEY POINTS: Symptoms usually evolve in three phases: at first a nonspecific phase with fever and myalgia, then an afebrile phase, and finally a phase with neurological manifestations, such as meningitis, meningoencephalitis and/or myelitis, and fever. Motor neurological sequelae are possible. The cases occurring in the East are characterized by their greater severity compared to those occurring in the West. The diagnosis, easily established given a history of a tick bite in an endemic area, is confirmed by the presence of specific IgM in the blood and/or cerebral spinal fluid. FUTURE PROSPECT AND PROJECTS: There is no specific treatment. Prevention consists of individual prophylactic measures (self-examination and systematic extraction of ticks after exposure, use of repellents), and in immunization. The vaccine, prepared from inactivated viruses, should be used for target populations, that is, for people exposed to tick bites during their professional or leisure outdoor activities.


Subject(s)
Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne/pathogenicity , Encephalitis, Tick-Borne/epidemiology , Diagnosis, Differential , Encephalitis, Tick-Borne/prevention & control , Europe/epidemiology , Humans , Immunization , Immunoglobulin M/analysis , Incidence
19.
Rev Med Interne ; 22(5): 428-32, 2001 May.
Article in French | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11402513

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Myelodysplastic syndromes are clonal hematologic disorders, expanded from myeloid stem cells. A primitive immunologic disorder is discussed. This hypothesis could explain a non-casual association with systemic diseases. The aim of our study is to test this hypothesis. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated the data of 60 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (group I) hospitalized in our unit from 1990 to 1999. The frequency of systemic disorders was screened and compared to controls (group II). Group II consisted of 120 patients matched for age and sex and hospitalized in the same hospital during the same period. RESULTS: Sixty patients were included (mean age: 83 years old). Myelodysplastic syndrome subtypes were refractory anemia with excessive blasts (52%), refractory anemia (43%) and sideroblastic anemia (5%). Fourteen cases of systemic manifestations were reported in group I (23%) and five in the controls (4%) (P < 0.0001). Systemic manifestations in group I included vasculitis in six cases (42%), polyarthritis in three cases (21%), systemic amyloidosis AA in two cases (14%), relapsing polychondritis in one case, pyoderma gangrenosum in one case and celiac disease associated with a systemic granulomatosis in one case. In the controls, vasculitis was present in four cases and polyarthritis in one. Median age at onset of myelodysplastic syndrome was not influenced by the association with systemic disorders which, in return, have not influenced the myelodysplastic syndromes' subtypes. Myelodysplastic syndromes succeeded to systemic manifestations in 71.4% of cases and could not be attributed to immunosuppressive therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The association of myelodysplastic syndromes with systemic manifestations seems not to be casual. It raises the hypothesis of a primitive immunological disorder in both diseases. Moreover, the description of two cases of systemic amyloidosis and one case of pyoderma gangrenosum might suggest an additional disorder of macrophages or granular cells.


Subject(s)
Amyloidosis/complications , Arthritis/complications , Celiac Disease/complications , Myelodysplastic Syndromes/etiology , Polychondritis, Relapsing/complications , Pyoderma Gangrenosum/complications , Vasculitis/complications , Age of Onset , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Amyloidosis/diagnosis , Arthritis/diagnosis , Celiac Disease/diagnosis , Female , Humans , Male , Myelodysplastic Syndromes/drug therapy , Myelodysplastic Syndromes/mortality , Polychondritis, Relapsing/diagnosis , Pyoderma Gangrenosum/diagnosis , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Survival Analysis , Vasculitis/diagnosis
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