Primary adrenal lymphoma: a case of hiccups.

Approximately 250 cases of primary adrenal lymphoma have been reported. We describe an unusual presentation of this condition. Our patient is a 65-year-old male whom presented to the emergency department with 4 days of severe persistent hiccups. He had lost 26 kg in weight in the preceding 4 months. Computed tomography abdomen revealed large invasive bilateral adrenal masses. Biochemical evaluation confirmed adrenal insufficiency. Hiccups resolved within 24 h of steroid replacement. Adrenal biopsy confirmed a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Hypotheses for the aetiology of his hiccups include diaphragmatic irritation and primary adrenal insufficiency. This case is interesting for its rarity involving bilateral adrenal glands, Addison's disease from the primary adrenal tumour and rapid resolution of hiccups with corticosteroid therapy.

Wilson disease: copper deficiency and iatrogenic neurological complications with zinc therapy.

A 17-year-old female was diagnosed with Wilson disease and commenced on oral zinc therapy. She re-presented 6 months later with a fall and had classical signs of subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord confirmed on nerve conduction studies, as a result of zinc-induced copper deficiency. After 6 months of copper therapy, she made a complete recovery with no residual neurological deficits. Early detection of zinc-induced copper deficiency and stringent follow-up mechanisms are crucial. Early initiation of copper replacement may both limit and completely reverse neurological deficits.

Celiac disease in Middle Eastern and North African countries: a new burden?

Celiac disease (CD) is now recognized as a common disorder among Middle Eastern (ME) and North African (NA) populations. The aim of this review is to assess the available data regarding CD in the ME and NA and to compare this information with that of Western countries. A literature review was performed using the electronic databases PubMed and Medline (1950-2008) as search engines, and "celiac disease" was used as a Mesh term. The search was limited to ME and NA countries. The prevalence of CD in ME and NA countries among low risk populations is similar to that of Western countries, but is higher in high risk populations such as those with type 1 diabetes. It is underestimated because of lack of clinical suspicion and lack of patient awareness. Clinical presentations in term of gastrointestinal, hematologic, skeletal, and liver manifestations are similar between both populations except for a high prevalence of short stature in some ME and NA countries. Few studies have addressed atypical or silent CD. As in the West, diagnosis is initially made by serological tests and is confirmed by small intestinal biopsies. Gluten-free diet is the main mode of treatment with a higher apparent adherence rate than in the West. Most disease complications result from malabsorption. The disease is strongly associated with HLA DQ2 and to a lesser extent with HLA DQ8 alleles. In conclusion, CD prevalence is underestimated, with little data available about its malignant complications. Disease parameters in the ME and NA are otherwise similar to those in Western countries.