[Takayasu's disease: an underdiagnosed entity in Sub-Saharan Africa. Report of five Gabonese cases]. / Maladie de Takayasu : une entité sous-diagnostiquée en Afrique Subsaharienne. À propos de cinq observations gabonaises.

Background: Takayasu's disease (TM) is a vasculitis of the aorta and its main branches, Infectious diseases, especially Mycobacterium tuberculosis, can be a trigger for the development of TM by a hypersensitivity reaction, but paradoxically very few cases of the disease are reported in the literature review. Materials and methods: Through a retrospective study carried out in the departments of internal medicine and cardiology of the Centre hospitalier universitaire de Libreville (CHUL) in Gabon, we identified all the observations of TM diagnosed in the said departments from 03/2014 to 05/2022, and rediscussed them on the basis of the criteria of Sharma et al. of 1996. Results: Five patients (3 men, 2 women), with an average age of 38.4 years were found. 2/5 patients reported a history of pulmonary tuberculosis. There was a change in general condition (n=4), fever (n=2), arterial hypertension (n=4), a decrease in the radial pulse (n=2), rheumatological manifestations (n=3), involvement of the serous membranes (n=3). CRP was positive (n=4), and HIV1,2 serology negative (n=5). Echocardiography found pulmonary arterial hypertension (n=1), constrictive pericarditis (n=1) and valvular involvement (minimal aortic insufficiency) (n=1), and typing of aortic involvement by computed tomography or CT angiography staged Takayasu's disease as type IIa (n=2), IIb (n=2) and IV (n=1). The patients were treated with oral corticosteroid therapy (n=5) combined with methotrexate (n=4) and azathioprine (n=1). Discussion: The criteria of Sharma et al. from 1996, suggest a high probability of TM with a sensitivity of 92.5% and a specificity of 95%. In sub-Saharan Africa, TM requires the elimination of certain differential diagnoses, particularly syphillis, tuberculosis, salmonellosis, and atherosclerosis. Corticosteroid therapy (coupled with immunosuppressive treatment) remains effective, allowing significant remission of the disease, but comes up against the risk of opportunistic infections. Conclusion: There is a contrast between the involvement of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the etiopathogenesis of TM on the one hand and the endemic nature of tuberculosis on the African continent on the other hand; which contrasts with the few cases reported in sub-Saharan Africa.

Early Alterations of QTc in Patients with COVID-19 Treated with Hydroxychloroquine or Chloroquine in Libreville, Gabon.

The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine associated with azithromycin on the QTc interval in Gabonese patients treated for COVID-19. METHODS: This was an observational study conducted from April to June 2020, at the Libreville University Hospital Center in Gabon. Patients admitted for COVID-19 and treated with hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, each combined with azithromycin were included. The QTc interval was measured upon admission and 48 h after starting treatment. The primary endpoint was QTc prolongation exceeding 60 ms and/or a QTc value exceeding 500 ms at 48 h. RESULTS: Data from 224 patients, 102 (45.5%) who received hydroxychloroquine and 122 treated with chloroquine, were analyzed. The median baseline QTc was 396 (369-419) ms. After 48 h of treatment, 50 (22.3%) patients had a significant prolongation of QTc. This tended to be more frequent in patients treated with chloroquine (n = 33; 27.0%) than in those treated with hydroxychloroquine (n = 17; 16.7%) (p = 0.06). QTc prolongation exceeding 60 ms was found in 48 (21.3%) patients, while 11 patients had a (4.9%) QTc exceeding 60 ms at admission and exceeding 500 ms after 48 h. CONCLUSION: Early QTc prolongation is frequent in COVID-19 patients treated with hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine in association with azithromycin.

Profil clinique et évolutif des patients atteints du COVID-19 à Libreville étude rétrospective et mono-centrique / Clinical and evolutionary profile of patients with COVID-19 in Libreville: A Retrospective Cohort study

Introduction : L'étude clinique des patients infectés par le SARS-CoV2 est nécessaire pour la mise en œuvre des mesures préventives de lutte contre la COVID-19. L'objectif de l'étude a été de déterminer le profil clinique et évolutif des patients Covid-19 au CHU de Libreville.Méthodes : Il s'agit d'une étude rétrospective à viser analytique menée en secteur d'infectiologie COVID du SICOV du CHU de Libreville sur une période d'activité allant du 15 mars au 30 juin. La régression logistique univariée et multivariée pour explorer les facteurs de risque associés à la mortalité au SICOV a été utilisée. Résultats : Au total 441 patients COVID-19 étaient inclus dans l'étude, parmi lesquels 398 survivants (90,2%) et 43 décédés (9,8%). La population de moins de 65 ans représentait 88,0% de l'effectif. Le sex-ratio était de 1,34. Par rapport aux 398 survivants, les 43 patients décédés étaient significativement plus âgés (âge médian, 59 ans vs 48 ans ; p <0,001). Les lésions pulmonaires avec atteinte critique > 75% étaient plus importantes chez les patients décédés (29,2% vs 3,0% ; p=0,001). Cependant, après ajustement en analyse multivariée, l'âge supérieur à 65 ans était le seul facteur de risque indépendant de décès (p<0,001 ; OR=4,632 IC95% [2,243 ­ 9,565]).Conclusion : L'âge supérieur à 65 ans était le facteur de risque indépendant de décès, nécessitant un renforcement de mesure de contrôle de l'infection dans cette population

Introduction: The study of the prognostic factors of death of patients infected with SARS-CoV2 is necessary for the implementation of preventive measures against COVID-19. Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted in the COVID infectious disease sector of the SICOV of the University Hospital of Libreville over a period of activity from March 15 to June 30. The clinical course of the survivors and the deceased were compared. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression to explore risk factors associated with SICOV deaths were used.Results: A total of 441 COVID-19 patients were included in the study, of which 398 survivors (90.2%) and 43 died (9.8%). The population under 65 represented 88.0% of the workforce. The sex ratio was 1.34. Compared to the 398 survivors, the 43 patients who died were significantly older (median age, 59 years vs 48 years; p <0.001). Lung lesions with critical impairment > 75% were greater in deceased patients (29.2% vs. 3.0%; p = 0.001). On multivariate analysis, age over 65 was the main independent risk factor for death (p <0.001; OR = 4.632 95% CI [2.243 - 9.565]).Conclusion: Age over 65 was the independent risk factor for death, requiring increased infection control measures in this population

Manifestations cardiovasculaires au cours de l'infection à VIH à Libreville: étude comparative de patients séropositifs et séronégatifs / Cardiovascular Manifestations during HIV infection in Libreville: Comparative study of seropositive and seronegative patients

Introduction. Le spectre des atteintes cardiovasculaires au cours de l'infection à VIH a été modifi é par la trithérapie antirétrovirale. L'objectif de ce travail était de décrire le profi l des manifestations cardiovasculaires chez les patients vivants avec le VIH en le comparant à celui de patients séronégatifs. Méthodes. Il s'est agi d'une étude cas-témoins des dossiers de patients respectivement séropositifs et séronégatifs hospitalisés pour une pathologie cardiovasculaire au service de cardiologie du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Libreville de janvier 2015 à décembre 2018. L'analyse statistique a été réalisée à l'aide du logiciel Statview 5.0. Lestests de Chi-2 de Pearson ou Exact de Ficher ont été utilisés pour la comparaison des proportions. Résultats. L'étude a porté sur sur l'analyse de 82 et 150 dossiers de patients respectivement séropositifs et séronégatifs. Un âge inférieur à 50 ans était retrouvé chez 70,7% des séropositifs et 43,3% des séronégatifs (p<0,01). Le taux de CD4 moyen des séropositifs était de 189±170/mm3 et 45,1% d'entre eux étaient sous trithérapie antiretrovirale.La cardiomyopathie dilatée était l'atteinte cardiaque la plus fréquente chez les séropositifs (42,7%) et chez les séronégatifs (52,7%) (p=0,14). La maladie thromboembolique veineuse était relevée chez 7(8,5%) séropositifs et 14 (8,8%) séronégatifs (p=0,93). Une péricardite était diagnostiquée chez 25,6% des séropositifs avec une étiologie tuberculeuse dans 85,7% des cas. Les pathologies vasculaires athéromateuses étaient plus fréquentes chez les séronégatifs (23,1%) comparés aux séropositifs (6,1%) (p<0,01). La mortalité des séropositifs était principalement due aux péricardites (71,4%). Conclusion. les manifestations cardiovasculaires liées à l'immunodépression persistent chez les personnes vivant avec le VIH à Libreville. Un dépistage précoce de ces atteintes permettrait de réduire la mortalité.

Introduction. The spectrum of cardiovascular damage during HIV infection has been modified by triple antiretroviral therapy. The objective of this study was to describe the profile of cardiovascular manifestations in patients living with HIV by comparing it to the one of seronegative patients. Methods. This was a case-control study which focused on the files of patients hospitalized for a cardiovascular pathology in the cardiology department of the Center Hospitalier Universitaire de Libreville from january 2015 to december. 2018. Results. In total, there was on the analysis of the files of 82 seropositive patients and 150 seronegative patients. The age found was less than 50 years old in 70.7% of seropositives and 43.3% of seronegatives (p <0.01). The mean CD4 count in seropositives was 189 ± 170 /mm3 and 45.1% of them were on triple antiretroviral therapy. Dilated cardiomyopathy was the most common cardiac disease in HIVpositive (42.7%) and HIV-negative (52.7%) (p = 0.14). Venous thromboembolic disease was noted in 7 (8.5%) seropositives and 14 (8.8%) seronegatives (p=0.93).Pericarditis was diagnosed in 25.6% of seropositives patients with a tuberculous etiology in 85.7% of cases. Atheromatous vascular pathologies were more frequent in seronegative (23.1%) compared to seropositive (6.1%) (p <0.01). Mortality among seropositive was mainly due to pericarditis (71.4%)