Clinical ACO phenotypes: Description of a heterogeneous entity.

BACKGROUND: Because ACO (Asthma-COPD-Overlap) does not fill out asthma or COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) criteria, such patients are poorly evaluated. The aim of this study was to screen asthma and COPD for an alternative diagnosis of ACO, then to determine subgroups of patients, using cluster analysis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Using GINA-GOLD stepwise approach, asthmatics and COPD were screened for ACO. Clusterization was then performed employing Multiple Correspondent Analysis (MCA) model, encompassing 9 variables (age, symptoms onset, sex, BMI (Body Mass Index), smoking, FEV-1, dyspnea, exacerbation, comorbidity). Finally, clusters were compared to determine phenotypes. RESULTS: MCA analysis was performed on 172 ACO subjects. To better distinguish clusters, the analysis was then focused on 55 subjects, having at least one cosine squared >0.3. Six clusters were identified, allowing the description of 4 phenotypes. Phenotype A represented overweighed heavy smokers, with an early onset and a severe disease (27% of ACO patients). Phenotype B gathered similar patients, with a late onset (29%). Patients from Phenotypes C-D were slighter smokers, presenting a moderate disease, with early and late onset respectively (respectively 13% and 31%). CONCLUSIONS: By providing evidences for clusters within ACO, our study confirms its heterogeneity, allowing the identification of 4 phenotypes. Further prospective studies are mandatory to confirm these data, to determine both specific management requirements and prognostic value.

[Mediastinal adenopathies and presence of anti-cytoplasmic antibodies of diffuse type polynuclear neutrophils]. / Adénopathies médiastinales et présence d'anticorps anti-cytoplasme des polynucléaires neutrophiles de type diffus.

We report a case of sarcoidosis with mediastinal and pulmonary localizations associated with diffuse antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (c-ANCA). This led to discuss the differential diagnosis with vascularitis and the specificity of c-ANCA in Wegener's granulocytosis.

[Post-cardiac injury syndrome: an rare cause of pleurisy, value of pleural fluid analysis]. / Syndrome de post-agression cardiaque: une étiologie rare de pleurésie, intérêt de l'analyse du liquide pleural.

The post-cardiac injury syndrome is an inflammatory process concerning the pericardium, the pleura and/or the pulmonary parenchyma, that develops after different kinds of cardiac aggression. The diagnosis can be evoked when some clinical and biological results are present but remains one of exclusion. We report a case of post-cardiac injury syndrome for which we demonstrate an immunologic involvement of the pleura. The antimyocardial antibodies and the low complement index found in the pleura strongly support an immunologic process, and this suggests that the analysis of the pleural fluid could be useful for the diagnosis of the post-cardiac injury syndrome.

[Anaphylactic reactions to systemic corticosteroids. Review of the literature concerning 3 cases]. / Réactions anaphylactiques aux corticostéroïdes systémiques. Revue de la littérature à propos de trois cas.

Despite their antiinflammatory and antiallergic properties, corticosteroids can nevertheless cause adverse allergic reactions. This is currently accepted for local corticosteroids and there have also been about a hundred reports of variable pertinence concerning hypersensitivity reactions to systemic corticosteroids. Based on three cases of immediate hypersensitivity reactions after taking methylprednisolone, we propose a critical review of the literature, focusing particularly on methylprednisolone-induced reactions. The means of investigation currently available in drug-induced hypersensitivity reactions are also discussed.

[Restrictive myocardiopathy and pulmonary Raynaud's syndrome]. / Myocardiopathie restrictive et phénomène de Raynaud pulmonaire.

Idiopathic restrictive myocardiopathy is an uncommon condition. The differential diagnosis with constrictive pericarditis may require endomyocardial biopsy or surgical exploration. The prognosis of idiopathic restrictive myocardiopathy reported in the literature is to the order of several years. In this case the association with pulmonary Raynaud syndrome appears to be fortuitous and has not been previously reported.

[Association of idiopathic eosinophilic pleurisy and a severe pericardial effusion]. / Association d'une pleurésie à éosinophiles idiopathique et d'un épanchement péricardique mal toléré.

A 52-year-old man presented with a two month history of left sided chest pains related to a pleurisy which showed an 18 per cent eosinophilia on pleural aspiration. He was hospitalised one month later and at that stage was very dyspnoeic and there was a bilateral pleural effusion associated with a significant pericardial effusion causing compression. A pleuro-pericardial drainage eased the patient's symptoms. The pleural fluid showed an 87 per cent lymphocytosis and a complete diagnostic work up was negative thus a diagnosis of idiopathic eosinophilic pleurisy with an associated pericarditis was made. Steroid therapy was instituted using half a milligram per kilo and this led to a rapid functional improvement and no recurrence of the effusions were noted. The treatment was progressively stepped down over the next five months and the patient's condition was satisfactory without any recurrence at nine months.

[Chronic cor pulmonale after embolism, antiphospholipid syndrome, Horton disease: therapeutic approach apropos of a case]. / Coeur pulmonaire chronique post-embolique, syndrome des antiphospholipides, maladie de Horton: approach thérapeutique à propos d'un cas.

Chronic thromboembolic cor pulmonale is a rave evolutive complication of acute pulmonary embolism, responsible for a sometimes severe dysprea. The etiological research and the therapeutic possibilities are studied. The association with a Horton's disease bad us to consider the links between this pathology, the existence of antiphospholipid antibodies and the thromboembolic complications.