[Extrahepatic symptoms in the course of GBV-C/HGV infection]. / Manifestations extrahépatiques au cours de l'infection par le GBV-C/HGV.

The GBV-C/HGV virus has clearly established transmission modes, mainly blood contamination, and occasionally sexual transmission. It is frequently found among transfused patients, intravenous drug abusers, and hemodialysis patients and often associated with HCV. Its hepatic pathogenicity is very weak, marked by a moderate and transitory cytolysis. Chronic carriage is possible, but does not lead to chronic hepatitis. Carriage can be maintained before the virus disappears. The authors report the case of a patient presenting with pleuropericarditis after a blood transfusion without any other etiology than infection by GBV-C/HGV virus. The possible extrahepatic pathogenicity of the virus is suggested. This hypothesis was rarely put forward.

[Acute adrenal insufficiency during unilateral adrenal hemorrhage secondary to the antiphospholipid syndrome]. / Insuffisance surrénale aiguë et hématome surrénalien unilatéral au cours d'un syndrome des antiphospholipides.

INTRODUCTION: Acute adrenal insufficiency during antiphospholipid syndrome is usually due to a bilateral adrenal hemorrhage. For a patient, an unilateral involvement has induced an acute adrenal insufficiency. CASE REPORT: A patient with an antiphospholipid syndrome has developed an acute adrenal insufficiency with an unilateral adrenal hemorrhage. This complication was caused by a concurrent steroid therapy, for an associated lupus, which resulted in a suppression of the contralateral adrenal gland. CONCLUSION: In patients with antiphospholipid syndrome and concurrent steroid therapy, usually for lupus, unilateral adrenal hemorrhage can cause acute adrenal insufficiency. Withdrawal of steroid might be difficult in case of undetected bilateral hemorrhage.