[Yellow nail syndrome. Apropos of 2 cases. Review of the literature]. / Syndrome des ongles jaunes. A propos de deux cas. Revue de la littérature.

The yellow nail syndrome is a clinical syndrome without specific biological parameters. It is characterized by the following threesome of symptoms: nail abnormalities, primary lymphedema, and pleuropulmonary manifestations. In most cases lymphography shows abnormalities of the lymphatic vessels and spirometry shows a restrictive defect and rarely obstructive disorders. Pathogenesis of this syndrome is still unknown. It is, however, remarkable that the yellow nail syndrome may occur in association with other diseases, the most frequent of which are cancer affections and immune disorders. We report two cases of the yellow nail syndrome which were associated with cancer (neoplasm of the larynx and breast).

[Cerebral amyloid angiopathy apropos of a case. Review of the literature]. / Angiopathie amyloïde cérébrale: à propos d'un cas. Revue de la littérature.

The authors present the case of an 83 year-old man with cerebral amyloid angiopathy who had three successive lobar intracerebral hematomas within 4 weeks. There were neither a predisposing familial factor nor cardiovascular risk factors nor any other cause favouring cerebral bleeding. The autopsy revealed amyloid deposits in small cortical and meningeal arteries. No other lesions of the Alzheimer's disease was found.

[Lyme disease disclosed by disabling amyotrophy]. / Maladie de Lyme révélée par une amyotrophie invalidante.

The Lyme disease, which was first found in Lyme, USA, in 1975 is an infectious multi-system disorder whose agent, the Borrelia Burgdorferi, was identified in 1983. Various disease manifestations have been reported since them. We report a case of Lyme disease manifestation in the muscle revealed by serious amyotrophy in the scapular muscles, in the neck and in the trunk with scapula alata accompanied by noctural lumbago which is resistant to non steroïd anti-inflammatory drugs. Electromyography showed patterns of the myogenic type in the serrate anterior and infraspinous muscles on both sides and patterns of the neurogenic peripheral type in the lower extremities. The histological, immunohistochemical and electron-microscopal studies of the muscle biopsy have been without any pathological result. Creatine kinase and aldolase proved normal. Serological antibodies were not significantly increased. A positive diagnosis was obtained by lumbar puncture which showed lymphocytic meningitis, by demonstrating specific antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid and by Western Blot antibodies analysis. Efficacy of the antibiotic therapy has resulted in a rapid regression of the symptoms, which is a further confirmation of the previous diagnosis.