[Biermer's disease in the hematology service of campus teaching hospital of Lomé: 13 cases from January 2013 to December 2014]. / La maladie de biermer, a propos de 13 cas colliges du 1er Janvier 2003 au 31 Decembre 2014 au CHU campus de Lome.

AIMS: To study the epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical and therapeutic aspects of Biermer's disease in the hematology service of campus teaching hospital of Lomé. METHOD: This retrospective study was conducted in the laboratory service of the University Hospital campus in which there is a unit of clinical hematology. This study took place over a period of twelve years and has identified 13 patients (5 men, 8women). Patients were selected on the basis of clinical, paraclinical (blood cells count, bone marrow, dosage of vitamin B12 and the intrinsic factor antibody) and the therapeutic test. RESULTS: The mean age was 53 years ranging from 32 to 68 years. There was a female predominance with a sex ratio of 0.6. Clinically, there was conjonctival palor and asthenia (92% each) followed by paresthesia (62%). The blood cell count essentially showed profound anemia (7g/dl on average), macrocytic (84,6%), normocytic (15,3%), bicytopenia (61,5%) and pancytopenia (23% ). In all patients, the bone marrow study showed megaloblasts, the dosage of the vitamin showed a collapse of vitamin B12 (76,9%), and intrinsic factor antibody was positive (92,3%). The fibroscopy showed atrophic gastritis (76,9%), intestinal metaplasia (69,2%) and an absence of Helicobacter pylori. The evolution was favorable with parenteral B12 vitamin therapy for all patients. CONCLUSION: We recommend looking for iron deficiency during the follow-up and gastric biopsy even if no macroscopic lesions are found.

OBJECTIF: Etudier les aspects épidémiologiques, cliniques, paracliniques et thérapeutiques de la maladie de Biermer dans le service d'hématologie du CHU Campus de Lomé. MÉTHODE: Il s'agissait d'une étude rétrospective réalisée dans l'unité d'hématologie clinique du service des laboratoires du CHU Campus de Lomé. Cette étude s'est déroulée sur une période de douze ans et a permis de recenser 13 patients (5 hommes et 8 femmes). Les patients ont été retenus sur la base des arguments cliniques, paracliniques (hémogramme, myélogramme, dosage de la vitamine B12 et la recherche des anticorps anti-facteur intrinsèque) et le test thérapeutique. RÉSULTATS: L'âge moyen des patients était de 53 ans avec des extrêmes de 32 et 68 ans. Il y avait une prédominance féminine avec une sex-ratio de 0,6. Le tableau clinique était dominé par la pâleur conjonctivale et l'asthénie (92%) suivies de la paresthésie (62%). L'hémogramme avait montré essentiellement une anémie profonde (7g/dl en moyenne) macrocytaire (84,6%), normocytaire (15,3%), une bicytopénie (61,5%) et une pancytopénie (23%). Chez tous les patients, le myélogramme montrait des mégaloblastes, le dosage vitaminique montrait un effondrement de la vitaminémie B12 (76,9%), et l'anticorps anti-facteur intrinsèque était positif (92,3%). La fibroscopie digestive haute associée à l'examen anatomo-pathologique avait montré une gastrite atrophique (76,9%), une métaplasie intestinale (69,2%) et une absence d'hélicobacter pylori. L'évolution a été favorable sous vitaminothérapie B12 par voie parentérale chez l'ensemble des patients. CONCLUSION: Nous recommandons la recherche d'une carence martiale au cours de l'évolution et la biopsie gastrique même en l'absence de lésion macroscopique à la fibroscopie digestive haute.

[Hepatitis B virus serologic status among hospital health care staff in Lome]. / Évaluation de la protection vaccinale contre le virus de l'hépatite B chez le personnel soignant hospitalier à Lomé

To assess the hepatitis B virus (HBV) serologic status of hospital health care personnel in Lome. From June 1 to August 31, 2007, 100 workers vaccinated against HBV and 50 unvaccinated workers participated in this comparative cross-sectional study. The data studied were: age, sex, vaccination status, history of accidental exposure to blood, and enzyme-linked immunoassay results for HBs antigen (Ag), total anti-HBc antibodies (Ab), and anti-HBs Ab. Vaccinated subjects had a mean age of 33.2 ± 8.2 years and unvaccinated subjects of 35.2 ± 9.6 years; their respective sex ratios (M:W) were 2:1 and 3:1. Protective levels (>10 IU/L) of anti-HBs Ab were found in 78% (n = 78) of vaccinated subjects compared with 44% (n = 22) of those unvaccinated. HBs Ag was found in 36% (n = 36) of vaccinated and 56% (n = 28) of unvaccinated subjects. Of subjects previously accidentally exposed to blood, 67% (n = 35) had HBs Ag compared with 30% (n = 29) of those subjects without such exposure. This study has proved the high prevalence of HBs Ag carrier status among health care workers in Lome and confirms the importance of vaccination against HBV.

Aspects épidemiologiques et anatomocliniques des cancers de l'estomac à Bamako

Dans le but determiner les aspects épidémiologiques et anatomo-cliniques des cancers de l'estomac à Bamako, les auteurs ont entrepris une etude prospective transversal d'avril 2006 à décembre 2007 dans le Service de Gastroentérologie du CHU Gabriel Touré de Bamako et dans deux cliniques de la place. Au total 90 cas ont été diagnostiqués dont 62 hommes et 28 femmes (soit un sex ratio de 2,10). La moyenne d'âge était de 54,88 +/- 14,29 ans, avec des extrêmes de 18 et 85 ans. Les paysans et les ménagères ont été les plus atteints. Les manifestations cliniques les plus fréquentes étaient : l'épigastralgie (52,22 %), les vomissements (15,55 %) et l'amaigrissement (11,11 %). La localisation antrale (67,8 %), l'aspect ulcéro-bourgeonnant (61 %) et l'adénocarcinome bien différencié (37,8 %) sont les éléments caractéristiques de notre échantillon

[Evaluation of the Widal-Felix serodiagnostic test in Togo]. / Evaluation de la pratique du sérodiagnostic de Widal et Félix au Togo.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of Widal-Felix serodiagnostic testing in Togo. METHOD: This study using a cohort of 200 patients recruited at hospitals in Lome and Atakpame from November 2005 to April 2006 was designed to compare the sensitivity and specificity of the routinely used technique (plate agglutination) and reference technique (tube agglutination). RESULTS: Findings showed that the prevalence of typhoid fever was 1.5% while that of paratyphoid fever was nil. The hardest-hit age group was young people between 11 to 20 years. Men were two times more likely than women to be infected (sex-ratio, 0.5). The most useful symptoms for discriminating patients seropositive for Salmonella typhi from other serological profiles were abdominal pain (p<0.034) and diarrhea (p<0.008). The thick-drop malaria test was positive in all 3 patients (100%) with proven typhoid fever in comparison with 3.9% of the 154 patients with negative Widal-Felix serodiagnostic tests and 26.2% of the 42 patients with intermediate serological profiles. The sensitivity and specificity of the plate technique were 60.0% and 98.06% respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of laboratory analysis were 60.0% and 91.08% respectively. CONCLUSION: The gap between the specificity of the routine plate technique and laboratory analysis underscores the difficulty of performing and interpreting the Widal-Felix serodiagnostic test. The low sensitivity and specificity of the Widal-Felix serodiagnostic test also cast doubt on systematic use for diagnosis in patients presenting fever and on initiation of antibiotic treatment based on agglutination of a single antigen. To improve the specificity of the Widal-Felix serodiagnostic test, we recommend standardization of interpretation criteria and use of tube agglutination. We also see the need for development of another reproducible immunologic test for the diagnosis of typhoid and paratyphoid infections.

[Serologic markers used for hepatitis B surveillance in Togo: status report and action proposals]. / Marqueurs sérologiques utilisés dans la surveillance de l'infection par le virus de l'hépatite B au Togo: état des lieux et propositions.

UNLABELLED: The hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is the only marker used for diagnosis and follow-up of hepatitis B infection in Togo. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of HBsAg testing for follow-up of hepatitis B infection. This study was conducted in 230 patients referred to the National Institute of Hygiene for HBsAg testing. In all cases the requested test was performed and the request and results were evaluated. RESULTS: The study group included 159 women (69%) and 71 men (31%). The overall prevalence of HBsAg was 10.87%. Prevalence was higher in men than in women. Highest prevalence rates were observed in the age groups 20 to 50, which corresponds to the peak period of sexual activity. The indication for testing was often not clearly specified by Laboratory engineers (85.71%), Clinical officers (73.68%) and physicians (61.24%). When mentioned, the indication was suspicion of hepatitis B (20.87%), work-up for pregnancy (8.70%), testing prior to vaccination (8.26%) and surveillance of an infected patient (1.30%). The prevalence of HBsAg was 0.00% in prevaccination tests, 5% in pregnancy workup tests, and 10.42% in hepatitis B suspicion tests. Test results were negative in one infected patient referred for follow-up. None of the patients with positive results returned for therapeutic follow-up testing and no marker other than HBsAg was requested regardless the indication. CONCLUSION: the laboratory of serology is under-used for hepatitis B surveillance. Hepatitis B follow-up using antigen HBsAg alone is inadequate and the equipment required for testing other markers is the same.

[Knowledge, attitudes and practices about blood donation. A sociological study among the population of Lomé in Togo]. / Etude des connaissances, attitudes et pratiques en matière de don de sang. Enquête sociologique dans la population de Lomé (Togo).

GOALS: 1) analyse the knowledge, attitudes and practices of Lome population about blood donation; 2) identify obstacles to blood donation among the population of Lome; 3) suggest some solutions to improve the performance of the National Blood Transfusion Centre (CNTS). METHODOLOGY: We have conducted a sample survey among the population of Lome from the 6th to 21st October 2003. Three hundred persons filled a questionnaire. RESULTS: In the sample, 183 (61%) were males. Their age ranged from 18 to 67 years with 2/3 of young peoples between 18 and 37 years. Pupils/students were 24,33%, wage-earners, 55% and the unemployed, 17,67%. More than the half of the investigated persons (54,67%) were unmarried and 96, 33% persons were literate. Nearly all the people (96,33%) knew about blood donation in Lome and they have received information mainly from friends, media and sensitization by the CNTS. Sixty-one percent of the investigated knew where blood is donated. All the investigated were unanimous about the vital role of blood. Whatever their religion, they recognized its sacred nature. The majority of the investigated (85%) were willing to donate blood. Only 95 people were donors. The reasons for non-donation were mainly related to the fear of catching diseases (31,71%) especially the HIV (9,76%), the lack of information (25,37%), the religious beliefs (19,51%) and the fear of knowing the result of one's HIV test. 277 people (92,33%) said that blood should be donated without remuneration. CONCLUSION: There is a growing interest in the blood donation among the population of Lome but new strategies must be elaborated to inform the population and motivate blood donors.