[Acute COPD exacerbations in women: EABPCO-CPHG study by the College of general hospital pneumologists]. / Les exacerbations aiguës de BPCO chez la femme : étude EABPCO-CPHG du Collège des pneumologues des hôpitaux généraux.

INTRODUCTION: Emerging evidence suggests that gender differences exist in the prevalence, susceptibility, severity and response to the treatment of COPD. This article compares the characteristics of acute exacerbation in male and female patients hospitalized for acute chronic obstructive pulomnary disease (COPD) exacerbation. METHODS: This observational study collected data from 1,824 patients admitted to the pneumology department in 68 general hospitals between October 2006 and June 2007. RESULTS: The 423 (23.2%) women were younger than the men (69.1 versus 70.6 years; p=0.016) and more frequently non-smokers (14.4% versus 4.2%; p<0.0001). Before the acute exacerbation, they more frequently reported asthma (18% versus 11.6%; p=0.0006) or bronchiectasis (10.4% versus 5.9%; p=0.002). They also more often presented consciousness disorders (6.4% versus 3.9%; p=0.033) and desaturation (SpO2<90%: 50.4% versus 42%; p=0.002) during acute exacerbation and their hypercapnia was more severe (50.7 versus 46.5mmHg; p<0.0001). During hospitalization, they were more frequently ventilated (23.9 versus 17.1%; p=0.002). There was no difference in the mortality between the sexes (1.4% versus 2.8%; p=0.11). Age and smoking behavior were closely related in the female patients: the smokers were younger (62.5 years) than the ex-smokers (73.7 years) or non-smokers (78.1 years). Of the six women who died during hospitalization, two were smokers and four ex-smokers. In addition, four were over 80 years old. CONCLUSION: The women hospitalized for acute COPD exacerbation differed from the men with respect to risk factors, steady-state COPD severity and exacerbation severity.

[Boerhaave syndrome and pregnancy. A case report and review of the literature]. / Syndrome de Boerhaave et grossesse. A propos d'un cas et revue de la littérature.

The syndrome of Boerhaave is a rare affection, corresponding to a spontaneous rupture of the oesophagus, the prognosis of which depends on the precocity of cares. Clinically, it is characterized by a set of three: efforts of vomitings, thoracic pain and subcutaneous emphysema. We report the first case of spontaneous rupture of the oesophagus in a 3-month pregnant woman, further to incoercible vomiting. The excellent clinical tolerance of the patient has allowed a medical care with strict monitoring, parenteral food and adapted antibiotic therapy. The surgery as a matter of urgency, usually indicated in this pathology, was not realized in this context of pregnancy. The obstetric and neonatal future was favorable. We discuss the diagnostic difficulties, the modalities of cares as well as the prognosis of such a pathology.

[Hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis]. / Vascularite urticarienne hypocomplémentémique.

Hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis is a rare disorder characterized by the presence of C1q precipitins associated with a syndrome of urticarial vasculitis, arthralgias, ocular inflammation and obstructive-lung disease. We report the case of a 48-year-old woman with hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis. Because of dependance to corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide-pulse therapy was started and resulted in significant clinical improvement. Mycophenolate mofetil was effective as maintenance therapy and resulted in complete resolution of rash, arthralgias, arthritis and uveitis, but had no effect on the obstructive-lung disease.

[Changes in inspiratory capacity during acute respiratory failure in COPD patients]. / Evolution de la capacité inspiratoire au cours de la BPCO décompensée.

INTRODUCTION: Inspiratory Capacity (IC), which reflects dynamic pulmonary hyperinflation, correlates with outcome in moderate exacerbation of COPD. Whether this is also true in COPD with acute respiratory failure (ARF) has not been studied. METHODS: A prospective multicenter assessment of IC measurement feasibility, reliability, time-course and relationship to outcome in COPD with ARF was conducted. Dyspnea (visual analogue scale) and IC were repeatedly measured. Outcome was classified as not favourable (death or intubation or non invasive ventilation increased or patient referred to ICU from respiratory ward) or favourable (none of the above criteria). RESULTS: Fifty patients were included and 48 analysed. IC measurement was possible in all but one patient and its coefficient of variation was 9+/-8%. Between inclusion into the study and discharge, IC increased from 39.9+/-15.5 to 50.2+/-14.5% pred (p<0.001) and dyspnea declined from 48+/-23 to 33+/-22 mm (p<0.001). Inclusion IC was not different on average between patients with or without favourable outcome. CONCLUSION: In COPD patients with ARF, IC measurement at bedside was feasible and reproducible. IC was low at entry and increased over time from inclusion to discharge tending to correlate with patient outcome.

[Disseminated actinomycosis]. / Actinomycose disséminée.

INTRODUCTION: We report the case of a patient suffering from disseminated actinomycosis. CASE REPORT: A fifty-two year old man, who was both a heavy smoker and an alcoholic, was admitted to hospital with confusion associated with a pseudo-tumoral right upper lobe pneumonia. Brain computed tomography was normal on the day of admission but when repeated fifteen days later four lesions were seen with appearances suspicious of metastatic malignant disease. The isolation of Actinomyces odontolyticus in the bronchoalveolar lavage culture and the absence of evidence for neoplastic disease despite extensive investigation led to a diagnosis of disseminated actinomycosis with pulmonary and cerebral involvement. The patient's clinical condition improved with antibiotic therapy. The disseminated form of this infection as well as presentation with multifocal brain abscesses is rare. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of actinomycosis is problematic because it is an uncommon infection and microbiological identification is often difficult and delayed. It should be considered when clinical presentation suggests malignant disease but there is no histological confirmation.

[Herpes simplex and Geotrichum candidum pneumonia in a patient with moderate renal failure]. / Pneumopathie à Herpes simplex et Geotrichum candidum chez un patient présentant une insuffisance rénale modérée.

Viral or fungal pneumonia generally occurs in immunocompromised patients. We report a case of hypoxic pneumonia unresponsive to broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy in a patient whose only risk factor for immunodeficiency was mild silent renal failure. The causal association between Herpes simplex and Geotrichum candidum was retained on the basis of endobronchial samples and the favorable course after institution of specific treatment. It is thus useful to consider these pathogens in patients with lung infection in order to institute specific treatment.