[Adult onset Still's disease and lymphoma: a rare association]. / Maladie de Still de l'adulte et lymphome: une association rare.

Adult onset Still's disease (AOSD) and lymphomas are diseases characterized by very similar clinical and histopathological manifestations. The association between these diseases has rarely been reported in the literature. We here report the case of a 26-year old patient diagnosed with adult onset Still's disease. She had been previously treated for large B-cell Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (LBCNHL) with chemotherapy and haemopoietic stem-cell autograft with complete remission. The association between AOSD and lymphoma is rare and in all cases AOSD has been diagnosed before lymphoma. The peculiarity of this study lies in the succession LBCNHL- AOSD and raises several hypotheses on the association between these two diseases. The association between non-autoimmune diseases and lymphoid hemopathies have been widely demonstrated, whether it is the progression of autoimmune diseases vs lymphoma or non-autoimmune disease manifestations occurring in patients with this disease. This study highlights the difficult distinction between these diseases.

Cannabis arteritis.

Cannabis is the most consumed psychoactive substance by young people. Chronic use of cannabis can lead to cannabis arteritis, which is a very rare peripheral vascular disease similar to Buerger's disease. It is affecting young adults, especially men, consuming cannabis. A 27-year old woman, with no particular past medical history except for long-term use of cannabis and tobacco developed a digital necrosis in the left hand. She denied using other illicit drugs. Doppler ultrasound examination of the upper limbs was unremarkable. Toxicological analysis revealed the presence of cannabis in both biological fluid and hair strand. Despite medical treatment, cessation of the cannabis and tobacco consumption and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, an amputation of necrotic parts was then required. This case shows the prolonged use of cannabis could be a risk factor for young adult arteritis. Faced with a rapidly progressive arteritis occurring in young adult, the physician should consider the history of use of cannabis. Hair analysis can be useful for confirmation of the chronic consumption of drugs.

Antioxidants status in type 2 diabetic patients in Morocco.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Type 2 diabetes is a heterogeneous and multifactorial metabolic disorder with some relationship to oxidative stress (OS). Since no studies were conducted in the Moroccan population, this clinical investigation aimed at evaluating the antioxidants status in Moroccan patients with type 2 diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood samples of 60 type 2 diabetic patients and 40 healthy controls subjects were analyzed for determination of glycemia, hemoglobin, CRP, glycated hemoglobin, lipid parameters, malondialdehyde (MDA), vitamins E and C, copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and selenium (Se). RESULTS: CRP and triglycerides were higher in the diabetic group while high-density lipoprotein levels were significantly lower compared to the control group. Plasma MDA, Cu concentrations, and Cu/Zn ratio were found to be higher in diabetic patients compared to healthy subjects, while vitamin E, Zn, and Se concentrations were lower compared to the control group. No significant difference was found in vitamin C levels between the two groups. Plasma HbA1c was positively correlated to MDA levels. CONCLUSION: This study shows that antioxidant status is impaired in diabetics compared to healthy controls.

[Tetraparesis revealing Conn adenoma in a pregnant woman]. / Tétraparésie révélant un adénome de Conn chez une femme enceinte.

We report the case of Conn adenoma revealed by tetraparesis in a 33-year old pregnant woman at the 16thweek of amenorrhea. The patient had a blood pressure of 147/87 mmHg, which was considered high-normal, hypokalemia at 1.1 mmol/l. The diagnosis was confirmed by hormone dosage which showed elevated plasma aldosterone levels and decreased plasma renin activity. MRI showed a left adrenal nodule, 1.5 cm in diameter, compatible with adrenal adenoma. Left adrenalectomy was performed with simple postoperative course and normalization of kalemia and blood pressure.

Bone metabolism in male patients with type 2 diabetes.

Few reports are available on bone turnover in type 2 diabetes. Impaired bone turnover in type 2 diabetes appears to result from decreased bone formation. Studies also suggest that poor glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes may contribute to osteopaenia. The aim of this study was to investigate biochemical markers of bone turnover in males with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes and look for correlations with glycaemic control and gonadal and hypophyseal hormonal axis. Consecutive male patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes and attending the internal medicine department during a period of 6 months were enrolled. The patients were receiving oral hypoglycaemic agents (metformin or sulphonylureas or both). None of the patients had any evidence of macroangiopathy, nephropathy or neuropathy. Only two patients had proliferative retinopathy. Serum osteocalcin, crosslaps (C-telopeptide, CTx), parathyroid hormone (PTH), testosterone, oestrogen, prolactin, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH) were measured in 35 patients and 35 controls. The mean age of the study population was 53.7 (10.3) years (range: 50.2-57.3) and the mean disease duration was 8.6 (6.0) years (range: 6.5-10.7). No differences between patients and controls were observed in serum calcium, phosphorus, creatinine, albumin, PTH, CTx, oestrogen, testosterone, LH, FSH, prolactin and urinary calcium. Patients had lower serum levels of osteocalcin than controls with a significant statistical difference [15.3 (4.1) vs 18.3 (5.3), p=0.012]. There was a negative significant statistical correlation between CTx levels and HbA1c (r=-0.41, p< 0.05). Our study suggested that bone formation is altered in type 2 diabetes and that bone turnover is affected by glycaemic control status.

Lung findings on thoracic high-resolution computed tomography in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Correlations with disease duration, clinical findings and pulmonary function testing.

The aim of this study was to identify the spectrum of abnormalities revealed on high-resolution computerized tomography (HRCT) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), to compare findings with those of plain radiography and pulmonary function testing (PFT), and to look for correlations between lung involvement and AS severity. We prospectively studied 55 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of AS according to the modified New York criteria who attended our department over a period of 2 years. All patients had a detailed rheumatological examination and underwent plain chest radiography, chest HRCT and PFT. HRCT revealed abnormalities in 29 patients (52.7%), whereas plain chest radiography was abnormal in only 2. Abnormalities consisted of interstitial lung disease (ILD) ( n=4), apical fibrosis ( n=5), emphysema ( n=5), bronchiectasis ( n=4), ground glass attenuation ( n=2), and non-specific interstitial abnormalities ( n=26). Only apical fibrosis and bronchiectasis were statistically more frequent with increasing disease duration (significant trend chi(2)test, p=0.0029 and 0.028, respectively). PFT showed a restrictive process in 19 patients (34.5%). No correlation was noted between HRCT and PFT, nor with AS symptomatic and structural severity parameters. However, there was a statistically significant correlation between PFT and AS symptomatic and structural severity parameters. In conclusion,: this study confirms that the chest HRCT of patients with AS showed a great number of abnormalities undetectable by standard X-rays. The high incidence of lung abnormalities emphasizes the importance of excluding such a diagnosis in patients with AS even without respiratory symptoms.

A rare pediatric case of cutaneous gamma/delta T-cell lymphoma.

Cutaneous γ/δ T-cell lymphoma (CGD-TCL) is a recent entity described in the newly revised World health organization-European organization for research and treatment of cancer classification of cutaneous lymphomas. Only a few cases have been reported, of which two pediatric cases. A 15 years old child with a 6 months history of polyadenopathy, cutaneous lesions, general edema and deterioration of general condition was hospitalized. Results from laboratory testing, cutaneous histopathology and immunohistochemistry showed a primary CGD-TCL. Staging was completed by a total body computed tomography. Therapy was planified with SMILE protocol. It is a highly aggressive tumor resistant to chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy. The GDTCL is characterized by a worse prognosis with a median survival of 15 months. Early diagnosis is essential and aggressive therapy is necessary.

[Ruptured renal artery aneurysms in microscopic polyangiitis]. / Rupture d'anévrismes des artères rénales dans la polyangéite microscopique.

INTRODUCTION: Renal artery aneurysms are unusual manifestations of microscopic polyangiitis. OBSERVATION: We report the case of a 55 years old male patient, with a microscopic polyangiitis, which was revealed by a demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, the diagnosis was made with association of alveolar hemorrhage, peripheral neuropathy and glomerulonephritis with positive antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (antimyeloperoxidase antibodies). The evolution was marked by a state of shock by rupture of aneurysms of intrarenal arteries. CONCLUSION: This case emphasizes the importance of looking for complications of unusual type of intrarenal aneurysms in patients with microscopic polyngiitis.

[Behcet syndrome: thirty comments with lung and vascular injury of peripheral vessels]. / Maladie de Behçet: trente observations avec atteintes vasculaires pulmonaires et des vaisseaux péripheriques.

INTRODUCTION: Behcet's disease is a systematic vasculitis of unknown cause, characterized essentially by eye, cutaneous, articular, neurological and vascular manifestations. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed the Behcet's disease cases that were followed up in our ward from January 2000 to January 2009. The inclusion criteria were those of International Study Group on Behçet's disease (aphthosis mouth was required). Data were retrieved and analysed with two softwares (Access(®) and Epi Info(®)). RESULTS: We observed 30 cases with vascular lesions on a series of 92 patients with Behcet's disease. Most patients were male, with an average age around 40. The venous manifestations, concerning essentially the lower limbs (deep and superficial thrombosis) were found at 27 patients (90 %), and the average of age during the appearance of the venous lesions was 40 years. Arterial lesions appear more late in 13 patients (43 %) (average of age 43 years). We noted, on the other hand, 11 cases of aneurysms and five cases of arterial thrombosis. The use of corticosteroids was necessary in all cases in association with the others drugs (anticoagulants, colchicine, immunosuppressors). Among the patients having had aneurysms, six were treated surgically. The outcome was favorable for most patients. Two patients had pulmonary embolism and two post-surgery complications. One patient died in the consequences of an intragastric break of an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta. CONCLUSION: The vascular involvement in Behcet's disease is manifested primarily by thrombophlebitis. Achieving blood pressure, less common, is problematic therapeutic because of the recurrent and life threatening.

[Antagonists of interleukin-6 (tocilizumab), in adult refractory still disease]. / Les antagonistes de l'interleukine-6 (tocilizumab) dans la maladie de still réfractaire de l'adulte.

INTRODUCTION: The pathogenesis of Still's disease is best elucidated for the better recognition of the involvement of Many pro-inflammatory cytokines in the genesis of this condition. Publications have reported the contribution beneficial for certain biotherapeutics, such as anti-TNFa, the anti-CD20 or antagonists of interleukine1 (IL-1) tested successfully in the treatment of systemic Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (Still's disease the child), the tocilizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against the receptor for interleukin-6 and is beginning to be reported as effective in some refractory cases of Still's disease in adults. PATIENTS: We report two young patients with Still's disease in adults with refractory early and prolonged remission after the first infusion tocilizumab. CONCLUSION: The tocilizumab can be used in patients MSA with refractory after failure or intolerance conventional treatments.