Acute upper gastro-intestinal bleeding in morocco: what have changed?

Objective. In the present study, we aimed to investigate epidemiological, clinical, and etiological characteristics of acute upper gastro-intestinal bleeding. Materials and Methods. This retrospective study was conducted between January 2003 and December 2008. It concerned all cases of acute upper gastroduodenal bleeding benefited from an urgent gastro-intestinal endoscopy in our department in Morocco. Characteristics of patients were evaluated in terms of age, gender, medical history, presenting symptoms, results of rectal and clinical examinations, and endoscopy findings. Results. 1389 cases were registered. As 66% of the patients were male, 34% were female. Mean age was 49. 12% of patients had a history of previous hemorrhage, and 26% had a history of NSAID and aspirin use. Endoscopy was performed in 96%. The gastroduodenal ulcer was the main etiology in 38%, followed by gastritis and duodenitis in 32.5%. Conclusion. AUGIB is still a frequent pathology, threatening patients' life. NSAID and aspirin are still the major risk factors. Their impact due to peptic ulcer remains stable in our country.

[Massive rectorrhagia and acute intestinal occlusion revealing Peutz-Jeghers syndrome: apropos of 3 cases]. / Rectorragie massive et occlusion intestinale aigueë révélant un syndrome de Peutz-Jeghers: à propos de trois cas.

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is a rare hereditary disorder involving digestive polyposis with hamartomatous gastrointestinal polyps and mucocutaneous lentiginosis. We report three cases in which this syndrome was detected by complications: a massive rectal hemorrhage requiring a blood transfusion in one case and acute impaction of the bowel requiring emergency surgery in the other two. This work demonstrates the importance of the complications that may indicate that the patient has this syndrome. We also discuss the cancers of the digestive system and other organs that may be associated with PJS and recent progress in genetic research into this disease.

[The pseudo-tumoral form of hepatic tuberculosis. Five case reports]. / La forme pseudo-tumorale de la tuberculose hépatique. A propos de cinq cas.

The authors report 5 cases of pseudotumoral tuberculosis of the liver. They essentially involved young men from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds. Clinically, poor general condition with massive weight loss was constant, while pyrexia and hepatomegaly were sometimes absent. Hepatobiliary ultrasonography revealed hypoechogenic or even anechogenic lesions between 1.5 and 3.5 cm in diameter. Diagnostic confirmation was histological after needle biopsy. The outcome after antibiotic treatment with or without drainage, was recovery, with ultrasonographic normalization of the liver, in all patients, with a mean follow-up of 22 months.