[Hemolytic anemia after voluntary ingestion of henna (Lawsonia inermis) decoction by a young girl with G6PD deficiency]. / Ingestion volontaire de decoction de henné (Lawsonia inermis) d'un déficit en G6PD.

Henna (Lawsonia inermis) is a shrub bearing leaves that are crushed and used for cosmetic purposes in Asia and Africa. In several countries, henna decoction is ingested as a traditional drug to induce abortion. One component of Henna, known as Lawsone, can induce hemolysis in G6PD-deficient patients after cutaneous exposure or ingestion. The purpose of this report is to describe a case of severe hemolytic anemia after voluntary ingestion of Henna decoction to induce abortion. This complication led to diagnosis of partial moderate G6PD-deficiency in the 17-year-old patient living in Mayotte in the Indian Ocean. This report emphasizes the life-threatening hazards associated with some plant extracts used as traditional medicines.

[Acute necrotizing pancreatitis and complete atrioventricular block complicating the course of ascaris infection in an adult patient]. / Pancréatite aiguë nécrosante et bloc auriculo-ventriculaire complet compliquant une ascaridiose de l'adulte.

Ascaris lumbricoides, a large round nematode, which causes human ascariasis, is the most prevalent helminth in the world. Ascariasis is usually asymptomatic but can cause serious complications, with a mortality rate of 5%. We report a 55-year-old woman from Comoros who presented with ascariasis complicated by occult cholangitis, severe acute pancreatitis, and transient complete heart-block. Cardiac damage due to migrating ascaris larvae was the likely explanation of the transient heart-block in this patient, although such a complication had never been described previously.

[Crohn's disease during the course of multiple sclerosis: role of interferon-beta therapy]. / Maladie de Crohn au cours d'une sclérose en plaques: rôle de l'interféron bêta.

Interferon-beta (IFN-beta) therapy can trigger immune adverse effects. We report a patient, who was treated for multiple sclerosis (MS) by IFN-beta during 3 years before developing a severe colitis due to Crohn's disease (CD). Neurological manifestations may occur in CD but rarely mimic MS. This report's points highlight the possible association of MS and CD, where IFN-beta therapy probably unmasked CD. Indeed, similar cases of CD flares have been reported after IFN-alpha therapy for chronic C hepatitis.