[Bone abnormalities and fetal cytomegalovirus infection]. / Anomalies osseuses et foetopathie à cytomégalovirus.

BACKGROUND: Viruses, such as those of congenital rubella and cytomegalovirus infection, have been associated with bone lesions of rarefaction. CASE REPORT: A full-term neonate was admitted at bith (birth weight: 1,630 mg; head circumference: 29 cm) for hypotrophy. A severe growth retardation had been diagnosed at 32 weeks of gestation. The fetal karyotype was normal. Search for maternal toxoplasmosis, syphilis and rubella was negative. The neonate had a complex heart defect; skeletal X-ray films showed metaphyseal transverse bands of rarefaction of the long bones and longitudinally streaked band of sclerosis and rarefaction at the ends of the femora. Urine culture was highly positive for CMV while CMV IgM were negative and CMV IgG highly positive in serum. CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal bone changes usually seen in congenital rubella infection may also be observed in CMV infection.

[27-gauge percutaneous catheters: use in nutritional management of very-low-birth-weight and severely premature newborns in a neonatal intensive care unit]. / Cathéters épicutanéocaves 27 gauge: utilisation chez les nouveau-nés de très faible poids de naissance et les grands prématurés dans un service de réanimation néonatale.

UNLABELLED: Percutaneous central venous catheterization for parenteral feeding is a permanent problem in the management of very low birth weight neonates. Usually, 23-gauge catheters (diameter: 0.6 mm) are used. In our unit, we have started to use 27-gauge catheters (diameter 0.35 mm) since 1995. The aim of this study was to report our experience with this materiel. SUBJECT AND METHODS: Between September 1, 1997 and January 30, 2000, 352 catheter implantations were performed using 27-gauge infusing sets in 200 premature infants (gestational age less than or equal to 33 weeks [mean 29.2], weight less than or equal to 1,500 g [mean: 1, 152.5 g]). Data were reviewed retrospectively with the view to determine the modality of use and complications. Peculiar insertion modalities were prospectively evaluated in the 50 last included infants (92 catheters). RESULTS: In 97% of cases, the physician needed no help to insert the catheter. In 99.5% of cases (199 neonates), the insertion was successful (the procedure failed in one case). The mean duration procedure was 26 min (range 10 to 85 min). The mean age at insertion of the first catheter was 29 hours (range 0 to 216). Mean catheter maintenance duration was 15 days (range 1 to 53). In 31 cases, documented sepsis related to the catheter were noted (8.8% or 5.8 infections for 1,000 catheter-days). Endocarditis was observed in one case. A pericardial effusion was diagnosed in two cases. No death related to the catheter was noted. CONCLUSION: In our experience, 27-gauge catheter implantation is an easy and safe procedure. We noted no major maintenance problems. Complications were not observed more frequently than those usually encountered with 23-gauge catheters. We conclude that 27-gauge catheter utilization is an attractive alternative for percutaneous central venous catheterization, in very low birth weight neonates.

[Feingold syndrome]. / Syndrome de Feingold.

BACKGROUND: Feingold syndrome is a combination of hand and foot anomalies, microcephaly, tracheo-esophageal fistula, esophageal/duodenal atresia, short palpebral fissures and developmental delay. The most frequent physical findings are clinodactyly of the second and fifth fingers with absent or hypoplastic middle phalanges, and syndactyly of the toes. Inheritance is autosomal dominant (MIM number 164280) with full penetrance concerning hand anomalies, variable expressivity and great intrafamilial variability. CASE REPORT: We report the case of an African boy with duodenal atresia, microcephaly, brachymesophalangy of the second and fifth fingers, unilateral thumb hypoplasia, bilateral syndactyly of toes 2-3 and amesophalangy of the toes. Karyotype was normal. No other member of the family was affected. A fresh mutation is possible. CONCLUSION: Brachymesophalangy affecting mainly the second and fifth fingers and amesophalangy of the lateral toes are cardinal clinical findings in Feingold syndrome. These clinical findings define the syndrome of brachydactyly A4-Temtamy type (MIM 112800), suggesting that brachydactyly A4 would be a partially expressed Feingold syndrome. The incidence of esophageal/duodenal atresia is 29%, including all the known cases. All karyotypes of reported patients were normal.

[Malignant pertussis in the young infant]. / La coqueluche maligne du petit nourrisson.

UNLABELLED: Pertussis remains in France the first cause of bacterial, infectious death in infant aged 10 days to 2 months. It is especially in this age group that malignant pertussis occurs. CASE REPORT: A 40-day-old infant was admitted in the intensive care unit with symptoms of bronchiolitis along with a 200 bpm permanent tachycardia. He presented a marked leukocytosis with lymphocytosis. On the second day, convulsions and coma occurred, followed rapidly by respiratory failure, with a subsequent deterioration due to the development of severe pulmonary hypertension. Circulatory failure caused the infant's death on the beginning of the 5th day. Pertussis was confirmed by PCR on nasopharyngeal swab. Intra-familial contamination was most likely. COMMENTS: Malignant pertussis is characterized by the very young age of patients, permanent tachycardia sine materia, dyspnea with early respiratory failure, frequent neurological symptoms, severe hyperleukocytosis and hyperlymphocytosis, and deep hyponatremia with oliguria and edema. Mortality remains superior to 75% despite the various treatments and life support measures that have been attempted. Adult pertussis, which represents one third of the cases of prolonged cough in this age group, is the main source of contamination of non-immunized young infants. This mode of transmission stresses the importance of the generalization of pertussis vaccine booster in early adolescence, which is recommended in France since 1998. Its extension towards the adult age is under study.

[Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents and pregnancy. A study of renal and digestive toxicity of niflumic acid in the perinatal period]. / Anti-inflammatoires non stéroïdiens et grossesse. Etude sur la toxicité rénale et digestive en période périnatale de l'acide niflumique.

We report a case of intrauterine exposure to niflumic acid in a preterm neonate (35 weeks of gestation). The mother received niflumic acid (750 mg daily) during the last four days of gestation. Severe oligohydramnios was present. A transient neonatal renal failure, but also abdominal complications were observed for several days. Maternal and neonate niflumic acid levels were studied and showed an important placental transfer. Niflumic acid is a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor. It is important that the nephrotoxicity of this vasoactive drug be known. Maternal administration of niflumic acid during the last days of gestation can induce fetal and neonatal adverse effects, especially renal failure. Prescription of all nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs must be very cautious during pregnancy.

[Isotretinoin (RoAccutane) embryopathy. A case report]. / Embryopathie liée à l'isotrétinoïne (RoAccutane). A propos d'une observation.

Retinoids are synthetic vitamin A derivatives, particularly used in dermatology. Their prescription in women of childbearing age can cause, if pregnancy occurs, a serious malformative embryopathy, mainly involving external ear, brain and heart. A neonatal case caused by isotretinoin (RoAccutane) emphasizes the clinical and epidemiological data concerning this embryopathy. The aetiopathological hypothesis of an interaction between isotretinoin and Hox genes is advanced. Prophylactic measures are difficult since neonatal reported cases are uncommon, but antenatal exposition to this strong teratogenic agent results in multiple spontaneous abortions or pregnancy interruptions.

Severe vaginal laceration in a 5-year-old girl caused by sudden hydro-distention.

BACKGROUND: Severe vaginal trauma in young girls is uncommon. We describe a 5-year-old girl who presented a vaginal laceration following sudden hydro-distention. CASE: A 5-year-old girl was transferred to our institution for vaginal trauma with severe bleeding. Her brother had directed the nozzle of a functioning garden hose against her vulva. She presented pain and persistent vaginal bleeding without external genital lesions. Surgical exploration revealed a laceration of the right vaginal wall. The vagina was sutured and the bleeding stopped. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION: This case illustrates a rare mechanism of severe vaginal laceration, in a young girl, by hydro-distention. Though there are often no external lesions the internal lesions can be severe causing significant bleeding. Certainly in these cases aggressive diagnostic evaluation is necessary.