[Peritoneal dialysis in a tropical area, a reality]. / Dialyse péritonéale en milieu tropical, une réalité.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic kidney disease is now regarded as amajor public health concern. This is especially true in developing countries where it accounts for significant morbidity, mortality and decreased life expectancy. The main problem for developing countries is the cost of dialysis. Indeed, the availability of peritoneal dialysis for renal replacement therapy is low in sub-Saharan Africa. Since March 2004 peritoneal dialysis has been available to some patients with end-stage renal disease in Senegal. The purpose of this study was to assess epidemiologic, clinical, technical patterns and outcomes in patients who underwent peritoneal dialysis in the first three years of the program. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This three-year retropective study identified 26 patients who underwent peritoneal dialysis for end-stage renal disease for a period of at least 15 days. Patients not meeting these criteria were not included. All patients had a Baxter type transfer set. Lactate-bicarbonate solution was used for countinuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. In 3 cases, Icodextrin- and amino-acid based-solutions were employed. In automated peritoneal dialysis, the Home Choice machine was used for all patients. Epidemiological, clinical/paraclinical data and outcomes were noted for each patient. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients were included in the study. Median age was 48 +/- 6 years with a M/F sex ratio of 1.17. Most patients (84%) were literate. Diabetic nephropathy and nephroangiosclerosis were the main causes of end-stage renal disease. The mean Charlson score was 3 (range, 2 to 5). Mean residual diuresis was 435 mL/day. The peritonitis rate was 1 per 20 patient months. Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the most common germs. Six patients presented catheter infection: exit-site in 4 and tunnel in 2. Catheter obstruction occurred in three cases. At the end of the study, 6 patients were still in automated peritoneal dialysis and 8 in countinuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Six 6 patients died and 6 were switched to hemodialysis. CONCLUSION: Peritoneal dialysis is available as a renal replacement therapy in Senegal. It has allowed end-stage renal disease patients greater autonomy in their working place.

[Pregnancy In Chronic Hemodialysis, Case Study]. / Grossesse Au Cours De L'Hemodialyse Chronique : A Propos D'Un Cas.

For a long time, pregnancy in chronic hemodialysis was considered medically contraindicated, because of the many maternal complications that it could cause. Its management is as heavy for the medical teams (nephrologist, obstetrician and neonatologist) as for the patient herself. We report here a case of pregnancy in a dialysis patient observed at the Madeleine clinic in Dakar, Senegal. This pregnancy is the first described with a birth of a living child having a normal birth weight without abnormal malformative thanks to the multidisciplinary follow-up nephrologist, obstetrician and neonatologist), the intensification of dialysis care, the correction of anemia, control of blood pressure and improvement of the mother status nutritional.

Pendant très longtemps la grossesse chez l'hémodialysée chronique était considérée comme médicalement contre indiquée, à cause des nombreuses complications materno fœtales qu'elles pouvaient engendrer. Sa prise en charge est aussi lourde pour les équipes médicales (néphrologue, obstétricien et neonatologiste) que pour la patiente elle-même. Nous rapportons ici un cas de grossesse chez une dialysée observé à la clinique madeleine de Dakar au Sénégal. Cette grossesse est la première décrite avec une naissance d'un enfant vivant ayant un poids de naissance normal sans anomalie malformative grâce au suivi pluridisciplinaire (néphrologue, obstétricien et néonatologiste), l'intensification des soins de dialyse, la correction de l'anémie, la maitrise de la pression artérielle et l'amélioration de l'état nutritionnel de la mère.

[Pulmonary Metastase of a Knee Mycetoma in Senegal]. / Métastase pulmonaire d'un mycétome du genou au Sénégal.

Mycetoma is transmitted by thorns infected. The commonest site for mycetoma is the foot. The primary pulmonary are rare and usually secondary to other primary site. We report a case of pulmonary fungal mycetoma secondary to primary site in the knee. We do a review of the literature and we discuss the way of dissemination.

Le mycétome se transmet principalement par piqures d'épines d'arbustes infectés. Les localisations primitives au niveau du pied sont les plus fréquentes. Les localisations pulmonaires sont exceptionnelles et secondaires à des localisations périphériques primitives. Nous rapportons un cas de localisation pulmonaire d'un mycétome fongique secondaire à une localisation au niveau du genou, puis nous faisons une revue de la littérature et nous discutons de la voie de dissémination.

[Destombes Rosaï Dorfman syndrome: description of one case and diagnostic challenges in the tropical setting]. / Syndrome de Rosaï Dorfman Destombes à propos d'une observation: difficultés diagnostiques en milieu tropical.

Destombes Rosaï Dorfman (DRD) syndrome is form of nonlangerhans cell sinus histiocytosis. The main symptoms are cervical adenopathy, fever and fluctuating hepatosplenomegaly. It can be confused with ganglionary tuberculosis especially in our region where tuberculosis is common. This report describes a case of Destombes Rosaï Dorfman syndrome in a 40-year-old woman from Senegal. The main presenting symptom was the presence of massive tumour-like lesions on the neck with altered general condition and fever. Based on these clinical findings, ganglionary tuberculosis was suspected and presumptive treatment was initiated in the local hospital. However further workup failed to confirm the diagnosis and the patient was transferred to the Internal Medicine Department. Clinical examination in our service revealed the presence of extensive adenopathy in the supraclavicular, axillary, and inguinal regions. Laboratory tests demonstrated a nonspecific inflammatory syndrome. Abdominal ultrasonography depicted extensive mesenteric and para-aortic adenopathy. Chest x-ray showed bilateral and asymmetric mediastinal adenopathy. Medullogram findings were normal. Histology confirmed DRD syndrome. DRD syndrome is rare disease of unknown aetiology. In tropical areas differential diagnosis with ganglionary tuberculosis, lymphoma, and reactive hemophagocytic syndrome can be challenging. Lymph node biopsy should be performed in all patients presenting fever and polyadenopathy.

[Nephrotic syndrom with focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis in Dakar: epidemiological and clinicopathological characteristics (about 134 cases)]. / Le syndrome néphrotique avec hyalinose segmentaire et focale a Dakar: aspects épidémiologiques et anatomocliniques (a propos de 134 cas).

Focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is common and non-specific patterns of glomerular injury encountered in human renal biopsies. Cortico-resistant nephrotic syndrome is the main manifestation. We report epidemiological, clinical and pathological aspects of FSGS in Dakar. We report the results of a retrospective study about focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) identified from 258 kidney biopsies performed in the medical clinic 1 of A. Le Dantec hospital from January 1993 to December 2003. FSG is found in 134 cases (52%), membranous glomerulonephritis in 32 cases (12,4%), minimal change disease in 20 cases (7.7%). Ninety eigths files were exploitable. FSGS has male gender predominance with a sex ratio of 3. Median age of patients is 28 years (15 and 79 years). Symptomatology is dominated by oedema in 86 cases (87,7%), hypertension in 12 cases (12.2%), hematuria in 5 cases (5.1%), nephrotic proteinuria in 65 cases (66,3%) and no nephrotic proteinuria in 33 cases (33.6%), renal failure in 25 cases (25%)and leucocyturia in 18 cases (18%). FSGS involving more than 50% of glomeruli is encountered in 41 cases (42%), severe interstitial fibrosis is associated in 26 cases. Different pathological aspects are: classical FSGS in 88 cases (88.7%), FSGS " collapsing" in 7 cases (7.1%), FSG "tip-lesion" in one case, FSGS associated to membranous glomerulosclerosis in 2 cases and to diabetic glomerulosclerosis in one case. FSGS is primitive in 88 cases (89,8%) and secondary in 10 cases (10.2%). FSGS is the most common primitive glomerulopathy in Dakar. Nephrotic syndrome is the main manifestation of this disease. Collapsing FSGS is not correlated with the HIV Infection.

[Current aspects of systemic lupus erythematosus in Dakar. About 74 cases]. / Aspects actuels du lupus erythemateux systemique a Dakar. A propos de 74 observations.

INTRODUCTION: previously reported studies on systemic lupus erythematosus in Senegal were more then ten years old and reported few cases of patients. Our objectives were to update epidemiological, clinical, laboratory and evolutive aspects of systemic lupus erythematosus throughout a study of 74 patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: we conducted a retrospective study in the internal medicine and the dermatology units of the university teaching hospital Aristide Le Dantec from January 1993 to December 2002. All patients with systemic lupus erythematosus according to the ACR criteria were included. Those who didn't meet ACR criteria were excluded. RESULTS: we included 74 patients; their mean age was 32 years and the sex ratio 0.1 (male to female). At the entry general symptoms were constants, and cutaneous signs were found in 96% of cases, joints signs in 58.1% and renal sign in 56.8%. Haematological and immunologic abnormalities were nearly constant. All the patients received corticosteroids and in 35.71% they had in addition immunosuppressive drugs. Shorts term evolution was satisfactory. At the medium term 27.02% of the patients were lost and 10.81% of them died. CONCLUSION: currents aspects of systemic lupus erythematosus in Dakar are improved by the early diagnosis when the disease is pauci-symptomatic and by the use immunosuppressive drugs in association with corticosteroids.

[Lupus nephritis in Senegal: study of 42 cases]. / La néphropathie lupique au Sénégal: a propos de 42 cas.

INTRODUCTION: Renal involvement determines the prognosis of systemic lupus erythematosus. The aims of this study were to precise clinical, laboratory, therapeutic and evolutive aspects of lupus nephritis in Senegal in order to improve its management. PATIENTS AND METHODS: According to ACR criteria we included all patients presenting a systemic lupus erythematosus followed in internal medicine and in the dermatology services of university teaching hospital Aristide le Dantec of Dakar from January 1993 to December 2002. All the patients who didn't have a lupus nephritis defined by the existence of more than 0.5 g/24 h of proteinuria and or hematuria were excluded. RESULTS: The prevalence of lupus nephritis was 56.75% among 74 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Mean age was 29.6 years and sex ratio 0.13 (male to female). There was a nephritic syndrome in 45.23% of the cases and renal insufficiency in 37.71%. Renal biopsy performed in 52.38% of cases showed predominantly WHO classes IV and V. The key treatment was corticotherapy while immunosuppressive were used in 35.71%. The short term evolution was favourable but in the medium term, many patients were lost or followed up irregularly. CONCLUSION: To improve the management and the prognosis of lupus nephritis in Senegal it is necessary to make patients with a systemic lupus erythematosus sensitive to it and to make systematically urine tests aiming the screening for an early diagnosis of lupus nephritis. In addition we should have aggressive policies in order to lower the costs of immunosuppressive therapy and haemodialysis.

An Inherited Genetic Variant in CEP72 Promoter Predisposes to Vincristine-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Adults With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Peripheral neuropathy is a major toxicity of vincristine, yet no strategies exist for identifying adult patients at high-risk. We used a case-control design of 48 adults receiving protocol therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who developed vincristine-induced neuropathy (NCI grade 2-4) during treatment, and 48 matched controls who did not develop grade 2-4 neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy was prospectively graded by National Cancer Institute (NCI) criteria. CEP72 promoter genotype (rs924607) was determined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping. Frequency of the CEP72 T/T genotype was higher in cases (31% vs. 10%, P = 0.0221) and the incidence of vincristine-induced neuropathy (grades 2-4) was significantly higher in patients homozygous for the CEP72 T/T genotype. 75% of the 20 patients homozygous for the CEP72 T allele developed grade 2-4 neuropathy, compared to 44% of patients with CEP72 CC or CT genotype (P = 0.0221). The CEP72 polymorphism can identify adults at increased risk of vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy.

Genetics of ancestry-specific risk for relapse in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The causes of individual relapses in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) remain incompletely understood. We evaluated the contribution of germline genetic factors to relapse in 2225 children treated on Children's Oncology Group trial AALL0232. We identified 302 germline single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with relapse after adjusting for treatment and ancestry and 715 additional SNPs associated with relapse in an ancestry-specific manner. We tested for replication of these relapse-associated SNPs in external data sets of antileukemic drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and an independent clinical cohort. 224 SNPs were associated with rapid drug clearance or drug resistance, and 32 were replicated in the independent cohort. The adverse risk associated with black and Hispanic ancestries was attenuated by addition of the 4 SNPs most strongly associated with relapse in these populations (for blacks: model without SNPs hazard ratio (HR)=2.32, P=2.27 × 10-4, model with SNPs HR=1.07, P=0.79; for Hispanics: model without SNPs HR=1.7, P=8.23 × 10-5, model with SNPs HR=1.31, P=0.065). Relapse SNPs associated with asparaginase resistance or allergy were overrepresented among SNPs associated with relapse in the more asparaginase intensive treatment arm (20/54 in Capizzi-methorexate arm vs 8/54 in high-dose methotrexate arm, P=0.015). Inherited genetic variation contributes to race-specific and treatment-specific relapse risk.

[Anonymous STD counselling versus mandatory checks for prostitutes--what is effective in STD prevention?]. / Anonyme STD-Sprechstunde versus Pflichtuntersuchung für Prostituierte--was ist effektiv in der STD-Prävention?

BACKGROUND: When in 2001 in Germany the new act for control of infectious diseases came into force, mandatory checks for prostitutes were abolished. The consequences of this paradigm shift in STD prevention are being judged controversially even today. The public health department of the city of Cologne, like others, adapted its programme, staff, equipment, and diagnostic procedures to the new requirements. The department for venereal disease control was converted into a walk-in-clinic for STD and now forms part of a comprehensive STD and Aids prevention unit. The present article illustrates the changes by comparing the clients and the STD numbers of the years 1994 and 2004. METHOD: The following data were compared: number of consultations, number of clients regarding sex, occupation in sex business, health insurance, national or ethnic background, frequency of consultation, number of STD. RESULTS: In 1994, almost all clients of the department for venereal disease control were female prostitutes. 74% of them worked in established sex business venues with a high grade of professionalism, few STD cases were diagnosed. In 2004, the STD clinic was open for anybody considered to be at risk and not having access to the regular health care system. Only 49% of the patients were prostitutes, either female or male. 25% of the clients were male. 68% of the patients were migrants, many of them without any legal status and without any access to regular health care. A high number of acute STD and subsequent disorders that required treatment was registered. Besides the STD-related services, a great need for gynaecological and urological differential diagnostics as well as a high demand for counselling and provision of other problems of sexual health were observed. DISCUSSION: The data show that an STD department providing comprehensive services anonymously and free of charge will reach a broader range of highly vulnerable persons in comparison with an obligatory VD check of prostitutes. The high numbers of STD and STD-related disorders demonstrate the improved effectiveness of the new service.

[Diagnostic and therapeutic features of tuberculosis in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis in Dakar]. / Caractéristiques diagnostiques et thérapeutiques de la tuberculose chez les hémodialysés chroniques à Dakar.

Tuberculosis in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis therapy presents a number of diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. This study was designed to assess the specific diagnostic and therapeutic features of dialysis-associated tuberculosis in a clinical setting. A total of 55 patients were enrolled in this retrospective study over the 5-year period from 1996 to 2000. Diagnostic techniques included questionnaire, clinical examination, chest X- ray, tuberculin skin test, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MT) screening on biological fluids and tissue biopsy. Tuberculosis was diagnosed in 6 patients (11%). The disease occurred within the first two years after the beginning of hemodialysis. Initial signs were nonspecific, i.e., fever, weight loss, and cough. Tuberculin skin testing was negative in 5 cases. Tuberculosis was located in the lung in 2 cases, pleura in 2 cases, peritoneum in 1, and lymph node in 1. Isolation of the MT and confirmation by tissue biopsy was performed in only one case. Appropriate polychemotherapy was successful in 5 of 6 cases. Morbidity and mortality of tuberculosis in dialysis patients is closely related to early detection and treatment. Therapy is often based on strong presumptive evidence without definitive diagnosis.

Seasonal fluctuation of antibody levels to Plasmodium falciparum parasitized red blood cell-associated antigens in two Senegalese villages with different transmission conditions.

The recombinant R23, PfEB200, and GST-5 antigens derive from conserved antigens associated with the Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocyte membrane. They were identified as targets of protective antibodies in the Saimiri sciureus model. We have assessed here the humoral response to these antigens in humans. Cross-sectional surveys were conducted in two Senegalese villages with different levels of endemicity. The prevalence of specific IgG and IgM was similar and influenced by age in both localities. The anti-R23 antibodies decreased after the rainy season, particularly in the children less than ten years old. The anti-PfEB200 response did not show significant seasonal variation. The anti-GST-5 response increased in both the less-than 10-year-old and the greater-than 10-year-old groups after the rainy season in Dielmo, but only in the Ndiop villagers who were more than 10-years-old. Thus, antigen-specific seasonal variations of antibody levels were influenced differently by age in both villages. The isotype distribution was antigen-specific and differed for both seasons.

Flow cytometric analysis of IgG reactive to parasitized red blood cell membrane antigens in Plasmodium falciparum-immune individuals.

Antigens exposed at the surface of Plasmodium falciparum parasitized red blood cells (pRBCs) represent potential targets for protective antibodies involved in opsonization and immune phagocytosis of pRBCs. We measured the recognition of parasitized red blood cell membrane associated antigens by IgG in the plasma of clinically immune individuals by flow cytometry and ELISA. The plasmas were selected on the basis of preexisting IgG antibodies to pRBC membrane associated recombinant proteins. In every plasma sample IgG could bind the surface of live pRBCs in flow cytometry. In addition, there was a significant correlation between the level of IgG recognition of live pRBCs and of pRBC membrane ghost proteins or major identified antigens by ELISA. Flow cytometry thus represents a technique suitable to test for the accessibility and potential functionality of IgG antibodies directed to antigens expressed by the surface of pRBCs.

[Evolutive aspects of systemic lupus erythematosus in Dakar. Apropos of 30 cases]. / Aspects évolutifs du lupus érythémateux systémique à Dakar. A propos de 30 cas.

To determine the characteristics of evolution of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the authors studied 30 cases retrospectively. All were black women aged from 16 to 73 years (with a mean of 30 years) at the time of diagnosis. Dermatological manifestations consisting in discoid lupus or alopecia inaugurated the disease in 12 cases, joint symptoms in 10 cases. Polyarthritis was the most common inaugural manifestation, followed by discoid lupus. Corticosteroids therapy alone or associated to chloroquine or immunosuppressor led to good results; 88% of patients who received treatment had good outcomes in the first 5 months after diagnosis. After this time lapse, 6 cases of complications related to the corticosteroids therapy occurred. After one year, 5 patients presented one or more flare-ups and had to be re-hospitalized; 8 others were lost to the follow-up. The overall mortality rate was 27% (8 cases out of 30). Causes of death were first renal failure (3/8) followed by infectious complications (2/8). The management of SLE could be improved by a close follow-up and providing the patients and their family with adequate information.

[Treatment of rheumatoid polyarthritis with methotrexate in Dakar: efficacy, tolerance and cost]. / Traitement de la polyarthrite rhumatoïde par le méthotrexate à Dakar: efficacité, tolérance et coût.

Methotrexate (MTX), which has been used for years in cancer treatment, is now being proposed as a first-line treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), despite its potential side effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the short-term efficacy, safety and relative cost of low-dose MTX for the treatment of RA. We carried out an open, nonrandomized trial in which patients received a 7 mg injection of MTX once per week, with clinical and biological follow up. A single physician performed the weekly assessments, which involved evaluation of the duration of morning stiffness, the number of night awakenings, the number of painful and swollen joints and Ritchie's index. Blood cell count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were determined monthly. Twelve RA patients were enrolled in the trial, over a mean treatment period of 356 +/- 175 days. A significant improvement was observed in all variables except the number of swollen joints. Ritchie's index decreased from a mean of 31.8 +/- 11.85 to 6.5 +/- 8.98 (p<1.6 x 10- 4). Minor adverse reactions were observed but none indicated treatment withdrawal: 6 cases of nausea, 2 of a moderate increase in transaminase activity, 1 of bronchitis, in which the responsibility of MTX was not definitely established and 3 cases in which hemoglobin levels decreased. The monthly cost of the treatment, including the drug itself and laboratory tests, is lower than that of gold salt injection. Three issues of key importance in our region were investigated in this study: 1) the possible desire to become pregnant of female patients undergoing MTX treatment. In addition, some of the young and unmarried patients did not understand or appreciate the contraceptive effects of the treatment; 2) poor compliance with the treatment due to limited financial resources. Many patients did not regularly attend for their follow-up appointments and many stopped taking the medication. One third of the patients were lost to follow-up during this study; 3) the prevalence of chronic hepatitis, which may limit the use of MTX in our region. Serological tests should be performed before the treatment is started and a liver biopsy is recommended for patients with chronic hepatitis B or C.

[Severe acute renal failure revealing membranous glomerulonephritis]. / Insuffisance rénale aiguë sévère revelant une glomérulonephrite extra membraneuse idiopathique.

We report a 30-year-old female admitted for an acute renal failure (ARF) as initial sign of idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis. Severe ARF needed hemodialysis and renal biopsy after three weeks of evolution. Pathological examination revealed membranous glomerulonephritis mixed focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Oral corticosteroids with hemodialysis allowed to obtain complete regression of ARF and partial remission of membranous glomerulonephritis. This case report call also to answer the question about existence of "tropical extramembranous glomerulonephritis" described in Dakar, more than twenty years ago.

[Etiologies of chronic renal insufficiency in a adult internal medicine service in Dakar]. / Etiologies des insuffisances rénales chroniques dans un service de Médecine Interne pour adulte à Dakar.

Chronic renal failure (CRF) sets public health problems both as its prevalence and its morbidity. The treatment is costly, that's why developing countries must engage in preventive strategies. In this view, a retrospective study was led in Le Dantec Hospital from January 1st, 1998 to December 31st 1993. As a preliminary to a countrywide survey, it is necessary to find out the causes of CRF clarify the causes of CRF in a hospital setting and sketch out a preventive strategy. The patients included in this study were those with CRF. The diagnosis of CRF were based on medical history data, anemia, but mainly biological and ultrasound imaging: creatininima more than 18 mg/l, and/or creatinine clearance less than 80 ml/mn, whose diagnosis was little sized kidney. Of the 5276 in patients, 384 had CRF representing 7% of sample. Only 261 cases were retained broken down into 119 females and 142 males (sex-ratio: 1.19). Age span ranges from 15 to 88 years with a mean of 44 years. Etiologies were dominated by unknown causes, 89 cases (34.23%). Nephroangiosclerosis was the most common known cause, 65 cases (25%) followed by diabetes nephropathy with 54 cases (20.69%) and chronic glomerulonephretic representing 41 cases (15.76%). Other causes were identified in various proportions: cortical necrosis (4 casesà, hereditary nephropathies (2 cases), interstitial nephropathy (1 case), nephroponophteois, kidney polykystosis, prostate adenoma and bilharziosis were all found in one case each. This study pointed out to a need for a nation-wide survey to define the aetiologies of CRF. The study also showed that an early diagnosis and adequate treatment of high blood pressure, diabetes and GNC should certainly constitute the principal axes of investigation for prevention.

[Secondary hyperparathyroidism of chronic hemodialysis]. / Hyperparathyroïdie secondaire chez les hémodialyses chroniques a Dakar.

Secondary hyperparathyroidism is defined as autonomic secretion of parathormon (PTH) whose 1-84 fraction level is up to 60 ng/l. The aim of this study was to determine incidence of secondary hyperparathyroidism on patients undergoing hemodialysis in Le Dantec Hospital of Dakar, and describe its diagnostic and therapeutical aspects. Between 22 patients followed in chronically hemodialysis, 11 patients had effective blood test of parathormon. Seven of them had high level of PTH and the other had normal rate. They were 5 men and 7 women with a mean age of 56 years. The mean duration undergoing hemodialysis was 42 months. Clinical signs were rare and non specific, dominated bony pains and anemia. Ectopic calcifications had been found in 3 cases. Hypocalcemia was present in 5 cases and high level of phosphoremia in all cases. The D3 vitamin was at a normal rate in all cases up to 10 ng/ml. Calcium supplementation with 1.5 to 2.5 g/day was effective associated with rich calcium dietary. This level of calcium supplementation appeared too low even though it must be closely estimated because of the possibility of improving ectopic calcifications. At the opposite, D3 vitamin supplementation seems to be unuseful under tropical areas.

[Autosomal dominant polycystosis in the hospital milieu in Dakar (Senegal)]. / La polykystose autosomique dominante en milieu hospitalier à Dakar (Sénégal).

Autosomial dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is an hereditary affection transmitted in a autosal dominant pattern with variable penetrancy. Diagnosis is based upon ultrasound examination and/or familial history. The authors present a 8 years retrospective hospital study in order to precise the epidemiological and clinico-biological aspects of ADPKD in Dakar. So 23 patients were studied. The mean age at the diagnosis was 46 years. They were 9 men and 14 women (sex ratio 0.64). A past history of familial nephropathy was found in 52.2% of cases. The circumstances of diagnosis were dominated by lombar pain (52.2%) and hypertension (17.4%) but at examination, blood pressure was high in 34.8% and represent the main factor of worsening the disease. Enlargement of kidney was found in 47.8% and hepatomegaly in 13% of cases. Anemia was particularly common 56.5%. The most frequent extra renal manifestation was the liver cysts and occurs mainly in women. National prevalence of ADPKD and the specific gene should be precise in further studies.

[Management of lupus nephritis in Senegal]. / Réflexions sur la prise en charge de la néphropathie lupique au Sénégal.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a disease considered as seldom in Senegal. Nevertheless its incidence is increasing these last years. The prognosis is significantly related to the renal involvement, classified into 6 classes by the WHO. The treatment of these different forms is variable, consisting on abstention or symptomatic treatment for the class III (with low activity index), class II, I, and V (without renal failure). In the other hand a vigorous treatment is indicated in the class III, with consistent activity index, class IV and class V with renal failure. The most frequent of these treatment remains the association using corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. Among immunosuppressants, cyclophosphamide and azathioprine are the most commonly used. The case we reported is about a 41 years old woman who presented a class IV lupic nephropathy, with a good outcome after a 18 months corticosteroid and immunosuppressants association treatment. This case leads us to some recommendations. Considering our poor socioeconomical conditions, we suggest to treat all patients presenting proteinuria higher than 2 mg/24h. However it is more judicious to perform renal biopsy on patients with signs evocating renal impairement and to treat the class III, IV and V whatever would be the degree of activity and chronicity indexes. This treatment must associate immunosuppressive drugs and corticosteroids; the modalities and duration depending on clinical presentation, histologic features and evolution.