Prevalence and diagnostic performance of iron deficiency in polycythemia.

INTRODUCTION: Several observations have shown that patients with polycythemia have iron deficiency. Our objectives were to report the prevalence of iron deficiency and to evaluate the diagnostic performance of serum ferritin in polycythemia vera. PATIENTS AND METHOD: This is a retrospective descriptive and analytical study carried out in the internal medicine department of the Henri Mondor Hospital, Aurillac, France. The study involved 114 patients with polycythemia, followed in the department from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2021. To evaluate the diagnostic performance, the JAK2 mutation was considered as the gold standard of diagnosis. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients had polycythemia vera and 76 patients had secondary polycythemia. The mean age of the patients was 61.79 years (±15.44) with a sex ratio of 4.43. The overall prevalence of iron deficiency was 21.05%. The prevalence was 53% in polycythemia vera group and 1.32% in secondary polycythemia group. The risk of iron deficiency was high in polycythemia vera (OR = 115; 95% CI [14.4-918.2], p < 0.0001) and the sensitivity and specificity of serum ferritin were 52.63% and 100% respectively. CONCLUSION: Assessment of iron deficiency should be part of the initial evaluation of polycythemia. Iron deficiency had a high specificity during polycythemia vera.

Emergency hemodialysis in the Joseph Raseta Befelatanana hospital, Antananarivo, Madagascar / Hémodialyse en urgence à l'hôpital Joseph Raseta Befelatanana, Antananarivo, Madagascar

Introduction: Initiation of emergency dialysis is a critical situation responsible for high morbidity and mortality. This study describes the characteristics of emergency hemodialysis patients in a hospital in Madagascar. Patients and methods: It is a descriptive study over a period of 7 months, from September 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019, on emergency hemodialysis patients in the hemodialysis department of the University Hospital of Joseph Raseta Befelatanana, Antananarivo. Emergency hemodialysis was defined as dialysis performed immediately or within the first 48 hours of hospitalisation in a life-threatening situation. Results: Among 124 haemodialysis patients, 52 patients (41.93%) had started dialysis as an emergency. The mean age of patients was 50.5 years and the sex ratio (male/female) was 1.08. Hypertension (51.92%) and diabetes (34.61%) were the main comorbidities. Chronic kidney disease was found in 82.7%. The majority of patients were unprepared and had initiated dialysis with a central venous catheter. The most frequent indication was Kussmaul's breathing (32.6%) followed by anuria (28.84%). The mortality rate was 23.08% and the prognosis was influenced by their condition on arrival. Conclusion: The predominance of chronic kidney disease and the absence of a permanent vascular approach can be explained by the late referral to nephrologists of patients with chronic kidney disease. Efforts need to be made to increase the proportion of scheduled dialysis patients with a permanent approach.

Introduction: L'initiation de la dialyse en urgence est une situation critique responsable d'une morbi-mortalité élevée. Cette étude décrit les caractéristiques des patients hémodialysés en urgence dans un centre hospitalier de Madagascar. Patients et méthodes: Il s'agit d'une étude descriptive sur une période de sept mois, du 1er septembre 2018 au 31 mars 2019, portant sur les patients hémodialysés en urgence dans le service d'hémodialyse du centre hospitalier Joseph Raseta Befelatanana, Antananarivo. L'hémodialyse en urgence était définie par une dialyse réalisée dans l'immédiat ou dans les 48 premières heures d'hospitalisation devant une situation mettant en jeu le pronostic vital. Résultats: Parmi les 124 patients hémodialysés, 52 patients (41,93 %) avaient démarré la dialyse en urgence. L'âge moyen des patients était de 50,5 ans et le sex-ratio (hommes/femmes) était de 1,08. L'hypertension artérielle (51,92 %) et le diabète (34,61 %) étaient les principales comorbidités. L'insuffisance rénale chronique a été trouvée dans 82,7 %. La majorité des patients n'étaient pas préparés et avaient initié la dialyse avec un cathéter veineux central. L'indication la plus fréquente était la dyspnée de Kussmaul (32,6 %) suivie de l'anurie (28,84 %). Le taux de mortalité était de 23,08 % et le pronostic était influencé par l'état à l'arrivée. Conclusion: La prédominance de l'insuffisance rénale chronique et l'absence d'abord vasculaire permanent peuvent s'expliquer par la référence tardive aux néphrologues des patients ayant une insuffisance rénale chronique. Des efforts doivent être faits pour augmenter la proportion de patients dialysés programmés avec une approche permanente.

Melanoma of unknown primary origin with skeletal muscle metastasis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Melanoma is usually discovered from an irregular skin patch or a modification of a preexisting patch. Cutaneous and lymph node metastases are common. Muscle metastases are rare. We report a case of melanoma with infiltration of the gluteus maximus, which had normal dermatological examination. CASE PRESENTATION: A 43-year-old Malagasy man with no history of skin surgery was admitted with progressively worsening dyspnea. On admission, he presented with superior vena cava syndrome, painless cervical lymphadenopathy, and a painful swelling in the right buttock. Skin and mucous membrane examination did not reveal any abnormal or suspicious lesions. The biology was limited to a C-reactive protein of 40 mg/L, a white blood cell count of 23 G/L, and a lactate dehydrogenase level of 1705 U/L. The computed tomography scan showed several lymphadenopathies, compression of the superior vena cava, and a tissue mass at the expense of the gluteus maximus. Cervical lymph node biopsy and cytopuncture of the gluteus maximus were consistent with a secondary melanoma location. A stage IV melanoma of unknown primary origin, and with stage TxN3M1c associated with lymph node metastases and extension to the right gluteus maximus, was suggested. CONCLUSIONS: Melanoma of unknown primary origin accounts for 3% of diagnosed melanomas. Diagnosis is difficult in the absence of a skin lesion. Patients are diagnosed with multiple metastases. Muscle involvement is unusual and may suggest a benign pathology. In this context, biopsy remains essential for diagnosis.

A case of Behçet's disease with unusual cardiovascular complications.

Behçet's disease should be suspected in young adults who present with heart failure and/or vascular lesions. Cardiac involvement and mesenteric artery aneurysm are rare but should be recognized because of their severity.

Description of multiple myeloma cases and assessment of survival and mortality factors in Madagascar.

INTRODUCTION: In Madagascar, the epidemiologic, therapeutic, and evolutionary aspects of multiple myeloma remain poorly understood. Our objectives were to describe the cases, report factors associated with mortality, and estimate patient survival. PATIENTS AND METHOD: This was a retrospective descriptive and analytical study conducted in five teaching hospitals in Madagascar: HJRA and CENHOSOA (Antananarivo), CHUPZAGA (Mahajanga), CHUAT (Toamasina) and CHUT (Fianarantsoa). The study included patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2021. RESULTS: Of the 11,374 cancer patients, 75 (0.66%) had multiple myeloma. The mean age of the patients was 59.9 years (±8.9) and the sex ratio was 1.5. Arterial hypertension was observed in 32% of the patients. The most common symptom of myeloma was bone pain (n = 48; 64%). Forty-six patients (61%) were diagnosed with stage III myeloma and 28 patients (37.3%) with stage IIIA myeloma according to the Durie-Salmon classification. Anemia, renal failure, hypercalcemia and fractures were present in 53%, 37%, 21% and 28% of cases, respectively. Fifty-four patients received specific treatment. The combination of melphalan-prednisone-thalidomide was used in 79.63% of cases, and one patient had received autologous stem cell transplantation. Eleven patients (14.67%) died. Chronic kidney disease (p = 0.009), smoking (p = 0.028) and two associated comorbidities (p = 0.035) were associated with mortality. The median overall survival was 45.5 months. CONCLUSION: Patient survival is shorter than reported in the literature. The high mortality rate is due to comorbidities and limited access to recommended therapies.

Listeria endocarditis and spondylodiscitis: A case report and review of the literature.

A 75-year-old man with an aortic bioprosthesis was admitted with polyarthritis in a non-febrile setting. Blood cultures were positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The diagnosis of Listeria endocarditis and spondylodiscitis was evoked. These are two unusual forms of listeriosis. The evolution was favorable after antibiotic therapy.

Neuromeningeal cryptococcosis in a patient not infected with human immunodeficiency virus and without known risk factors: A case report.

We report a 24-year-old female patient not infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and without other risk factors of immunosuppression, presenting with neuromeningeal cryptococcosis. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis revealed the presence of Cryptococcus neoformans. The evolution was unfavorable and the patient died even after appropriate antifungal treatment.

[Prevalence and etiological profiles of atypical localization venous thrombosis : A descriptive multicenter study]. / Prévalence et profils étiologiques des thromboses veineuses de localisation atypique : une étude multicentrique descriptive.

INTRODUCTION: Venous thrombosis of unusual sites is much rarer than in the lower limbs and requires a rigorous etiological approach. The objective was to describe the clinical and progressive peculiarities of unusual localization venous thrombosis as well as their etiologies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Multicenter descriptive retrospective study of hospitalized patient records in the two large Hospital Centers, Antananarivo, Madagascar between 2017 and 2020 in which the diagnosis of unusual venous thrombosis was confirmed by imaging. RESULTS: Seventy-seven thrombosis of atypical localization were present in fifty-nine patients identified. These were 24 men and 35 women with an M/F sex ratio of 0.68. The mean age of our patients was 49.4 years (± 16.76). Thrombosis seated in the majority of cases in the portal veins (n ​​= 27), cerebral veins (n ​​= 20), vena cava (n = 10), splenic veins (n ​​= 5), upper limbs and splenomearic trunk (each n = 4), Renal vein (n = 3). Venous thrombosis had occurred following tobacco intoxication (n = 15 cases); bed rest (n = 10); surgical intervention (n = 4). The aetiological assessment revealed a neoplastic origin in 27 cases (45.77%) dominated by hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 13). the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome dominates the case of autoimmune causes (n = 4). In terms of mortality, there were no deaths during the initial hospitalization. Eight patients had died, 4 of them due to hepatocellular carcinoma, 2 after surgery, and 1 each due to kidney cancer and liver cirrhosis. The mean follow-up period was 34.03 ± 51.5 days. CONCLUSION: Unusual thrombosis, although rare, constitute a real challenge in the etiological approach. In clinical practice, the description of these thrombosis would allow us to understand their pathophysiological mechanism in order to plan the best management.

Light chain Amyloidosis (AL) associated with multiple myeloma revealed by peripheral bilateral polyarthritis: a case report.

In chronic polyarthritis, the presence of macroglossia with absence of rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP antibodies may be suggestive of amyloid arthopathy. Clinical evaluation takes precedence over classification criteria.

[Acute kidney injury and severe malaria in adults: A monocentric descriptive study in Madagascar using KDIGO criteria]. / Insuffisance rénale aiguë et paludisme grave chez l'adulte : étude descriptive monocentrique à Madagascar en utilisant les critères KDIGO.

INTRODUCTION: Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is one of the criteria for severe malaria with a varied incidence. Our objectives are to determine the prevalence of malaria-associated AKI and to report the characteristics of patients with the evolution of cases. PATIENTS AND METHOD: This is a 5-year retrospective descriptive study from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2019 in the Infectious Diseases department of the University Hospital Center of Befelatanana Antananarivo. Among 379 patients diagnosed, 103 patients (27,18%) with associated AKI were included. We used the criteria of Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes group to define AKI. RESULTS: The prevalence of AKI was 27.18%. The mean age of patients was 34.92 years and the sex-ratio was 3.68. Plasmodium falciparum was the causative agent in 98.06% of cases followed by Plasmodium vivax. Diuresis was preserved in 69.86% of cases. Jaundice was the main sign of severity associated (49.51%). The mean creatinine level was 466.93µmol/L. The evolution was favorable under antimalarial drug and rehydration. Dialysis was required in 25.24% of cases. Thirteen patients had died, a rate of 12.62%, of which 8 patients (61.54%) had dialysis criteria but had not been purged for economic reasons. CONCLUSION: AKI is a frequent complication of malaria. It is responsible for significant mortality despite improved care in the fight against malaria.