[Acute superior mesenteric vein thrombosis. A retrospective study of 9 patients]. / Thrombose aiguë de la veine mésentérique supérieure. Etude rétrospective de neuf cas.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To determine diagnostic modalities and both immediate and long-term treatment of superior mesenteric venous thrombosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective study from 1997 to 2004 in two institutions concerning patients with superior mesenteric vein thrombosis. RESULTS: Nine patients (all males, mean age=55 years), were included. Abdominal pain (100%), vomiting (44%), and bowel activity disorders (44%) were the most common symptoms. A personal or familial thrombosis history was present in 67% of patients. A genetic predisposing factor of thrombosis was present in 78% of patients. The diagnosis was established with CT-scan in 8 cases with a mean delay of 8 days. Treatment was exclusively medical in 33% of patients and included surgery in 67%. All operated patients underwent resection for bowel infarction and only one had immediate anastomosis. All enterostomies were subsequently closed. No patient died. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis of superior mesenteric vein thrombosis is frequently delayed and relies on CT-scan with intravenous contrast. Prognosis is globally favourable but depends on early application of anticoagulation therapy. In case of surgery, bowel-sparing resection is indicated and enterostomies are often needed. Genetic disorders predisposing to thrombosis are very frequent, that may indicate prolonged even definitive anticoagulation therapy.

Assessment of gastric neuropathy using electrogastrography in asymptomatic diabetic patients. Correlation with cardiac autonomic neuropathy.

This study assessed gastric neuropathy in type 1 diabetes mellitus and its relationships with cardiac autonomic neuropathy. Fifty-four asymptomatic type 1 patients (43 +/- 12 years) and 15 healthy subjects participated in the study. Cutaneous electrogastrography (EGG) was recorded for 4 h before, during, and 4 h after the ingestion of a standard meal. EGG frequency was divided into three bands: bradygastria [< 2 cpm), normal (2-4 cpm) and tachygastria (4-10 cpm)]. Assessment of diabetic autonomic neuropathy was based on Ewing tests and time and frequency domain indexes, which were analyzed from 24-h continuous ECG recordings. Tachygastria was significantly more common in diabetic patients than in controls throughout the recording period (38 +/- 5 vs 23 +/- 11.8%, p < 0.001), before (37 +/- 6 vs 26.5 +/- 8.9%, p < 0.001), during (41 +/- 7.8 vs 23 +/- 10.5%, p < 0.001) and after the meal (37 +/- 6.9 vs 29 +/- 9.8%, p < 0.001). The percentage of dominant frequency in the normal range was significantly lower in diabetic patients than controls (49 +/- 6 vs 63.3 +/- 11.1%, p < 0.001). Tachygastria was correlated with duration of diabetes (r = 0.234, p < 0.05), but not with glycaemic control. Abnormalities in gastric myoelectrical activity were not correlated with Ewing tests or time and frequency domain indexes.

[Acute epidemic non-A, non-B hepatitis: clinical study of 38 cases seen in Chad]. / Hépatite aiguë non-A, non-B épidémique: étude clinique de 38 cas observés au Tchad.

An epidemic of acute non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH), observed in 38 young French soldiers in Chad, presumed to be waterborne, allowed to describe the clinical picture of the disease. The main features of this entity were compared with those observed during previously described outbreaks of waterborne NANBH encountered in North Africa and in Asia as well as with 85 cases of viral type A hepatitis of various other geographical origins, observed during the same period of time. Similarities between the clinical features of the disease within every water-transmitted NANBH epidemic center were suggestive of a particular nosologic entity among the non-parenterally transmitted cases of NANBH. In young male subjects, the course of the disease proved to be milder than that of type A viral hepatitis. A 5 ml dose of non-specific French-prepared human immunoglobulins had no prophylactic effects on the disease.

[Acute icteric viral hepatitis type A, B, D and non-A non-B. Etiologic, clinical and developmental aspects in the young man. Apropos of 423 cases]. / Hépatites virales aiguës ictérigènes A, B, D et non-A non-B Aspects étiologiques, cliniques et évolutifs chez l'homme jeune. A propos de 423 cas.

In the light of the present serological tests, the etiology, clinical features and course of acute viral hepatitis were reviewed in 423 consecutive male patients. Follow-up started less than 15 days after the onset of jaundice and continued until recovery or for at least six months if recovery did not occur before them. The incidence of type A viral hepatitis decreased in France but remained high in North Africa and tropical areas. During the acute phase it differed from hepatitis type B by a lower aminotransferase level. Relapse, however, was more common, as was protraction of longer than six months. Recovery ultimately occurred. The specific IgM antibody persisted throughout the condition. Type B hepatitis differed from type A hepatitis by a mean quicker normalization of the biochemical disturbances. In the absence of superinfection by delta hepatitis virus or by a non-A, non-B virus, the progression to chronic liver disease was rare. The course of non-A, non-B hepatitis was very dissimilar according to the circumstances of occurrence. In epidemic cases rapid recovery occurred and no progression to chronicity was noted. In the other cases, relapse and chronicity were more frequent than for type A or B hepatitis. Type D hepatitis was characterized by more pronounced biochemical disturbances during the acute phase and by more frequent progression to chronicity in case of superinfection.

[Hepatic amebiasis: study of 152 cases]. / L'amibiase hépatique: étude de 152 observations.

The purpose of this study was to describe and analyse retrospectively the clinical, serological, anatomical and evolutive features of 152 cases of hepatic amebiasis in young adults, treated and followed up in France from 1969 to 1983. The disease was revealed 3 times out of 4 by tender hepatomegaly with fever, but only in 6 cases by complications. Serological tests (immunofluorescence or hemagglutination) were always positive for amebiasis, whereas Entamoeba histolytica was absent from stools in 96.7 p. 100 of the cases. Hepatic amebiasis always caused a hepatic abscess: in these cases, the superiority of ultrasonography over all other diagnostic methods was confirmed, especially concerning the detection of multiple abscesses (47 p. 100). Complete recovery was obtained by medical treatment in 117 cases, either alone (98 cases), or combined with needle aspiration (19 cases). Nitro-imidazoles are the simplest treatment, but nevertheless in 5 cases they were not effective. These patients were then treated with dehydroemetine, associated in 2 cases with surgery. Four patients relapsed at mid or long-term after apparent recovery, in the absence of any obvious reinfection. A significant correlation between the course of the treated disease and the size and number of abscesses was demonstrated: it was possible to define a group characterized by a slow and/or complicated course (with single abscess of the right lobe whose diameter is equal to or greater than 10 cm, or multiple abscesses). The pathogenesis of hepatic amebiasis is not yet fully understood.

[Chronic diarrhea due to lymphocytic colitis treated with piroxicam beta cyclodextrin]. / Diarrhée chronique secondaire à la prise de piroxicam beta-cyclodextrine associée à une colite lymphocytaire.

BACKGROUND: Lymphocytic colitis is a chronic diarrhea syndrome with no endoscopically detectable anomaly and histological colonic lesions. CASE REPORT: A 52-year-old woman was hospitalized for chronic diarrhea. She experienced 10 to 30 liquid bowel movements per day. Symptoms had begun 8 days after taking piroxicam fl-cyclodextrin. Intraepithelial cell counts on rectum and colon endoscopic biopsies showed more than 20% lymphocytes, giving the diagnosis of lymphocytic colitis. The patient was given 5ASA 3 g/24 h. Symptoms regressed in less than one week. DISCUSSION: Lymphocytic colitis is uncommon. The cause remains unknown but a secondary autoimmune mechanism triggered by drugs has been suggested. This case would implicate nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. Certain authors have demonstrated that they can be involved in the development of collagen colitis.

[Diabetic autonomic gastric neuropathy: contribution of the electrogastrogram]. / Neuropathie végétative gastrique diabétique: apport de l'électrogastrogramme.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to characterize the features of vegetative gastric neuropathy observed in diabetic patients based on surface electrogastrographic recordings. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An electrogastrogram was recorded over an 8 hour 30 minute period in 63 patients with asymptomatic insulin-dependent diabetes and in 15 non-diabetic controls. Normal the electrical frequency of the stomach is 2 to 4 cycles per minute (cpm). Bradygastria is defined as a frequency below 2 cpm and tachygastria by a frequency above 4 cpm. RESULTS: The diabetic patients showed a below normal gastric frequency and enhanced tachygastria over the entire recording period and during the pre, per and post-prandial periods. These vagal alterations were not correlated with the principle features of diabetes. CONCLUSION: Electrogastrography confirms that vegetative gastric neuropathy occurs early in patients with asymptomatic insulin-dependent diabetes. The tachygastria could lead to the increased rate of gastroparesis reported in these patients.

[Mesenteric cystic lymphangioma]. / Lymphangiome kystique mésentérique.

BACKGROUND: Cystic lymphangioma is an uncommon congenital malformation usually encountered in children and often discovered fortuitously. CASE REPORT: A 46-year-old man was hospitalized for acute alcoholic hepatitis with edematoascitic decompensation. The abdominal and pelvic CT scan showed homogeneous hepatomegaly and a tumoral process involving the terminal ileal loops without signs of occlusion or node enlargement. Pathology reported benign mesenteric multicystic lymphangioma. DISCUSSION: Cystic lymphangiomas account for 7% of all intra-abdominal cystic formations. The ileal localization predominates with little or no clinical expression. Ultrasonography and CT scan provide complementary information on the relations with other organs. Magnetic resonance imaging is currently the gold standard allowing precise diagnosis of the anatomic relations and identifying intracystic hemorrhage. The pathology examination is required to eliminate possible benign multicystic mesothelioma which may occasionally take on an aggressive form. Complete surgical excision provides cure.

[Cystic dystrophia of the duodenal wall with aberrant pancreas. Value of magnetic resonance imaging for diagnosis]. / Dystrophie kystique de la paroi duodénale sur pancréas aberrant. Intérêt de l'imagerie par résonance magnétique pour le diagnostic.

BACKGROUND: Cystic dystrophy of the duodenal wall is characterized by the development of cysts in heterotopic pancreatic tissue localized in the duodenal wall. Diagnosis is difficult and endosonography is considered as the most useful investigation. CASE REPORTS: A 40-year-old man was hospitalized for abdominal pain triggered by ingestion of alcoholic beverages and for vomiting after food intake. The diagnosis of acute atypical cephalic pancreatitis was initially made. Magnetic resonance cholangiography then magnetic resonance imaging suggested the diagnosis of cystic dystrophy of the duodenal wall in a heterotopic pancreas which was confirmed by endosonography. DISCUSSION: Magnetic resonance imaging evidenced several cystic formations within a thickened duodenal wall leading to the correct diagnosis. MRI appears to provide all the elements necessary for the diagnosis of cystic dystrophy of the duodenal wall, avoiding the need for invasive investigations.