[Myelodysplastic syndrome with erythroblastopenia]. / Syndromes myélodysplasiques érythroblastopéniques.

Myelodysplastic syndrome with erythroid hypoplasia or erythroblastopenia has not yet been clearly defined, and in most patients it is mistaken for acquired pure red cell aplasia. Including one additional patient reported in this article, a literature review revealed only 50 cases over the last 20 years. These patients were predominantly elderly males, all required regular packed red cell transfusions, and they had a poor prognosis, mainly because of acute transformation. The mechanisms of erythroid aplasia remain unclear. However, recent data suggest the association of an intrinsic stem cell defect with immunological implication.

[Macrophage activation syndrome as the presenting feature of a Hodgkin's lymphoma in an elderly patient]. / Syndrome d'activation macrophagique révélant une maladie de Hodgkin chez un sujet âgé.

Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is a rare immunological disorder, rapidly life-threatening in the absence of specific treatment. Malignant lymphoma is common cause of MAS, but Hodgkin's lymphoma has been rarely associated with MAS. We report a 79-year-old man who presented a MAS as the presenting feature of Hodgkin's lymphoma, with a rapidly fatal outcome. We discuss the usefulness of sCD25 and interleukine 18 assays when diagnosis is difficult to obtain. We also review the literature data related to Hodgkin's lymphoma-associated MAS.

[Synchronous detection of T-cell clonality and FIP1L1-PDGFRA fusion gene in a hypereosinophilic syndrome]. / Détection simultanée d'une clonalité T et d'un transcrit FIP1L1-PDGFRA au cours d'un syndrome hyperéosinophilique.

We report a 49-year-old man suffering from chronic hypereosinophilia whose biological tests revealed a gene rearrangement between FIP1L1 and PDGFRA as well as a T-cell clonality. After 1 year of therapy with imatinib mesylate (100 mg daily), the patient was clinically asymptomatic, the fusion transcript was undetectable using RTQ-PCR and no lymphoproliferative disorders occurred. This unique combination raises the question of the physiopathology of such a grey zone hypereosinophilia and their management.

A family outbreak due to an emm-type 11 multiresistant strain of Streptococcus pyogenes.

Four cases of Streptococcus pyogenes infection due to an emm-type 11 strain, including one with a fatal outcome, occurred within a seven-member family. All strains shared biotype 5, pyrogenic exotoxin genes speB and speC, and resistance to kanamycin, tetracycline, macrolides and lincosamides. The identity of SmaI pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns confirmed their clonal origin. This highlights the ability of S. pyogenes to spread rapidly among family members. This first report of a family outbreak due to emm11 S. pyogenes reinforces the importance of surveillance of close family contacts of individuals with invasive streptococcal disease, and provides further support for antibiotic prophylaxis among the elderly.

[Chronic blepharitis: which role for Demodex folliculorum? A case report]. / Blépharite chronique : quel rôle pour Demodex folliculorum ? A propos d'un cas.

We present a 73-year-old woman presented to our hospital with a 2 years history of eyes itching. The ophthalmological testing was normal. Physical examination revealed blepharitis and lesions acnea-like on mouth, nose and chest. Biological testing revealed no abnormalities. Histologic study and direct immunofluorescence on a cutaneous biopsy were no contributive. The research of an allergic origine was practised by cutaneous and serological tests and negative. An examination of eyelashes was performed and yielded Demodex. Demodex folliculorum is a mite that is the most common permanent ectoparasite of humans, which is thought to be linked to blepharitis and allergic blepharoconjunctivis with rosacea, although much controversy persists. Recent studies demonstrate a high frequence of chronic blepharitis when Demodex are abundant. Several molecules can be used to treat this infestation. Parasiticide as oral ivermectine may be useful when the infestation is important.

[Biologic assays and diagnostic strategy of neuroleptospirosis: a case report]. / Moyens biologiques et stratégie diagnostique de la leptospirose neuroméningée. A propos d'un cas.

Clinical and biological symptoms of neuroleptospirosis are misleading. We report a 62-year-old man, without any risk factor, suffering from febrile headache with a pseudotumoral cerebral spinal fluid due to neuroleptospirosis. Thereby, we present useful diagnostic assays and their practical interest.

[Vertebral osteomyelitis due to Streptococcus agalactiae ST-17]. / Spondylodiscite à Streptococcus agalactiae ST-17.

Streptococcus agalactiae has been traditionally considered as associated with neonates and pregnant women. Invasive diseases due to Streptococcus agalactiae are increasing in non-pregnant adults, especially with medical underlying conditions such as diabetes mellitus or neoplasia. Among these invasive manifestations, vertebral osteomyelitis remain exceptional. We report the case of a 49 year old man, without any risk factor, suffering from a vertebral osteomyelitis due to Streptococcus agalactiae. Assessment of virulence factors showed that the strain belonged to the serotype III, sequence type ST-17. The patient recovered well after prolonged antibiotic therapy. Although exceptional and associated with a favourable outcome, this case highlights the potential implication of Group B Streptococcus in vertebral osteomyelitis and the way to manage it.

[Interest of careful blood film observation in haemolytic anaemia diagnosis]. / L'intérêt de l'examen attentif du frottis sanguin dans le diagnostic des anémies hémolytiques.

The discovery of anaemia raises the question of its aetiology. If many causes can easily be established, some remain without any accurate diagnosis. The mere issue is that their causes can be rare or mechanisms interlinked. A blood film examination by the biologist provides helpful elements to guide the diagnosis, it can be improved if it is orientated by the physician who prescribed it. Two cases of late discovery of haemolytic anaemia, in relation with red cell membrane disorders, are reported. They illustrate the interest of a good collaboration between the physician and the biologist that lead to diagnosis. The first case is about a band-3 protein defect, the second deals with an hereditary dehydrated stomatocytosis.

[About two cases of trichinellosis caused by Trichinella britovi]. / A propos de deux cas de trichinellose à Trichinella britovi.

Trichinellosis is a cosmopolitan zoonosis due to a nematode threadworm, Trichinella, essentially Trichinella spiralis. Human cases mostly appeared sporadically, sometimes endemically, related with consumption of larva stinking meat. We report two cases of trichinellosis, including a myocarditis, caused by Trichinella britovi after consumption of frozen wild boar meat.

[Plague outbreaks in the Mediterranean area during the 2nd World War, epidemiology and treatments]. / Epidémiologie et prise en charge des épidémies de peste en Méditerranée au cours de la Seconde Guerre Mondiale.

Before the Second World War, the plague was still rife in North Africa but occurred only as sporadic cases or small outbreaks as in Egypt or Morocco. The permanent foci of infected wild rodent were the cause of these rural outbreaks. In 1943 and 1944, plague came back in several Mediterranean towns and ports and was considered as a serious danger for the Allied Forces. These resurgences were related to the World War as well as the overpopulation of the cities, regroupings and population movements, relaxation of prophylactic measures of the plague in sea transport. The Allied Forces medical officers then showed the resistance of Yersinia pestis to penicillin which they had been supplied with recently, the effectiveness of sulphamides but mortality remained high (27%). In parallel, the drastic fight against rodents and fleas (DDT) gave excellent results.