Cutaneous events during treatment of chronic inflammatory joint disorders with anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Anti-tumour necrosis factors (anti-TNF) are more and more used, but the rate of skin adverse events is not known. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to assess the number of skin infections and other dermatoses in patients treated with anti-TNFalpha. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred eighty-seven patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis underwent a dermatological exam. Patients with anti-TNF were compared with those without this treatment in a prospective transversal study. RESULTS: Among them, 59 patients were treated with anti-TNFalpha and steroids were prescribed in 100 cases. There was no difference in the prevalence of skin infections or eczema or tumours. Skin drug reactions were observed in six patients. Infections by dermatophytes appear very frequent, approaching 70% in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that skin infections (or other skin diseases) are not more frequent in these patients. No differences were observed in infections (bacterial fungal, parasital or viral), tumours, psoriasis or the manifestations of atopic dermatitis. Nonetheless, a long-term survey might be interesting, especially about skin tumours.

[Miliary cerebral Histoplasma capsulatum in an HIV-negative patient]. / Miliaire cérébrale à Histoplasma capsulatum chez un patient séro-négatif pour le VIH.

A 58 year-old man who lived in Africa for 17 years, presented, four years after returning to western France, acute confusion and weight loss. He had no fever and no immunosuppression. Clinical examination revealed Babinski sign, mucosal ulcerations of the mouth and hepatomegaly. The lumbar puncture revealed a meningitis and MRI showed a few parenchymal enhancing masses in the brain. Stereotaxic biopsies were performed. Specific culture and coloration were positive for the diagnosis of cerebral histoplasmosis. At the beginning, antifungal treatment with amphotericin B and itraconazole provided improvement. But seizures occurred and the treatment by carbamazepine induced decreased blood level of itraconazole. Despite itraconazole IV the patient died. This observation illustrates the difficulties in diagnosis and treatment of cerebral histoplasmosis and the various patterns of drug interactions.

[Acute rhabdomyolysis and primary human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection: a new observation]. / Rhabdomyolyse aiguë associée à une primo-infection à VIH-1: une nouvelle observation.

INTRODUCTION: Acute human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection is a clinical and biological misleading and often undiagnosed illness. Laboratory studies frequently demonstrate abnormalities. Acute rhabdomyolysis is rarely reported. EXEGESIS: Authors report the case of an African man who presented with acute fever, cough, diarrhea, conjunctivitis, thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, and rhabdomyolysis without other possible cause. HIV test and detection of plasma p24 antigen were initially negative but were controlled positive and associated with high level of viral RNA. CONCLUSION: Symptomatic primary human immunodeficiency virus infection presenting with acute rhabdomyolysis was diagnosed. Diagnosis of primary HIV-1 infection must be considered in young people and patients at risk who present with acute rhabdomyolysis and fever.

[Skin and mucosal manifestations of chikungunya virus infection in adults in Reunion Island]. / Manifestations cutanéo-muqueuses de l'infection par le virus chikungunya chez l'adulte à la Réunion.

Numerous skin and mucosal manifestations were observed during the 2005-2006 chikungunya epidemic in Reunion Island. A prospective study was carried out in a consecutive series of 212 patients treated for chikungunya at the emergency unit of the Saint-Pierre Hospital in Reunion Island from March 8 to April 27, 2006. Diagnosis of chikungunya was suspected in patients with fever and joint pain and confirmed by RT-PCR and/or serology (IgM). Skin involvement was observed in 50% of patients. It consisted of exanthema with patches of healthy skin mainly on the trunk and limbs that sometimes displayed diffuse, congestive and even edematous features. Itching was reported in some cases (19.3%) and was sometimes isolated. Peeling of the skin was observed in a few cases but remained uncommon in adults. Outcome was rapidly favorable in most cases sometimes with scaling or persistence of dyschromic patches. These findings suggest that chikungunya should be suspected in subjects presenting a febrile rash while in an endemic areas or after returning from a tropical zone.

[Streptococcus pyogenes: a rare etiology of non-gonococcal urethritis and balanitis in the adult]. / Streptococcus pyogenes: une cause exceptionnelle d'urétrite et de balanite non gonococcique de l'adulte.

Urethritis and balanitis due to S. pyogenes are very uncommon. The authors report the case of a 22 year-old male patient, presenting with this association, the first case reported in France. There was no associated STD.

[Second degree atrioventricular block in mixed connective tissue disease]. / Syndrome de Sharp et bloc de conduction auriculo-ventriculaire aigu du second degré. A propos d'une observation.

INTRODUCTION: Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is characterized by overlapping features of progressive systemic sclerosis, dermatomyositis and systemic lupus erythematosus, and by high rate of antibodies to an extractable nuclear antigen ribonucleoprotein. Cardiac manifestations in MTCD are rare. EXEGESIS: A 58 years old man was admitted for mild fever, a impairment of the general status, muscular pain and a Raynaud's phenomenon. Biologic abnormalities were an inflammatory syndrome, elevated serum CPK and high rate anti-RNP antibodies. Diagnosis of mixed connective tissue disease was made. Shortly after, a Wenckebach atrioventricular block occurred. Systemic corticosteroids were efficient. CONCLUSION: Heart blocks are rarely described in MCTD. Three cases have been reported. It's a systemic complication resulting of an inflammatory process often responsive to steroids.

[Asymptomatic forms of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)]. / Formes pauci-symptomatiques du Syndrome Respiratoire Aigu Sévère (SRAS).

INTRODUCTION: In November 2002 an epidemic of atypical pneumonia appeared in the Chinese region of Guandong. It was subsequently given the name "Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome" (SARS) following the occurrence of further outbreaks in Hanoi and Hong Kong in February 2003. Five cases related to the same patient source have been reported in France. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a patient of 52 years who had direct contact with a probable case of SARS. On admission the patient presented with pyrexia associated with lymphopenia and liver cell necrosis but no respiratory symptoms. The chest x-ray was normal. The thoracic CT scan showed a sub pleural ground glass appearance. Early (36 hours) PCR studies of nasopharyngeal washings were negative for the coronavirus associated with SARS. The diagnosis was confirmed serologically. CONCLUSIONS: This observation demonstrates the existence of incomplete clinical presentations of SARS. The infectivity of this asymptomatic form is unknown. Serological analyses will allow better identification. The continuing danger of seasonal recurrence, particularly in the winter, cannot be ignored. In this context the recognition of probably infectious asymptomatic forms is essential.

[Cerebral Erdheim-Chester disease]. / Maladie d'Erdheim-Chester cérébrale.

We report the case of a 26-old-year man hospitalized for first partial complex epileptic seizure. Brain MRI showed an asymptomatic pseudo-tumor lesion in the brainstem. Diabetes insipidus, hypophyseal gonadotropic deficiency and osteosclerosis of long bones strongly suggested Erdheim-Chester disease, a rare histiocytosis, confirmed after tibial biopsy. Six months later, the patient remained stable. A persistent, and even increased, enhancement with Gd-DTPA on brain MR images was noted as previously described. The review of the literature collected 64 cases, and only 7 cases of cerebral "tumor".

[Hodgkin's disease manifesting as paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis]. / Encéphalite limbique révélatrice d'une maladie de Hodgkin.

INTRODUCTION: Malignancy is a possible cause of unexplained encephalitis. EXEGESIS: We describe a 59-years-old woman with limbic encephalitis, not explained by other causes, preceding diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease. Successful treatment of Hodgkin's disease was effective against neurological disturbance. CONCLUSION: This case provides evidence that Hodgkin's disease can be uncovered by paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis.

[Imported malaria in Moselle: 75 cases in three years]. / Paludisme d'importation en Moselle: à propos de 75 cas en trois ans.

PURPOSE: Imported malaria frequency is increasing in France. Moselle, a north-east French county, with high concentration of servicemen going in endemic areas, follows the same trend. METHODS: Clinical, epidemiological aspects and treatment of all malaria attacks diagnosed over 3 years (from 1st january 1996 to 31st january 1999) were studied. Data pertaining to antimalaria prophylaxis and the reasons for prophylaxis failure were analyzed. RESULTS: Seventy-five patients developed a paroxysmal episode of malaria. No severe malaria and no death were noted. Ninety-six percent of the patients came from Africa (96%), 64% of them coming from western Africa (Ivory coast, Senegal, and Togo). Plasmodium falciparum was responsible for 90% of the cases. Giemsa staining, quantitative buffy coat diagnosis system and parasight rapid dipstick antigen capture assay help guide diagnosis. Halofantrine (64%) and quinine (28.6%) were used as curative treatment. Investigation about prophylactic means showed than 37.9% of interviewed patients did not comply with the preventive treatment. The primary prophylaxis (avoiding bites) was in existent or badly done. CONCLUSION: Although the best choice for chemoprophylaxis is still debated, travelers going to endemic areas should be aware of the risks for malaria and persuaded to take a preventive treatment, even though its efficacy may not be complete. They also should wear insecticide-treated clothes in order to decrease the number of potentially infective mosquito bites.

[Disseminated and central nervous system Histoplasma capsulatum infection mimicking neoplasm: difficulties in diagnosis, failure in management]. / Miliaire cérébrale pseudonéoplasique révélatrice d'une histoplasmose disséminée à Histoplasma capsulatum: difficultés diagnostiques, échec thérapeutique.

INTRODUCTION: Infection with Histoplasma capsulatum (Hc) is a rare importing disease in metropolitan France, the most often minor but sometimes letal in its spread form. EXEGESIS: A 58 years old French man, HIV seronegative, was admitted for an alteration of its general condition, disorder and buccal ulcerations. He had a prostate cancer history and came back in France after 17 years in Central Africa. The imaging showed numerous cerebral nodes, a bilateral adrenal tumor, and pulmonary calcifications. Histoplasmosis diagnosis has been done after neurosurgical cerebral biopsy which displayed characteristic Hc. The sick man died 4 months later with multivisceral failures, in spite of amphotericine B treatment followed by oral then intraveinous itraconazole. CONCLUSION: Even in an old tropical residence, ones can be able to conjure up a deep exotic fungal infection, and most specifically Hc histoplasmosis, in front of meaningful multivisceral lesions. Disseminated histoplasmosis (HD) with neurological location is misleading, mimicking tuberculosis or cancer. In order to obtain formal mycological evidence, ones have to make adapted biopsies. Antifungal agents must take into account medicinal interaction. Therefore, prognosis is bad, according to inoculum, immunodeficiency, age of disease and diagnosis delay.

[Danger of malaria self-treatment. Acute neurologic toxicity of mefloquine and its combination with pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine]. / Danger de l'auto-traitement de réserve du paludisme. Toxicité neurologique aiguë de la méfloquine et de l'association pyriméthamine-sulfadoxine.

BACKGROUND: Mefloquine and pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine combination are recommended, as is quinine, for self-administered malaria prophylaxis. Patients should be carefully informed about appropriate use of this therapeutic scheme and advised on the importance of strict compliance to avoid overdose. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a patient who did not follow the prescribed dosage and who developed acute neurological disorders after overdosing. The patient developed seizures attributable to the sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine combination and mefloquine encephalopathy. DISCUSSION: Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine-related seizures are exceptional and result from an overdose of pyrimethamine. The neurotoxicity of mefloquine is well-known and is particularly frequent at curative dosage. Toxic encephalopathy is a serious neurological manifestation which is slowly reversible depending on individual predisposition. Anti-malaria prophylaxis requires concerted efforts on the part of the traveler and the prescribing physician. Self-administration schemes can be both most useful and dangerous due to expected benefits and potential risks.

[Plasmodium vivax: therapy update]. / Plasmodium vivax: actualités thérapeutiques.

IMPACT OF PLASMODIUM VIVAX WORLDWIDE: Plasmodium vivax is the most widespread malanal agent in the world. Unlike Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax can cause early or late recurrence and is not fatal (benign tertian malaria). EMERGENCE OF RESISTANT STRAINS: P. vivax strains resistant to chloroquine, then primaquine, have emerged over the last decade, creating the need for a new therapeutic strategy. TREATMENT OF PRIMARY DISEASE: Generally, chloroquine is the first intention treatment, excepting patients who also have P. falciparum infection or a strain with suspected resistance to chloroquine. Mefloquine, quinine and halofantrine are also logical alternatives. TREATMENT OF RECURRENT DISEASE: A schizonticidal agent should be given followed by a hypnozoitocidal agent, primaquine. Primaquine dosage should now be raised or adjusted to the patient's weight. THERAPEUTIC PERSPECTIVES: Tafenoquine, delayed-release amino-8-quinoleine, is a potential alternative for primaquine for the treatment of recurrences. Studies are also in progress to evaluate the role of primaquine as a prophylaxic agent.

[Hepatic amebiasis in French Polynesia. 16 cases in 2 years]. / L'amibiase hépatique en Polynésie française.

Asymptomatic amebiasis in known for long ago in French Polynesia; the presence of Entamoeba histolytica cyst carriers have been shown by several parasitological investigations. But, until now, no hepatic amebiasis case has been reported in this geographical area. An homogeneous series of 16 cases of hepatic amebiasis is reported here. The diagnosis was made by hepatic ultrasonography and confirmed by immunology (Indirect immunofluorescent tests gave always a positive reaction for a dilution of 1/512 or more). Clinical, biological and radiological signs are well known in tropical pathology. Therapy was always conducted with metronidazol by the authors. From the epidemiological point of view, 14 out of 16 cases come from Tuamotu Archipelago. This epidemiological fact appears important enough to carry out systematically hepatic ultrasonography and amebic++ serology for every patient evacuated from this Archipelago to Tahiti. Hence it must be kept in mind the possibility of hepatic amebiasis not only in people living in French Polynesia but also, for the ones coming from over there but living in France.

[Difficulties in diagnosing idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome in Black Africa. A case report observed in Senegal]. / Difficultés diagnostiques du syndrome hyperéosinophilique essentiel en Afrique Noire. A propos d'un cas observé au Sénégal.

A combination of febrile malaise with adenopathy, massive hypereosinophilia (62678 components/mm3) and visceral, cutaneous, central nervous and digestive infiltration suggesting essential hypereosinophilic syndrome was observed in a 42-year-old male Senegalese. Diagnosis was confirmed after excluding all other possible causes in particular parasitic infection and by the rapidly fatal outcome. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of essential hypereosinophilic syndrome in West Africa. Because of the high incidence of parasitic hypereosinophilia in this region and the non-specific nature of the symptoms, diagnosis of this syndrome can be difficult. In Africa more than elsewhere, diagnosis must be made after elimination of all other possible causes based on the criteria of Chusid. Although uncommon, essential hypereosinophilic syndrome has an unfavorable prognosis even when immunosuppressor therapy is administered.

[Five cases of non-typhoid salmonellosis in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus in Senegal]. / A propos de cinq cas de salmonelloses non typhiques au cours de l'infection par le virus de l'immunodéficience humaine au Sénégal.

Among the opportunistic infections observed during infection with human immunodeficiency virus, recurrent non-typhoid salmonella bacteriemia has not been widely documented in Black Africa. This retrospective study identified 5 cases of non-typhoid salmonellosis in a series of 27 seropositive patients, i.e. 18.5%, hospitalized over a two-year period in an internal medicine department in Senegal. All 27 patients presented general or digestive manifestations and were in the stage of full-blown AIDS. The diagnosis was salmonella septicemia in 60% of cases. The incidence of salmonella is higher in immunocompromised patients than in healthy subjects, particularly in Africa. These infections frequently lead to bacteriemia, have a strong tendency to recur, and are highly indicative of immunodeficiency. Salmonellosis which is curable should be suspected in seropositive African patients presenting general and/or digestive manifestations.

[Acute encephalitis concurrent with primary infection by Schistosoma mansoni]. / Encéphalite aiguë contemporaine d'une primo-invasion bilharzienne à Schistosoma mansoni.

A 24-year-old man returning from a trip to Mali was hospitalized for acute encephalitis and fever in association with acute primary infection by Schistosomiasis mansoni. Bilharziasis was suspected from the epidemiological context and presence of eosinophilia. Diagnosis was confirmed by serological testing. Specific treatment using praziquantel and corticotherapy was successful. Central nervous system involvement attributable to embolization of eggs or ectopic migration of adult worms has been reported in association with chronic Schistosomiasis by S. japonicum or S. mansoni. There have been few reports of acute neuroschistosomiais during the acute primary phase of infestation by S. mansoni. Etiology probably involves immunoallergic mechanisms.

[Pathologies associated with HTLV-1 virus in Dakar (1992-1995)]. / Pathologies associées au virus HTLV-1 à Dakar (1992-1995).

A clinical and laboratory study was conducted in Dakar (Senegal) to assess the involvement of HTLV-1 virus (human T lymphotrophic virus type 1) in various diseases. Patients were enrolled at three locations: the Dermatology Department of the Fann University Hospital Center (845 patients) from 1992 to 1995, the Dermatology Department of the Le Dantec University Hospital Center and the Oncology Department of the Principal Hospital (7 patients) in 1994 and 1995. The incidence of involvement of human retroviruses in neurologic complications seemed low (HTLV-1: 2%, HIV: 3%) and only 6 cases of tropical spastic paraparesis associated with specific anti-HTLV-1 antibodies were diagnosed in 3 men and 3 women with a mean age of 51 years. These cases which were identical to those previously described cases in the West Indies and Japan confirms the existence of this disease in Senegal. In addition 3 cases of isolated facial paralysis were observed in HIV positive patients. Combined HIV/HTLV-1 infection was observed in 3 cases and was not associated with special clinical findings. Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) was detected in 4 patients including leukemia with proliferation of CD4 and CD25 in two cases and lymphoma in one case. In one case of ATL two proviruses were identified in circulating tumor cells. These are the first cases of ATL to be reported in Senegal. Molecular characterization of part of the envelope gene (gp 21) from patients with PST hospitalized in a neurology ward showed that the virus present in Senegal belonged to the universal HTLV-1 A type. This study indicates that two types of diseases are associated with HTLV-1 infection in Senegal. Further epidemiologic studies will be needed to evaluate the incidence of the virus and of the diseases associated with it. Prevention will depend partly on screening blood donors as has now been started at the Blood Transfusion Center of Dakar.

[Fulminant hepatitis in the course of antitubercular treatment (apropos of 2 cases)]. / Hépatite fulminante au cours d'un traitement par les antituberculeux (à propos de deux cas).

We report two cases of fulminant hepatitis induced by antitubercular drugs. The mechanism is both immunoallergic and toxic. The fatal case appears in patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Liver tests must be realized during antitubercular treatment, that is difficult in sub-Saharan Africa.

[Adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma due to HTLV 1. Two cases of the acute form at the Principal Hospital of Dakar]. / La leucémie-lymphome à cellules T de l'adulte liée au virus HTLV1. Apropos de 2 observations de formes aiguës à l'Hôpital Principal de Dakar.

HTLV1 virus is a retrovirus that has been endemic in Africa. It is the responsible for tropical spastic paraparesis and adult's T Cell leukemia-lymphoma. Few cases of adult T-Cell leukemia-lymphoma have been described in Africa, contrary to Japan and Caribbean. Were are reporting two cases of acute adult T-Cell leukemia-lymphoma which characterised by blood lymphoma signs, tumoral nodes and extranods lesions, hypercalcemia and positive retroviral serology of HTLV1 virus. The prognosis of these acute forms was bad after a six month survey approximately. The treatment is disappointing. Investigations of this affection must be carried out in every patient who presents lymphoma manifestations all the more because they are associated with hypercalcemia.