[Direct oral anticoagulants : some practical considerations]. / Anticoagulants oraux directs : quelques considérations pratiques.

Prevention and management of thromboembolic events are historically based on the use of anti-vitamines K (AVK) and heparins. Since 2009, emerging direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) with successive validated indications, changed progressively the way of managing oral anticoagulation. The main advantages of this new generation of medication are a better safety profile and the lack of need for monitoring anticoagulation activity. However, a number of situations in clinical practice still require careful use of these DOAC. This article review some practical considerations and specific situations of hospital and ambulatory settings.

La prise en charge des événements thromboemboliques et leur prévention est historiquement basée sur l'utilisation des antivitamines K et des héparines. Depuis 2009, l'arrivée sur le marché d'anticoagulants oraux directs (AOD), avec la validation successive d'indications, a modifié le paysage de l'anticoagulation et de sa prise en charge. L'avantage principal de cette nouvelle génération de substances est un effet anticoagulant plus prédictible, sans nécessité de suivre l'activité anticoagulante. En pratique clinique, certaines situations requièrent néanmoins une utilisation prudente des AOD. Cet article propose une revue de quelques considérations pratiques et de situations spécifiques issues des pratiques hospitalière et ambulatoire.

First Case of Zoonotic Transmission of Streptococcus equi Subspecies zooepidemicus From Cat to Human.

Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus is a pathogen of veterinary interest that causes disease in horses, pigs, and dogs and is recognized as an emerging cause of feline respiratory disease. Human zoonotic disease is rare but can occur in patients who are taking care of horses and via consumption of unpasteurized animal products. We describe a case of soft tissue infection and bacteremia in an elderly patient who had contact with a cat presenting respiratory symptoms and was treated with antibiotics. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first description of cat-to-human transmission of Streptococcus zooepidemicus.

An HHV-8 Positive HIV Negative Multicentric Castleman's Disease, who Responded well to Rituximab Alone.

BACKGROUND: Multicentric Castleman Disease (MCD) presents with enlarged lymph nodes in multiple regions and systemic inflammatory symptoms, due to the dysregulation of cytokines, most commonly interleukin-6 (IL-6). Human herpes virus-8 (HHV-8) is strongly related to MCD (HHV-8-associated MCD) and is being implicated in cytokine dysregulation in patients, the majority of whom are HIV positive or immunosuppressed. Preferred treatment of HHV-8- associated MCD depends on the presence or not of concurrent Kaposi sarcoma and on whether the patient has life-threatening organ failure or poor performance status thought to be related to HHV- 8-associated MCD. CASE PRESENTATION: Herein, we describe a female patient with HHV-8 positive, HIV negative MCD, who responded well to the administration of rituximab once weekly for four weeks alone for three cycles. CONCLUSION: HHV-8 positive, HIV negative MCD treatment modalities are only anecdotal due to the rarity of this form of MCD. Administration of rituximab alone seems to be beneficial among patients with good performance status and the absence of life-threatening organ failure in cases of HHV-8 positive, HIV negative MCD.

Cavernous sinus thrombosis due to ipsilateral sphenoid sinusitis.

We report a case of septic thrombosis of the right cavernous sinus in a diabetic woman in her late 70's due to ipsilateral sphenoid sinusitis. The diagnosis was delayed and made only after the abrupt and dramatic appearance of the manifestations of sinus thrombosis. The patient developed, among the other symptoms, right peripheral facial palsy, which is a very rare manifestation in cavernous sinus thrombosis (CST). She was treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics and enoxaparin. The day of the scheduled drainage of sphenoid sinus-24 hours after the initiation of anticoagulation-she developed fatal subarachnoid haemorrhage. Our case demonstrates the difficulty of timely diagnosis of acute sphenoid sinusitis which has emerged as the most common primary infectious source potentially leading in CST. It also underscores the uncertainty concerning the use of anticoagulation in cerebral sinus thrombosis of infectious origin.

Haemoperitoneum Due to Spontaneous Rupture of a Liver Metastasis.

Spontaneous rupture of a liver metastasis is a life-threatening complication of metastatic liver disease. Although metastatic liver lesions are much more common than primary tumours, spontaneous rupture of a liver metastasis is rare. Therapeutic decisions must take into account the extent of metastatic liver disease and the patient's performance status. Transarterial embolization may be considered in cases of ongoing haemorrhage despite initial conservative measures. We describe a case of haemoperitoneum due to spontaneous rupture of a liver metastasis in a 72-year-old patient with carcinoma of unknown origin who responded well to conservative management. LEARNING POINTS: Spontaneous rupture of a liver metastasis is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication of metastatic cancer to the liver; risk factors include subcapsular location, rapid tumour growth and tumour necrosis (spontaneous or due to chemotherapy).Unexplained fever often precedes the spontaneous rupture, probably reflecting tumour necrosis or infiltration of the liver capsule, and may raise clinical suspicion for the diagnosis.Transarterial embolization may be considered in cases of ongoing haemorrhage despite initial conservative measures.