Impact de la pandémie de COVID-19 sur le suivi des maladies systémiques: enquête transversale multicentrique à Dakar / How the outbreak of COVID-19 did affected the follow-up of patients known for an autoimmune or autoinflammatory systemic diseases in Dakar

Introduction : La pandémie de covid-19 a eu un impact sur les systèmes de santé, entravant la prise en charge optimale des maladies chroniques. L'objectif de notre étude était d'évaluer son impact sur le suivi des pathologies systémiques. Patients - Méthodes : Nous avons mené une enquête transversale multicentrique dans les services de Médecine Interne, de Rhumatologie et de Néphrologie à Dakar. Les patients étaient inclus en accord avec les critères de consensus internationaux. L'enquête a porté sur les dossiers concernant 13 questions et a été complétée par un entretien téléphonique avec 38 questions potentielles. Les réponses étaient collectées grâce à une application Web puis exportées et analysées avec le logiciel SPSS 26.0. Résultats : Du 1er Août au 31 Octobre 2021, 131 patients ont été inclus avec un âge moyen de 41,5 ans (+/-12,4) et un sex-ratio de 0,08. Les pathologies inflammatoires étaient dominées par la polyarthrite rhumatoïde (47,3%) et le lupus systémique (22,9%). Les patients ont rapporté avoir raté un ou plusieurs rendez-vous de suivi dans 45% des cas. Les motifs étaient dominés par une difficulté d'obtenir un rendez-vous de suivi (18,6%) et la peur de fréquenter les hôpitaux (16,9%). Une rupture médicamenteuse a été notée dans 33,6% des cas et concernait notamment l'hydroxychloroquine (40,9%) ou le méthotrexate (47,7%) avec comme raison principale les ruptures de stock en pharmacie et les difficultés économiques. Une poussée de la maladie systémique a été rapportée dans 31% des cas corrélée à la rupture médicamenteuse. Onze (11) patients ont présenté une infection confirmée à SARS CoV-2. Conclusion : La pandémie de covid-19 a eu un impact non négligeable sur le suivi des patients atteints de maladies inflammatoires systémiques. Elle a mis en exergue l'intérêt de la réorganisation de la prise en charge de ces patients en période de crise sanitaire, l'éducation thérapeutique des patients et le recours à la télémédecine pour assurer la continuité des soins.

Introduction: The covid-19 pandemic has had an impact on health systems, compromising the optimal management of chronic diseases such as systemic autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases. The aim of our study was to assess its impact on the follow-up of systemic diseases in Dakar. Patients - Methods: We conducted a multicentre cross-sectional survey in the departments of Internal Medicine, Rheumatology and Nephrology in Dakar. Patients were included in accordance with international consensus criteria. The survey was based on records of 13 questions and was completed by a telephone interview with 38 potential questions. Responses were collected using a web-based application and then exported and analyzed using SPSS 26.0 software. Results: From 1 August to 31 October, 131 patients were included with a mean age of 41.5 years (+/-12.4) and a sex-ratio of 0.08. Inflammatory diseases were dominated by rheumatoid arthritis (47.3%) and systemic lupus erythematosus (22.9%). Patients reported missing one or more follow-up appointments in 45% of the cases. The reasons were dominated by difficulty in obtaining a follow-up appointment (18.6%) and fear of attending hospitals (16.9%). A drug shortage was also reported in 33.6% of the cases and concerned in particular hydroxychloroquine (40.9%) or methotrexate (47.7%), with the main reason being stock shortages in pharmacies and economic difficulties. A flare-up of the systemic disease was reported in 31% of the cases correlated with the drug rupture. Only 11 patients had a confirmed SARS CoV-2 infection. Conclusion: The covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the follow-up of patients with systemic inflammatory diseases. It highlighted the interest of reorganizing the follow-up of these patients during a health crisis, the patient education and the use of telemedicine to ensure continuity of care

Dynamique de la prise en charge thérapeutique et préventive de la Covid-19 chez les patients adultes vulnérables / Dynamics of therapeutic and preventive management of Covid-19 in vulnerable adult patients

La pandémie à Covid-19 continue sa progression et interpelle aujourd'hui toute l'humanité particulièrement le corps médical. A la date du 30 Juin 2020, le monde entier compte 10185374 cas confirmés avec 563862 décès [1]. La recherche scientifique intense a pu rapidement séquencer ce virus à ARN, partager sur sa clinique et son évolution. Mais six mois après il persiste encore beaucoup d'inconnues concernant son pouvoir pathogène, sa physiopathologie mais surtout sa prise en charge thérapeutique particulièrement chez les sujets âgés ou ayant des facteurs de risqué qui ont une mortalité significativement plus élevée [1, 2, 3]. La Covid-19 pose ainsi un problème de prise en charge thérapeutique chez les sujets vulnérables. Cette situation préoccupante pour tous, justifie la poursuite de la réflexion, de la recherche et surtout le partage d'expériences pour une meilleure prise en chargechez ces patients à risque

[Thrombocytopenia purpura, myositis and cytolitic hepatitis: a rare association linked with atorvastatin]. / Purpura thrombopenique, myosite et hepatite cytolytique : une association rare d'incidents lies a l'atorvastatine.

Statins are generally well tolerated molecules. However, some cases have seen potentially lifethreatening consequences. We report a case of a 70-year-old woman with high blood pressure who was treating hypercholesterolemia by atorvastatin. Two weeks after beginning this new treatment, the patient developed muscular weakness in all four limbs with myalgias; and a purpura in the upper limbs and abdomen. A biological study revealed the presence of severe thrombocytopenia, myolysis and cytolytic hepatitis. Stopping the atorvastatin intake resulted in an improved situation within twenty days. This suggests that the medical anomalies found in the patient were drug-induced. The literature confirms the rarity of this association. The severity of some side effects of statins should remain in the minds of medicine prescribers.

Les statines sont des molécules généralement bien tolérées. Des accidents pouvant mettre en jeu le pronostic vital peuvent survenir avec leur utilisation. Nous rapportons l'observation d'une patiente de 70 ans hypertendue, chez qui l'on a découvert une hypercholestérolémie traitée par atorvastatine. Deux semaines après ce nouveau traitement sont apparus une faiblesse musculaire des quatre membres avec des myalgies; et un purpura aux membres supérieurs et à l'abdomen. La biologie révélait une thrombopénie sévère, une myolyse et une hépatite cytolytique. L'arrêt de l'atorvastatine a permis une évolution favorable en vingt jours. Cela suggère l'origine médicamenteuse des anomalies constatées. Les données de la littérature confirment la rareté de cette association. La gravité de certains effets secondaires des statines doivent rester à l'esprit des médecins prescripteurs.

[Thrombosis of the inferior vena cava and right atrium: a rare complication of an amebic liver abscess in Dakar, Senegal]. / Thrombose de la veine cave inférieure et de l'oreillette droite : complication rare d'un abcès amibien du foie à Dakar (Sénégal).

The liver is the most common site of extra-intestinal amebiasis. Amebic liver abscesses can be complicated by rupture, migration to adjacent organs or, more rarely, vascular thrombosis. The purpose of this report is to describe the case of a 52-year-old Senegalese man hospitalized for painful hepatomegaly associated with asymmetric bilateral pulmonary consolidation and fever. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a large abscess in the left lobe of the liver with a non-obstructive thrombus extending from the inferior vena cava to the right atrium. Doppler cardiac ultrasound depicted extensive right atrial thrombus formation. Chest radiography showed opacities in both lungs. Sputum smear tests for tuberculosis were negative, but amebic serology was positive. Treatment consisted of a combination of antibiotics (metronidazole/amoxicillin/clavulanic acid), curative heparin therapy, and abscess drainage. Complications during treatment included thrombosis of the right chambers of the heart and a suspected pulmonary embolism. Outcome was favorable and the thrombi disappeared. The available literature confirms the rarity of this complication, which can have severe consequences due to embolism.

[Unusual aspect of pernicious anemia during association of beta-thalassemia: a new case report and literature review]. / Maladie De Biermer De Presentation Inhabituelle Sur Un Profil Beta Thalassemique : Apport D'Un Nouveau Cas Et Revue De La Litterature.

Pernicious anemia appears classically by macrocytosis. We report a case of a late discovered Biermer disease, on a 42-year-old young black woman. The reason was an unusual aspect of this disease in a context of betathalassemia. The patient presented chronic anemia which evolved during about ten year. Biology showed a normocytosis and signs of hemolysis according to beta-thalassemia. This was confirmed by an electrophoresis showing 9.1 % of fraction F some haemoglobin. Since this date, the patient was treated by folic acid alone with periodic transfusions of red blood cell. She presented eight years after the beginning of her disease, neurological deterioration. Diagnosis of pernicious anemia was finally established up on histological gastritis, low level of the blood rate of vitamin B12, macrocytosis, and presence of intrinsic anti-factor and parietal anti-cells antibodies.

[Ketoacidosis in type 1 diabetes mellitus: 73 cases in Dakar]. / Acidocetose Chez Le Sujet Diabetique De Type 1 : A Propos De 73 Cas Colliges A Dakar.

INTRODUCTION: The follow-up of diabetes mellitus in children and teenagers remains a challenge. Ketoacidosis is the most frequent acute metabolic complication and is of bad prognosis. The objective of this study was to evaluate etiologicals factors of decompensation and evolutions in type 1 diabetes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a transversal and prospective study from January 2009 to October 2010. All type 1 diabetic patients hospitalized for ketoacidosis had been included. For every patient, we have studied the epidemiologicals, etiologicals and clinicals factors as well as the outcomes. RESULTS: The prevalence was to 55.3 % among all ketoacidosis. Sex-ratio (Men/Women) was 0.78, mean age to 25.73 years and mean duration of diabetes was 3.9 years. Ketoacidosis was inaugural in 26 % of cases. Except Kussmaul dyspnea, prevailed digestives symptoms (87.6 %). Coma was noted in 82.1 % among whom 54.7 % had no previous diabetic follow-up. A decompensation factor was found in 93.1 % of which an infection (78 %) or stop insulin (53.42 %). Prevailing infectious sites were urogenitals (24.6 %), respiratories (20.5 %). The outcome was fatal in 6.8 % of the cases. It was about 24.3 years middle-aged, 1,6 year diabetes mellitus mean duration, without regular follow-up in 80 % of the cases. Other associated factors were coma stage 2 or 3 (80%), infection (60 %), hypokalemia (40 %). CONCLUSION: Ketoacidosis is frequent in type 1 diabetic patients and has a bad prognosis. Infection and stop insulin are major factors of decompensation. Its prévention requires an adapted therapeutic education associated to a regular follow-up of patients.

[Tuberculosis and systemic diseases: study of 8 Senegalese cases]. / Tuberculose et maladies systémiques: Etude de 8 cas sénégalais.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study (2000-2007) of the tuberculosis observations during systemic diseases was conducted in the service of Internal Medicine of hospital Aristide Le Dantec of Dakar. RESULTS: 8 (4 men and 4 women) has been received. The mean age was 54.5 years. The localization of tuberculosis was lung (n=8) with pleurisy (n=2), ganglionic (n=1), vertebral (n=1) and an abscess of the psoas (n=1). The diagnosis of tuberculosis had been carried with the bacteriological analysis of the expectorations (n=7), the histology (n=1). The systemic diseases was: rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren's syndrome (n=3), primary Sjögren's syndrome (n=4), autoimmune thrombopenia (n=1). The diagnosis of systemic diseases was previous to that of tuberculosis in 7 cases and concomitant in 1 cases. Under chemotherapy and corticosteroid therapy, the evolution was favorable in 6 patients. CONCLUSION: our study confirms the frequently character spread by the tuberculosis in patients affected by systemic diseases. This association enhances diagnostic and therapeutic problems.

Neoplasie endocrinienne multiple de type 2A : prise en charge diagnostique et therapeutique d'un cas

Introduction : La Neoplasie Endocrinienne Multiple de type 2A (NEM 2A) est une affection tumorale multiglandulaire; hereditaire; de transmission autosomique dominante; liee a une mutation du gene RET. Elle associe de facon simultanee ou successive un cancer medullaire de la thyroide (CMT); une hyperparathyroidie primaire (HPP) et un pheochromocytome. Observation : Nous rapportons l'observation d'une patiente de 53 ans qui nous a ete adressee pour exploration d'une lithiase urinaire recidivante liee a une hyperparathyroidie primaire. La notion de NEM2A deja diagnostiquee chez sa sour cadette nous a permis d'explorer et de mettre en evidence une hypercalcitoninemie correspondant a un microcancer medullaire de la thyroide a l'histologie; et la mutation constitutionnelle familiale sur l'exon 11 du gene RET. Elle ne presentait pas de signe biologique de pheochromocytome. Sa prise en charge chirurgicale a consiste en une thyroidectomie totale et parathyroidectomie partielle. L'evolution a ete favorable sous supplementation en levothyroxine et normalisation stable de son taux de calcemie et de calcitonine; apres un an de suivi. Conclusion : Cette observation souligne la necessite d'une exploration parathyroidienne devant toute lithiase urinaire; et l'obligation de pousser l'exploration d'une hyperparathyroidie primaire vers la recherche d'une neoplasie endocrinienne multiple des lors qu'il existe un contexte familial

[Nephrotic syndrom with focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis in Dakar: epidemiological and clinicopathological characteristics (about 134 cases)]. / Le syndrome néphrotique avec hyalinose segmentaire et focale a Dakar: aspects épidémiologiques et anatomocliniques (a propos de 134 cas).

Focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is common and non-specific patterns of glomerular injury encountered in human renal biopsies. Cortico-resistant nephrotic syndrome is the main manifestation. We report epidemiological, clinical and pathological aspects of FSGS in Dakar. We report the results of a retrospective study about focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) identified from 258 kidney biopsies performed in the medical clinic 1 of A. Le Dantec hospital from January 1993 to December 2003. FSG is found in 134 cases (52%), membranous glomerulonephritis in 32 cases (12,4%), minimal change disease in 20 cases (7.7%). Ninety eigths files were exploitable. FSGS has male gender predominance with a sex ratio of 3. Median age of patients is 28 years (15 and 79 years). Symptomatology is dominated by oedema in 86 cases (87,7%), hypertension in 12 cases (12.2%), hematuria in 5 cases (5.1%), nephrotic proteinuria in 65 cases (66,3%) and no nephrotic proteinuria in 33 cases (33.6%), renal failure in 25 cases (25%)and leucocyturia in 18 cases (18%). FSGS involving more than 50% of glomeruli is encountered in 41 cases (42%), severe interstitial fibrosis is associated in 26 cases. Different pathological aspects are: classical FSGS in 88 cases (88.7%), FSGS " collapsing" in 7 cases (7.1%), FSG "tip-lesion" in one case, FSGS associated to membranous glomerulosclerosis in 2 cases and to diabetic glomerulosclerosis in one case. FSGS is primitive in 88 cases (89,8%) and secondary in 10 cases (10.2%). FSGS is the most common primitive glomerulopathy in Dakar. Nephrotic syndrome is the main manifestation of this disease. Collapsing FSGS is not correlated with the HIV Infection.

[Monoclonal gammapathy of undetermined significance and autoimmune disease: description of three cases in Senegal]. / Gammapathies monoclonales de signification indéterminée et maladies auto-immunes: étude de trois observations sénégalaises.

Monoclonal gammapathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) has rarely been reported in African literature. The purpose of this article is to describe 3 cases of MGUS observed in women aged 63, 54, and 44 years in Senegal. All three patients had previously documented autoimmune disease, i.e., auto-immune thrombopenia, multiple auto-immune disease (comprising Sjögren's syndrome, polymyositis and vitiligo), and Sjögren's syndrome. Diagnosis of MGUS was made thanks to routine protein electrophoresis that demonstrated a monoclonal peak in the gammaglobulin area in all patients. Serum protein binding showed the IgG lambda subtype in one case and IgG kappa subtype in two cases. Medullogram findings were unremarkable with nondystrophic plasma cell rates ranging from 1 to 4%. Bisphophonate therapy was undertaken along with the recommended treatments for the associated autoimmune diseases, i.e., prednisone, hydroxychloroquine, and methotrexate. Treatment was successful in all three patients with stabilization of the associated diseases and of the monoclonal peak on subsequent electrophoresis. As of this writing, the mean duration of follow-up was 3 years. MGUS that has been uncommon in the African hospital setting should be screened for in all older patients or in patients presenting infection (especially due to virus) or autoimmune disease (as in the three cases presented herein). More systematic use of serum protein electrophoresis should reveal an increased incidence of MGUS. Diagnosis of MGUS requires regular clinical and laboratory surveillance due to the risk for complications of malignant hemopathies, especially multiple myeloma.

[Destombes Rosaï Dorfman syndrome: description of one case and diagnostic challenges in the tropical setting]. / Syndrome de Rosaï Dorfman Destombes à propos d'une observation: difficultés diagnostiques en milieu tropical.

Destombes Rosaï Dorfman (DRD) syndrome is form of nonlangerhans cell sinus histiocytosis. The main symptoms are cervical adenopathy, fever and fluctuating hepatosplenomegaly. It can be confused with ganglionary tuberculosis especially in our region where tuberculosis is common. This report describes a case of Destombes Rosaï Dorfman syndrome in a 40-year-old woman from Senegal. The main presenting symptom was the presence of massive tumour-like lesions on the neck with altered general condition and fever. Based on these clinical findings, ganglionary tuberculosis was suspected and presumptive treatment was initiated in the local hospital. However further workup failed to confirm the diagnosis and the patient was transferred to the Internal Medicine Department. Clinical examination in our service revealed the presence of extensive adenopathy in the supraclavicular, axillary, and inguinal regions. Laboratory tests demonstrated a nonspecific inflammatory syndrome. Abdominal ultrasonography depicted extensive mesenteric and para-aortic adenopathy. Chest x-ray showed bilateral and asymmetric mediastinal adenopathy. Medullogram findings were normal. Histology confirmed DRD syndrome. DRD syndrome is rare disease of unknown aetiology. In tropical areas differential diagnosis with ganglionary tuberculosis, lymphoma, and reactive hemophagocytic syndrome can be challenging. Lymph node biopsy should be performed in all patients presenting fever and polyadenopathy.

[Still disease in adult: a Senegalese case report]. / Maladie de still de l'adulte: etude d'un cas Sénégalais.

INTRODUCTION: The adult Still's disease is a systematic disease rarely reported in the black Africans. We are reporting a case characterized among other difficulties by its diagnostic difficulties. OBSERVATION: It is about a 29 years old black Senegalese woman patient, without particular antecedents, which presented a systematic chronic syndrome composed of a pharyngitis, a polyarthritis and general symptoms (fever, chills, sweats, change of the general state), a cutaneous eruption, a polyadenopathy, a hepatosplenomegaly. The biological analyses showed among others, an inflammatory syndrome (VS at 115 mm in the 1st hour, CRP at 100 mg/L, WBC at 10,400/mm3 with neutrophilia), a hyperferritinemia in 643 ng/l with collapse of the glycosylated ferritin at 13% (N between 60 in 80%). After elimination of any autoimmune or neoplastic suppurative infectious pathology in the decline of a check up as exhaustive as possible, the diagnosis of a Still disease in adult had been retained. Their was improvement under the combination of prednisone and methotrexate. CONCLUSION: Although it is exceptional in black African, this pathology shall be however part of the differential diagnoses of any unexplained systematic sign. The dosage of the ferritinemia and its glycosylated fraction as well as the resort to the criteria of Yamaguchi and Fautrel's classification of Still Disease in Adult shall allow to establish more prematurely the diagnosis of this potentially severe affection.

[Polyarticular gout in young adults: a curable rheumatic disease]. / La goutre polyarticulaire de l'adulte jeune: un rhumatisme curable.

Juvenile chronic gout in its polyarticular deformative form has rarely been described in medical literature. We report a rare case of destructive polyarticular tophaceous gout in a 31-year-old Senegalese man. He consulted for bilateral asymmetric polyarthritis with deformities of the hands and feet that had been ongoing in recurrent episodes since the age of 18 years in association with tophus. He had received no previous medication. All laboratory investigations were normal except hyperuricemia 104 mg/l. Radiographs of affected joints demonstrated evidence of destructive polyarthritis, i.e., articular narrowing and osteo-condensation of the left great toe. The patient responded favourably to colchicine, allopurinol and diet. Gouty arthropathy must be differentiated from rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasic arthritis and distal chronic osteoarthrosis. In our case, definitive diagnosis of gouty arthropathy was based on chronic polyarthritis associated with tophus, hyperuricemia and therapeutic response to colchicine. Polyarticular gout can be suspected in case of chronic seronegative polyarthritis and diagnosis can be confirmed on the basis of plain radiographs and laboratory investigations showing uricemia. Treatment is effective, well tolerated and inexpensive.

[Senegalese case of thromboangeitis obliterans or Buerger's disease]. / Premiere observation Senegalaise de thromboangeite obliterante ou maladie de Buerger.

INTRODUCTION: Thromboangeitis obliterans (TAO) is an inflammatory, non atheromatous arteriopathy of smoking young adults. It is diagnosed on an association of non specific criteria that we discuss throughout this case. CASE REPORT AND DISCUSSION: A forty years old tabagical, Senegalese black man, had peripheral destructive lesions preceded by Raynaud phenomenon. He was admitted in our Internal Medicine department in November 2002. Actually this clinical presentation was evolving since 11 years. At that time, hypo aesthesia and ulceration of the fingers led to successive amputations in the leprology centre. The diagnosis of Hansen disease had been suspected but there were no evidence of mycobacterium. At the admission in our service, biological tests showed a moderated non-specific inflammatory syndrome. Ultra sound Doppler and arteriography showed a peripheral arterial stenosis without atheromatous lesions, in favour of TAO. To meet all the criteria the patient didn't have any thrombotic or systemic disease. The evolution was favourable after tobacco weaning. CONCLUSION: TAO can bring to difficulties of diagnosis by its way of presentation. Physicians should practice a systematic vascular screening in case of distal arteriopathy.

[Diagnostic and therapeutic features of tuberculosis in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis in Dakar]. / Caractéristiques diagnostiques et thérapeutiques de la tuberculose chez les hémodialysés chroniques à Dakar.

Tuberculosis in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis therapy presents a number of diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. This study was designed to assess the specific diagnostic and therapeutic features of dialysis-associated tuberculosis in a clinical setting. A total of 55 patients were enrolled in this retrospective study over the 5-year period from 1996 to 2000. Diagnostic techniques included questionnaire, clinical examination, chest X- ray, tuberculin skin test, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MT) screening on biological fluids and tissue biopsy. Tuberculosis was diagnosed in 6 patients (11%). The disease occurred within the first two years after the beginning of hemodialysis. Initial signs were nonspecific, i.e., fever, weight loss, and cough. Tuberculin skin testing was negative in 5 cases. Tuberculosis was located in the lung in 2 cases, pleura in 2 cases, peritoneum in 1, and lymph node in 1. Isolation of the MT and confirmation by tissue biopsy was performed in only one case. Appropriate polychemotherapy was successful in 5 of 6 cases. Morbidity and mortality of tuberculosis in dialysis patients is closely related to early detection and treatment. Therapy is often based on strong presumptive evidence without definitive diagnosis.

[Congenital choledocal cyst of adult: report of two cases]. / Kyste congenital du choledoque de l'adulte : a propos de deux observations.

INTRODUCTION: Congenital choledochal cyst is a congenital dilatation of the biliary tract often associated with a long common bilio-pancreatic duct without obstruction. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We report the case of two women who presented a congenital choledochal cyst. RESULTS: For the first patient, the diagnosis was effected during a laparoscopic cholecystectomy for a gall bladder lithiasis. The second one presented repeted access of angiocholitis. Echography and abdominal tomodensitometry found the congenital choledochal cyst. Percutaneous opacification of the cyst found a long common biliopancreatic duct in the second patient. A complete resection of the cyst with a cholangiojejunal anastomosis was performed for both patients. The treatment was successfull for the first one and the second one was deceased three days after the operation. CONCLUSION: This case report underlines the clinical polymorphysm, the morphologic anomaly and the treatment of congenital choledochal cyst which require total resection.

[Clinical and evolutionary aspects of polymyosite in internal medicine]. / Aspects cliniques et evolutifs de la polymyosite en medecine interne.

INTRODUCTION: Polymyositis is a chronic inflammatory disease possibly responsable of various systemic manifestations. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Reported is a retrospective done on polymyositis i n internal medecine department in patients from march 1997 to april 2002. RESULTS: Eleven cases were collected from a total of 6739 admissions giving a prevalence of 0.16%. Sex ratio was 1.2(F/H) with a mean age of 33 years. The most frequent clinical presentation was the muscle signs. It was dominated by the functionnal disability (90.9%), myalgia (81.8%) and dysphagia (36.3%). Systemic manifestations of polymyositis interested articulary, bronchopulmonary, cardiac and neurological areas. Association of polymyositis and other sytemic disease has been found in one patient, who presented also a rhumatoid arthritis. First step treatment was corticotherapy for all patients. Immunosuppressor with azathioprine have been introduced in 2 patients who presented an associated interstitial nulmonary disease. On this treatment we observed 4 cases of total remission, 3 cases of partial remission, 2 death occured and 2 patients have been lost from clinical follow up. CONCLUSION: The long term follow of these chronic disease is a major problem in developping countries. Most of the patients live far from hospital centers and don't have possibility to do complementary exams so as to buy regulary the drugs.