[Tracheobronchial involvement in relapsing polychondritis and differential diagnoses]. / Atteinte trachéo-bronchique de la polychondrite atrophiante et diagnostics différentiels.

Relapsing polychondritis is a systemic auto-immune disease that mainly affects cartilage structures, progressing through inflammatory flare-ups between phases of remission and ultimately leading to deformation of the cartilages involved. In addition to characteristic damage of auricular or nasal cartilage, tracheobronchial and cardiac involvement are particularly severe, and can seriously alter the prognosis. Tracheobronchial lesions are assessed by means of a multimodal approach, including dynamic thoracic imaging, measurement of pulmonary function (with recent emphasis on pulse oscillometry), and mapping of tracheal lesions through flexible bronchoscopy. Diagnosis can be difficult in the absence of specific diagnostic tools, especially as there may exist a large number of differential diagnoses, particularly as regards inflammatory diseases. The prognosis has improved, due largely to upgraded interventional bronchoscopy techniques and the development of immunosuppressant drugs and targeted therapies, offering patients a number of treatment options.

[Comparative evaluation of speech disorders and verbal and non verbal communication within two groups of patients: patients with facial paralysis (FP) and those who had undergone hypoglosso-facial anastomosis (HFA)]. / Evaluation comparative des troubles articulatoires et de la communication verbale et non-verbale entre patients porteurs d'une paralysie faciale (PF) et ceux opérés ayant subi une anastomose hypoglossso-faciale (AHF).

INTRODUCTION: Speech disorders were often allotted to hypoglossal-facial anastomosis (HFA) without being clearly shown. We have compared patients with a peripheral facial paralysis at those with HFA. AIMS OF THE STUDY: Retrospective study comparing verbal communication (articulation) and non-verbal within two groups of patients: patients with patient FP versus with HFA. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 10 patients with idiopathic FP versus 7 patients with HFA took part in this study. The series of tests includes an evaluation of the motor possibilities, bilabial pressure measurement (for the patients with FP), speech capacities and finally an evaluation of the verbal and non-verbal communication from a scale of satisfaction. RESULTS: The results highlight: the presence of real speech disorders (permanent) among patients with FP and their absence among patients having profited from HFA; a real satisfaction of the HFA versus FP on the quality of life compared to daily tasks, more specifically concerning verbal and food skills. CONCLUSION: The HFA is not responsible for speech disorders, and makes undeniable improvements confirmed subsequently by the patients.