[An unusual cause of hypertension]. / Une cause inhabituelle d'hypertension artérielle.

Secondary hypertension is relatively rare. Its etiologies are essentially renal or endocrine. The adrenocortical carcinoma, a rare malignant tumor, is one of the most exceptional causes of hypertension. We report the case of a young woman presenting with hypertension and ascites of great abundance. She had hypokalemia, hepatic cytolysis and cholestasis. Thoracic, abdominal and pelvic CT scans showed adrenal mass, liver and lung nodules, osteolytic lesions of the sacrum. The biopsy of liver nodules confirmed the diagnosis of a metastatic malignant adrenocortical carcinoma. The hormonal investigations revealed cortisol and testosterone hypersecretion. The evolution was quickly fatal, the patient passed out a few days after her hospitalization.

[Bilateral pulmonary embolism revealing granulomatosis with polyangiitis]. / Embolie pulmonaire bilatérale révélant une granulomatose avec polyangéite.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis is a systemic small-vessels vasculitis. It is characterized by a granulomatous inflammatory reaction around the arterial wall and is, in most cases, accompanied by the presence of cytoplasmic - type anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) with anti-proteinase 3 specificity. The predominant clinical presentation is frequent involvement of the upper and lower respiratory tract and the kidneys. This vasculitis is rarely revealed by pulmonary embolism. We report the observation of a 47-year-old male who presented with acute dyspnea. Chest X-ray disclosed an excavated opacity. Pulmonary angioscan revealed bilateral pulmonary embolism. The absence of clinical improvement after anticoagulant therapy with antibiotics and the presence of extra-respiratory signs led to the suspicion of a systemic inflammatory disease. The etiological investigations concluded with the diagnosis of granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

Bilateral ptosis as a presenting feature of primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (pachydermoperiostosis): a case report.

Pachydermoperiostosis is a rare hereditary disorder, which affects both bones and skin. It is characterized by a combination of dermatologic changes (pachydermia or thickening of the skin) and rheumatologic manifestations (periostosis and finger clubbing). Eyelid ptosis which is caused by thickened eyelids (blepharoptosis) is a less common symptom. We report the case of a patient with a complete form of pachydermoperiostosis with bilateral ptosis as presenting feature.

[Salmonella enteritidis arthritis complicating systemic lupus erythematosus]. / Arthrite à Salmonella enteritidis compliquant un lupus érythémateux systémique.

Septic arthritis due to Salmonella in systemic lupus erythematosus is rare. We report a case of septic arthritis by Salmonella enteritidis which occurred during the evolution of systemic lupus erythematosus. A 23-year-old man was diagnosed as suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus. This diagnosis was taken on the basis of general symptoms, skin lesions, hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and glomerulonephritis (class III). He was treated with three methylprednisolone boli related by high-dose regimen of prednisolone. A month and a half later, he presented fever with monoarthritis of the left elbow without any other new sign of underlying systemic disease. Bacteriological examinations isolated S. enteritidis. The patient improved with antibiotics and joint lavage. Feverish monoarthritis in systemic lupus erythematosus should be suspect to be septic arthritis. Appropriate treatment should be promptly instituted to improve the prognosis.

Multiple cranial nerve palsy revealing hypertrophic pachymeningitis with positive myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody.

Pachymeningitis is a progressive disease resulting in a diffuse thickening of dura mater due to inflammation, tumor or autoimmune diseases, but most cases are idiopathic. Here, we report the case of a 60-year old man who had a progressive sensorineural hearing loss, visual disturbance and others cranial nerve involvement with an accompanying headache over several months. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed diffusely thickened dura mater, highly enhanced after gadolinium administration, which was consistent with pachymeningitis. It was assumed to be related to autoimmune pathogenesis on the basis of elevated serum myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody titers. After empirical steroid and cyclophosphamide therapy, the neurological problems were partially improved. Therefore, in the case of atypical sensorineural hearing loss accompanied by cranial nerve palsy or headache, pachymeningitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis.