Bleeding and asymptomatic overdose in patients under Vitamin K antagonist therapy: Frequency and risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin K antagonists are widely used in the treatment and prevention of thromboembolic disease. However, these drugs can cause serious side effects, especially bleeding. This study aims to evaluate frequency and risk factors of both bleeding and asymptomatic overdose in North African patients undergoing Vitamin K antagonist therapy. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study in patients undergoing Vitamin K antagonist therapy. A statistical analysis has been conducted to identify overdose and bleeding risk factors by using chi-square test (p < .05). RESULTS: One hundred and eleven patients were included. We recorded 14 cases of bleeding and 26 cases of asymptomatic overdose. Advanced age, poor adherence, concomitant use of paracetamol and history of previous bleeding are significant risk factors of over-anticoagulation. An INR value over 6 at admission, a high therapeutic target range for INR, concomitant use of acetylsalicylic acid, lack of information on overdose signs and measures to be taken in case of bleeding were identified as risk factors for bleeding. CONCLUSION: Most of the risk factors identified in our study seem to be related to patients lack of information and education. These results highlight the importance of creating a therapeutic patient education program.

[Venous thromboembolism: What other risk factors in a North African population? A study of 276 cases]. / La maladie veineuse thromboembolique : quels autres facteurs de risque dans une population nord-africaine ? Une étude de 276 cas.

INTRODUCTION: Venous thromboembolism is a multicausal disease. Understanding interactions between risk factors is the key to advance knowledge about the etiology of venous thrombosis. These interactions are still unclear. In addition to traditional risk factors, there is data about many other risk factors, recorded with few populations based prospective epidemiologic studies or punctually reported. Interactions between these risk factors remain unclear. The aim of our work is to identify and analyze combinations of risk factors. METHODS: This is a retrospective, single-center study, which investigates the etiology of venous thromboembolism, on the records of patients hospitalized in internal medicine for venous thrombosis, over a period of 12 years. RESULTS: We selected 276 cases. The average age was 51 years. At least, we found one traditional risk factors in 87 % of cases, 34 patients had no traditional risk factors. Suspected risk factors were found in 81 % of cases and there was at least one punctually reported factor in 34 % of cases. The combination of risk factors mostly found was association of traditional and suspected risk factors. In more than 50 % of patients, we noted at least, more than one traditional or one suspected risk factors. Among 18 patients presenting only suspected risk factors, there was at least combination of 3 risk factors per patient. CONCLUSION: The role of suspected risk factors in the occurrence of venous thrombosis was not negligible in this work. Our data suggest a hypothesis that it's through their association that suspected risk factors might be able becoming comparable to traditional risk factors.

[Lupus and pregnancy: study of 26 cases, an internal medicine department experience and review of the literature]. / Lupus et grossesse : expérience d'un service de médecine interne à propos de 26 cas et revue de la littérature.

OBJECTIVE: To study the maternal and fetal outcomes in women with systemic lupus erythematosus. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of 26 pregnancies in 15 systemic erythematosus patients diagnosed before or during pregnancy regarding to American College of Rheumatology criteria in a single reference center. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 31.52 years (24-39 years). The mean interval from the diagnosis of the systemic lupus erythematosus to pregnancy was 4.2 years. Eight pregnancies were planned. The flare rate of lupus during pregnancy was 31%, life birth rate was 65% and fetal loss rate was 35%. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: As an increase in disease activity can occur during pregnancy and because of a higher rate of obstetrical complications in patients with lupus, it is important to carefully plan pregnancy. Pregnancy in lupus patients must be closely monitored by a multispeciality care of the patients.

[An unusual toothache!]. / Une douleur dentaire inhabituelle!

INTRODUCTION: Dental pain is a frequent reason for consulting. It may have non-odontogenic causes such as lesions of vascular, neurologic, muscular, or bone structures. The diagnosis and management of this acute or chronic pain syndrome may be difficult. We report a case of atypical dental pain leading to the diagnosis of a plasmocytic mandibular tumor revealing a multiple myeloma. CASE REPORT: A 50-year-old female patient consulted for dental pain during the 3 previous months. Bilateral mandibular swelling was noted during the clinical examination. Radiological examinations revealed a tumoral process associated with osteolytic lesions. The pathological examinations of biopsy samples revealed plasmocytic proliferation. A myelogram and immunoglobulin electrophoresis supported a diagnosis of multiple myeloma with kappa light chains. DISCUSSION: Discovering a mandibular tumor with lytic lesions is an indication for an etiological assessment and screening for a blood disease. A mandibular plasmacytoma may be isolated or present as a multiple myeloma, justifying a complete initial assessment. The bone localization of a plasmacytoma is a bad prognostic factor for survival for patients presenting with multiple myeloma.

[Evaluation of urinary metanephrines for the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma]. / Evaluation du dosage des métanéphrines urinaires dans le diagnostic du phéochromocytome.

OBJECTIVE: evaluate the assay of urinary metanephrines in diagnosis of pheochromocytoma (PH) and determine diagnostic cut-off values. METHODS: this is a retrospective study about 87 patients suspected of pheochromocytoma,whose of 24-h urinary fractionated metanephrine was measured. These cases were collected from Internal Medecine Departments (A and B) at Charles Nicolle's Hospital. Two groups of patients were studied: a pheochromocytoma group (n=33) with a histologically-proven pheochromocytoma and a control group of 54 patients. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the best sensitivities and specificities. RESULTS: The analysis of biological parameters showed that means and standard deviation of urinary fractionated metanephrines in pheochromocytoma group were significantly higher than those of control group. Sensitivity and specificity of urinary normetanephrine test (95% and 98.1% respectively) were higher than those of urinary metanephrine and 3-methoxytyramine. A correlation between urinary normetanephrine and tumor size of pheochromocytoma was found. CONCLUSION: Urinary fractionated metanephrines is an efficient biochemical test for the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma.

[Abdominal tuberculosis: a retrospective series of 90 cases]. / Tuberculose abdominale : étude rétrospective de 90 cas.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical, bacteriological, radiological and therapeutic features of abdominal tuberculosis in a series of 90 patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective and descriptive multicentre study of 90 cases of abdominal tuberculosis conducted from June 1997 to June 2008. Diagnosis of tuberculosis was based on bacteriologic evidence in 12 cases, histological evidence in 55 cases and on clinical and radiologic features with favorable outcomes under specific treatment in the 23 remaining cases. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients were male and 59 were female. The mean age of the patients was 41.5 years. Family history of tuberculosis was reported in three cases. Associated risk factors were: diabetes mellitus (five cases), ethylism (one case), post-hepatitis C cirrhosis (one case), systemic lupus erythematosus treated by corticosteroids (one case). Sites of involvement were: peritoneum (78 cases), liver (14 cases), gut (nine cases) and spleen (eight cases). Forty-eight patients (53,3%) had only an abdominal involvement, nine others patients (10%) had an abdominal involvement associated with intra-abdominal lymph nodes, 16 patients (17,8%) had a respiratory involvement (pulmonary, pleural and mediastinal lymph nodes), eight patients (8,8%) presented with an extra-abdominal and extra-respiratory involvement and 10 patients (11,1%) had respiratory and extra-respiratory disease associated with abdominal involvement. Among the 54 patients who underwent laparoscopy or laparotomy, diagnosis was evoked on macroscopic examination in 51. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopy and laparotomy are still helpful for the diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis, especially in the presence of peritoneal involvement.

[Retinal vasculitis. Epidemiological, clinical and etiological features]. / Les vascularites rétiniennes: profils épidémiologiques, cliniques et étiologiques.

PURPOSE: To study the epidemiological and clinical features of noninfectious retinal vasculitis (NIRV). METHODS: We analyzed 128 consecutive patients with NIRV, collected over 15 years (1993-2007) in an ophthalmological reference university hospital in Tunis, Tunisia. Data were analyzed regarding associated systemic disease, ocular syndromes, anatomic features (type and topography of vessel and type of capillaropathy), age and sex. The results of the etiologic work-up were based on the Levy-Clarke and Perez classification. RESULTS: A total of 240 cases of NIRV (128 patients) were collected (mean age: 32; sex ratio: 2.6). It was bilateral in 93.7% of cases. The mean visual acuity (VA) was 20/50 (range: 20/800-20/20). NIRV was mainly venous (84.1%), diffuse (57%), with a mixed capillaropathy (40.2%). There were complications in 56.25% of the cases, mainly macular edema (48.1%), vascular occlusion (25.9%), optic atrophy (22.2%) and cataract (19.2%). NIRV was idiopathic in 15.6% of the cases, characterized by a predominance of young subjects (mean: 38 years old), males (sex ratio: 4), VA at 20/25, and edematous periphlebitis in 100% of cases. There were ocular disorders in 12.5% of the cases and systemic disease in 72% of the cases, with a predominance of Behçet disease (BD): 53.9% of all patients and 81% of systemic disease with predominant venous features. In 48.3% of cases, VA was less than 20/200, due to BD in 48% of the cases. CONCLUSION: In NIRV, the etiologic work-up is oriented on anatomic presentation, based on fluorescein retinal angiography, and requires an interdisciplinary approach. In young adults with retinal phlebitis, BD is suggested first.

[Late revelation of homocysteinuria: clinical, biological and progressive aspects]. / Homocystéinurie à révélation tardive : aspect clinique, biologique et évolutif.

UNLABELLED: Homocysteinuria is a metabolic disorder with defect in genes encoding for methionine metabolism enzymes. The clinical features consist in: ophthalmic, neurological, orthopedic and vascular manifestations. It is generally diagnosed in childhood. Vascular involvements characterize adult's forms. We report one case. OBSERVATION: A 26-year-old man, who has lentis ectopia and a recent epilepsy, was hospitalized for deep vein thrombosis. Regarding the marfanoid phenotype and the high level homocysteinemia (231 micromol/L), homocysteinuria was suspected. Amino acid chromatography and reduced CBS activity were used to confirm the diagnosis. Vitamin enriched diet with vitamin B6 and folates has reduced slightly the homocysteine level. CONCLUSION: Homocysteinuria must be diagnosed early since a simple vitamin supply could ameliorate prognosis and decrease complications.

[Homozygous antithrombin type HBS deficiency; a family study]. / Déficit homozygote en antithrombine de type HBS; à propos d'une famille.

Congenital antithrombin (AT) deficiency is the most thrombotic genetic abnormality of haemostasis. Total quantitative deficits are lethal as early as life intra-uterine. Only homozygous mutations concerning the heparin-binding site are compatible with life. We report here the case of an 18 years old patient with recurrent deep venous thrombosis of the inferior members. Haemostasis exploration shows a decreased AT activity (11%) in the presence of heparin while AT progressive activity and AT antigen are normal. Two other homozygous sisters are identified in this family study. Molecular study of AT gene show Arg47-Cys substitution, already reported in the literature with patients of different geographic origins. Treatment of patients with homozygous AT type HBS deficiency is similar that for patients with heterozygous AT deficiency; a continuous prophylactic anticoagulant treatment is always necessary and AT concentrates infusions are required in all situations needing curative heparin treatment.

[The etiology of hypercalcemia: a study of 47 cases in a hospital internal medicine service]. / Les etiologies de l'hypercalcemie: etude a propos de 47 cas dans un service de medecine interne.

In this study, we are presented the clinical and the aetiologic features of 47 patients having hypercalcemia (total serum calcium > or = 2.7 mmol/l). Our results show a positive significantly correlation between the degree of the hypercalcemia and the severity of the clinical symptomatology. As for to the aetiology, the multiple myeloma, the hyperparathyroid and the neoplastic process constituted 78% of the total aetiology.

[Hemoptysis caused by pulmonary arterial aneurysm, disclosing Behçet disease. Apropos of 2 cases]. / Hémoptysie par anévrysme artériel pulmonaire (AAP), révélatrice d'une maladie de Behçet. A propos de deux cas.

Behçet's disease, frequent in our region, can have many clinical presentations. Arterial lesions generally lead to poor prognosis. We report two cases of pulmonary artery aneurysm in two young adults whose Behçet's disease was revealed by hemoptysia.