Devic's neuromyelitis optica associated with active pulmonary tuberculosis, Tunisia.

Devic's Optic neuromyelitis (OND) is a very rare disease defined as a central nervous system (CNS) inflammation resulting in optic neuritis and/or myelitis. The discovery of a highly specific serum autoantibody biomarker for the diagnosis has triggered a great interest in conducting further research into this disease. The association of OND with Tuberculosis (TB) is even rarer and could be an entirely random conjunction. To our knowledge, we reported the first case of Neuromyelitis Optica associated with pulmonary TB in Tunisia.

Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of neurobrucellosis case patients in Tunisia.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to identify epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic, diagnostic, and outcome characteristics of neurobrucellosis case patients in Tunisia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective and descriptive study over a 17-year period (January 1997-December 2013). We included all neurobrucellosis patients hospitalized in the infectious disease department of La Rabta Hospital of Tunis during the study period. RESULTS: A total of 13 patients were included in the study: 9 men and 4 women. Mean age was 31.6 years. Six patients presented with meningitis, three with encephalitis, two with meningoencephalitis, and two with meningo-myeloradiculitis. All patients had a lumbar puncture performed. Eleven patients had an abnormal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (84.6%): lymphocytic pleocytosis in seven patients, high level of CSF proteins in 11, and low level of CSF glucose in seven. All patients had a positive Brucella serological test in blood. A Brucella serological test was also performed in CSF and was positive for 10 patients (77%). A total of nine patients had a cerebral CT scan and/or MRI performed and abnormalities were observed in six patients. Antibiotic therapy was prescribed to all patients: a combination of rifampicin and co-trimoxazole (n=9) or doxycycline (n=4) for an average duration of eight months. Two patients also received steroids. A positive outcome was observed in 10 patients. Three patients were lost to follow up. CONCLUSION: Brucellosis may be severe when neurological involvement occurs. Brucellosis should be considered in the event of any neurological involvement associated with suggestive epidemiological features.

[Syndrome coronarien aigu sous traitement antirétroviral]. / Acute coronary syndrome during antiretroviral treatment.

AIM: The aim of this study is to determine epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic and outcome characteristics of acute coronary syndrome in AIDS patients under HAART. Results- The charts of 5 patients were reviewed. The mean age, at the time of the discovery of HIV infection, was 35 years. Three patients were smokers and one had a family history of diabetes and acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Three patients received 2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) with indinavir. The 2 others received 2 NRTIs with efavirenz with good immunovirologic response. Four patients developed mixed dyslipidemia after an average period of 26 months. Tow patients developed diabetes and one a hypertension. A specific treatment was initiated in all cases. These five patients developed an ACS after respectively 51, 95, 96,103 and 145 months of ART (median=98 months). ACS occurred in 3 patients receiving 2 NRTIs and PI and two others 2 NRTIs with efavirenz. The mean age at the onset of ACS was 46 years. One patient underwent a triple bypass surgery, tow a stenting of the stenotic coronary and the last 2 patients received medical treatment with a good clinical outcome. The PI was replaced by efavirenz in two patients. Four patients had a recurrence of ACS respectively after 2months, 3 months, 12 months, and 62 months after the first episode. The five patients are still followed with good clinical and biological outcome.

Cutaneous tuberculosis in Tunisia.

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis is endemic in Tunisia. Pulmonary tuberculosis is the most common presentation in our country. Cutaneous presentations are rare (1-2% of cases). The diagnosis of cutaneous tuberculosis (CT) is difficult. Histological and clinical presentations are polymorphous, many differential diagnoses are available, and it is difficult to isolate Mycobacterium. OBJECTIVE: We had for aim to study the epidemiological and clinical features of CT in Tunisia, and to compare presentations before and after 1990. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study between January 1991 and December 2011, in which we included all cases of CT observed at the Infectious Diseases and Dermatology Units of the Tunis la Rabta Hospital. RESULTS: Hundred and thirty-seven patients were included, with a mean age of 43.8years; 72.3% were female patients. Hundred and fifty locations were observed, most of which on the head and neck. Scrofuloderma was the most frequent presentation, observed in 65% of cases. The diagnosis was confirmed by histology and/or microbiology in 75.8% of cases. The treatment was prescribed for a mean 11.3months, leading to full recovery in most cases. CONCLUSION: CT is still reported in Tunisia. The diagnosis relies mainly on histology. Controlling this mutilating tuberculosis requires a global control of this disease, and especially lymph node location, given the high rate of scrofuloderma.

[Hereditary complement deficiency in Tunisian adults with purulent meningitis]. / Le déficit héréditaire en complément au cours des méningites purulentes de l'adulte en Tunisie.

Inherited complement deficiency is a rare disease. It predisposes to autoimmune diseases, glomerulonephritis, angioedema, and meningococcal meningitis. A prospective study was conducted over five years. The goal was to evaluate the prevalence of deficiency in Tunisian patients presenting with community acquired purulent meningitis and identify the type of deficiency. We enrolled 122 patients, 15 of whom presented with a complement deficiency (12.3%). This prevalence was higher than the one observed in the global Tunisian population and in reported international data. The mean age of deficient patients (13 men and two women) was 24.7 years.