[Chronic compartmental syndrome. a review of 234 patients]. / Le syndrome chronique des loges. À propos d'une série de 234 patients opérés.

OBJECTIVE: Diagnosis of chronic compartment syndrome of the lower leg, which occurs in a young and athletic population, is often delayed. We studied postoperative outcomes after fasciotomy in patients with compartment syndrome in order to identify specific postoperative complications. Long-term functional outcomes were also evaluated. METHODS: All patients with a diagnosis of chronic exercise-related compartment syndrome of the lower leg who underwent surgery from January 1985 to August 2009 were studied prospectively. The type of compartment and whether surgery was uni or bilateral was recorded. One year after surgery, patients completed a questionnaire to evaluate their functional outcome. RESULTS: Two hundred and thirty-six compartment procedures were performed in 234 patients. Only one compartment (constantly the superficial posterior compartment) was treated in 56/236 (23.7%) procedures. Two compartments (anterior and lateral) were involved in 90/236 procedures (38.1%). Three compartments (anterolateral and superficial posterior) were noted in 74/236 procedures (31.4%) and four compartments (anterolateral and superficial and deep posterior) were described in 6.8%. Involvement of the deep posterior compartment was always associated with another compartment. Surgery was bilateral in 70% of patients. The questionnaire response rate was 65%. The success rate of fasciotomy was 68.4% and a significant improvement was reported by 23.9% of responders; outcome was unsatisfactory for 7.7%. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic criteria used to confirm chronic exercise-related compartment syndrome of the lower leg were based on the compartment pressure measurement after exercise. In this study, all patients underwent fasciotomy. The surgical technique was standardized. Outcomes have been satisfactory with few surgical complications.

Acute liver failure is frequent during heat stroke.

Acute liver failure (ALF) is relatively frequent during heat stroke (HS). This risk must be emphasized, because its incidence is higher than is usually thought. In a recent study by Weigand et al, two cases were reported in which liver failure was the leading symptom. We have confirmed their conclusion in a study of 25 cases of HS with ALF, compared with 25 other cases without ALF. Moreover, we observed that hypophosphatemia on admission could predict occurrence of ALF during HS. As for clinical and other biological parameters, phosphatemia should be monitored for at least 3 d in all cases of HS, even when it is thought to be mild.

[Obligate running and anorexia]. / Addiction au sport et anorexie.

The relationship between athletic participation and eating disorders is complex. We describe the case of a sportive man and examine the overall relationship between athletic participation and eating problems.

Is hyperhomocysteinemia an additional risk factor of the metabolic syndrome?

The aim of this study was to ascertain if hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with the metabolic syndrome. The metabolic syndrome is a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors. Hyperhomocysteinemia is an obvious independent risk factor for atheroma, and thrombosis morbidity and mortality. EPIMIL is a prospective epidemiological survey, which began with a crosssectional study of cardiovascular risk factors in a French male population, followed by monitoring for 10 years. Initial data collection, blood pressure measurement, ECG, and blood samples have been performed. For the metabolic syndrome, we used the criteria of the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) on detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood cholesterol in adults. Out of 2045 men aged 20-58 years (37.7 +/- 8.7 years), 185 (9%) have metabolic syndrome (at least three criteria), 587 (29%) have a plasma homocysteine level of >/=12 micromol/L, and 202 (10%) have a level of >/=15 micromol/L. Mean homocysteinemia is 10.97 +/- 5.01 micromol/L for the whole population and does not differ significantly with (11.4 +/- 6 micromol/L) or without (10.9 +/- 5 micromol/L) the metabolic syndrome, as does its value distribution. Nor does it correlate with the Body Mass Index (BMI), waist and hip measurements, or blood glucose, HbA1c, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular risk markers (CRPus, microalbuminuria). It weakly correlates with systolic and diastolic blood pressure, creatinine clearance, tobacco use, cholesterolemia, triglycerides, and free fatty acids, but not with HDL and LDL fractions, or lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)). It contributes slightly to the 10-year vascular risk according to the Framingham equations or Score system. In this male population, homocysteinemia and the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia do not differ with or without the metabolic syndrome. Plasma homocysteine level does not correlate with its main criteria. Hyperhomocysteinemia is not associated with the metabolic syndrome; nevertheless, it should be monitored in high-risk cardiovascular patients.

[Is mild hyperhomocysteinemia an additional risk factor of the metabolic syndrome?]. / L'hyperhomocystéinémie est-elle un facteur de risque supplémentaire du syndrome métabolique?

INTRODUCTION: Metabolic syndrome is a cardiovascular risk factors cluster and hyperhomocysteinemia an obvious independant risk factor. OBJECTIVE: To ascertain if hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with the metabolic syndrome. METHODS: "Epimil" is a prospective epidemiologic survey, which began by a cross-sectionnal study of cardiovascular risk factors in a French population, which then will be followed for ten years for supervision and intervention. Initial data collection, blood pressure measurement, ECG and blood samples (biology and DNA) have been performed. For the metabolic syndrome, we used the criterias of the third report of the national cholesterol education program expert panel on detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood cholesterol in adults (NCEP ATP III). RESULTS: Out of 2045 men aged from 20 to 58 years (37.7+/-8.7 years), 185 (9%) have metabolic syndrome (at least three criterias), 587 (29%) a blood homocysteine>or=12 micromol/L and 202 (10%)>or=15 micromol/L. Homocysteinemia is 10.97+/-5.01 micromol/L for the whole population and doesn't differ with (11.4+/-6 micromol/L) or without (10.9+/-5 micromol/L) the metabolic syndrome, as does its values distribution. It's not correlate with the body mass index, waist and hip measurements, nor with glycemia, HbA1c, insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk markers (CRPus, microalbuminuria). It weakly correlates with systolic and diastolic blood pressure, creatinine clearance, tobacco use, cholesterolemia, triglycerides and free fatty acids but not with HDL and LDL fractions, nor lipoprotein (a). Among this population, it slightly contributes to the ten years vascular risk evaluated according to Framingham equations or Score system. CONCLUSIONS: Homocysteinemia and the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia don't differ with or without the metabolic syndrome and doesn't correlate its main criterias.

[Gleich syndrome. A case report and review of the literature]. / Le syndrome de Gleich. Un cas et revue de la littérature.

INTRODUCTION: The Gleich syndrome associates episodic angioedema, hypereosinophilia and elevation of immunoglobulin M. It's a rare cause of nonallergic angioedema and is characterised by no organ involvement. EXEGESIS: We report a case of a 27-years-old african women, with five years history of recurrent angioedema of face and extremities, associated with a major hypereosinophilia. Serum IgM elevation, elimination of other etiologies and spectacular response to corticoid treatment permitted to retain diagnosis. CONCLUSION: The majority of cases of Gleich syndrome were reported in USA, Europe and Japan. The nonepisodic angioedema, which is not accompanied by elevation of immunoglobulin M, was described in Japan. There are currently no case reported in Africa where parasites are the principal cause of hypereosinophilia. The immunohistochemical studies permit to explain cytochemical disturbances responsible for the release of disease whose initial mechanism is unknown.

[Tropical pyomyositis simulating septic arthritis in AIDS patients. Two cases]. / Les myosites tropicales simulant une arthrite septique chez les patients vivant avec le VIH (deux observations).

Tropical pyomyositis (TP) is an acute bacterial infection of skeletal muscles characterized by rapid formation of abscesses. Since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, interest in TP has increased because of its rising incidence in association with HIV infection and of the problems that it poses for differential diagnosis. Occurrence of TP is a criterion for classification of HIV infected patients in WHO disease stage III. The purpose of this report is to describe two HIV-infected patients who presented TP simulating septic arthritis of the hip and knee respectively. Medical imaging was particularly useful in establishing accurate topographic diagnosis and needle drainage in decreasing the duration of hospitalization and avoiding the need for surgical debridement. Needle puncture must be guided by ultrasound or scan imaging.

[Influence of blood pressure profile on erythropoietin levels in diabetics]. / Influence du profil tensionnel des diabétiques sur le taux d'érythropoïétine.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between 24-h BP profil and erythropoietin level in diabetics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 58 patients (26 women and 32 men, mean age: 58.7 +/- 14.6 yrs, diabetes duration: 16 +/- 11.2 yrs). Patients were divided by 24 hrs ABPM into 2 groups, one in which night-time pressures dipped by more than 10% (dippers, n = 16) and the other in which pressures dipped by less than 10% (non-dippers, n = 42) when compared to daytime pressures. Haemoglobin (Hb) and erythropoietin (EPO) levels where compared between diabetics and a control group (n = 110) and between dippers and non-dippers. RESULTS: Hb concentration of diabetics was significantly lower than those of control subjects (13.5 +/- 1.5 vs 14.5 +/- 1 g/dL; p < 0.0001) but EPO levels did not differ from significant manner between these two groups. EPO concentrations were lower in dippers than in control subjects (13.7 +/- 5.4 vs 17.9 +/- 5 mU/mL; p < 0.01), but there was not significant difference in Hb levels. Non-dippers had a Hb level lower than dippers (13.1 +/- 1.5 vs 14.6 +/- 1.1 g/dL, p < 0.0001), but EPO concentrations did not differ from significant manner. Hb was correlated with between daytime and night-time BP difference (SBP: r = 0.262; p < 0.05 and DBP: r = 0.396; p < 0.002). Hb was negatively correlated with albumin excretion rate (r = -0.335, p < 0.01) and with creatinine level (r = -0.419: p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: These data indicated that EPO production could be impaired in diabetics with abnormal diurnal BP variation. Nephropathy and cardiac autonomic dysfunction could explain these results.

[De La Chapelle syndrome]. / Le syndrome de De La Chapelle.

OBJECTIVE: The De La Chapelle syndrome (XX male) is a peripheral hypogonadism concerning males with 46,XX karyotype. We conducted a retrospective study of 18 cases and report the main clinical biological and hormonal characteristics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinical features (weight, height, aspect of the external genital organs, body hair, gynecomastia), hormone levels (testosterone, gonadotrophin, baseline and stimulated prolactin estradiol), and results of a Barr test and karyotype were recorded in all patients in addition to search for the SRY gene (in 8 of the 18 patients). Findings were compared with a matched male population and a Klinefelter syndrome population. RESULTS: Microrchidia was found in almost all the patients while the penis had a normal size. Signs of hypoandrogenism were frequent and gynecomastia was present in half the cases. De La Chapelle patients differed from Klinefelter patients by the absence of dysmorphism. DISCUSSION: Patients with De La Chapelle syndrome diagnosed around the age of 20 years do not have borderline disorders associating genitalia anomalies or sexual ambiguity. The majority of the patients bear the testis determining SRY gene on one of the X chromosomes, providing the rational explanation of the male phenotype, but 20% of the XX males doe not have this gene. The role of certain key genes that could be implicated in abnormal sexual differentiation is known, but the complexity and heterogeneous nature of this syndrome leaves many questions unanswered. Therapy is based on androgen replacement therapy given at an early stage.

[Leiomyosarcoma of the right ventricle]. / Léiomyosarcome cardiaque du ventricule droit.

A 58-year-old woman has dyspnea and palpitations which reveal a leiomyosarcoma of the right ventricle. The medical imaging shows a lobulated sessile tumor attached to the ventricular septum and the tricuspid valve extending into the pulmonary artery trunk. The resection is performed with a tricuspid valvoplasty. In spite of chemotherapy (epirubicin-cyclophosphamide), relapse is observed with pulmonary metastases 17 months after the surgery. The death becomes on 18 months in congestive heart failure. From this case, the authors make a review of the literature about this exceptional tumour, and talk over the low possibilities of treatment, despite the capacities of the new ways of diagnosis.

Clinical features in 36 patients homozygous for the ARG 506-->GLN factor V mutation.

We analyzed the clinical features of 36 patients homozygous for the Arg 506 to Gln factor V mutation and found a circumstantial event at risk for thrombosis in 29 of the 31 patients with thrombosis. The most frequent predisposing factors were the post-partum period and the use of oral contraceptives in women, and surgery in both sexes. Venous thrombosis recurred in 48% of the patients. One patient had a myocardial infarction at age 33 years, and also had an antiphospholipid syndrome. Homozygous Gln 506 mutation leads to far less severe thrombotic complications than homozygous protein C and protein S deficiencies and does not seem to predispose patients to arterial thrombosis.

[Chronic compartment syndrome]. / Le syndrome chronique des loges.

Among causes of leg pains, a usual disability in athletes, chronic exertional compartment syndrome is far from being uncommon. To the opposite, descriptions concerning the others compartments such as the forearm or thigh are still scarce and poorly documented. A variety of techniques have been described for the measurement of intramuscular pressure. Intramuscular pressure measurement is a valuable and essential tool for diagnosing a compartment syndrome, but it is somewhat controversial when the deep posterior compartment is concerned. Conservative treatment is unsuccessful, whereas surgical decompression yield favorable results; two procedures are performed subcutaneous fasciotomy or open fasciotomy.