[Descriptive study of diabetic foot at the Marc Sankale Diabetes Center. Report of 105 cases]. / Etude descriptive du pied diabetique au centre du diabete marc sankale. A propos de 105 cas.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetic foot is a major complication of diabetes due to its frequency and its high risk of evolution to amputation. We report 105 cases recruited at the diabetes centre Marc Sankale. METHOD: It's a prospective study including all diabetic patients who attended the diabetes centre for any foot lesion during a one year period. Besides clinical examination data, results of glycaemia, foot X-ray Doppler and bacteriological analysis of the pus were collected. RESULTS: foot lesion represented 2.8% of diabetologist causes of consultation. Mean age of occurrence was 55 +/- 14 years in 63% women and 37% men. Diabetes was type 2 in 90% cases, poorly controlled in 63.92 % cases. Foot lesion was dominated by infection (97%), isolated or associated to peripheral vascular disease (32.4%) or neuropathy (13.3%). 67 patients had medical treatment and healed their wounds in 3 months in 76% cases. 38 other cases needed surgery : major amputation (15%), minor amputation (13%) debridment (9%) and revascularization (1%). CONCLUSION: Diabetic foot is a frequent reason for consultation at the National diabetes centre. Despite all the improvements made after the implementation of the patient's educational program, treatment starts late because of economical and cultural reasons that increase morbidity.

[Pituitary carcinoma. Anatomic and clinical features of cases reported in literature]. / Carcinome ou adénocarcinome de l'hypophyse. Profil anatomoclinique à travers quelques observations de la littérature.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Pituitary gland tumors that became aggressive, implying adjacent bone structure and the brain as metastases outside of the cranial box, are referred to as pituitary carcinomas. METHODS: We reviewed 67 cases reported in the literature [44 corticotropic pituitary tumors, 11 PRL tumors, 3 GH tumors, 1 TSH tumor, 3 gonadotropic cell tumors and 5 non-functioning tumors]. RESULTS: The corticotropic tumors occurred in 23 female and 15 males. Signs of hypercorticism were characteristic: generalized melanosis before adrenalectomy (N=1); headache (N=1); altered visual (N=1); diabetes insipidus (N=1); amenorrhea (N=1); Cushing syndrome (N=2); weight loss (N=1); refractory hypokaliemic alkalosis (N=1); diabetes mellitus (N=1); hypertension (N=1). ACTH, beta-lipotrophin, betaendorphin, alphamelano-stimulating hormone, CRH, and beta-gamma MSH were contributive while ultrastructural microscopy provided little information, as did an equimolar Lph/ACTH ratio. The possible association of prolactin tumors with corticotrophin forms has been underlined. The characteristic feature is a time interval from the initial diagnosis of adenoma to that of cancer, which has ranged from 0.3 to 18 years (mean: 6.6 years; median: 5.0 years). CONCLUSION: Corticotropic tumors resistance to high-dose medical treatment are usually aggressive tumors with a risk of recurrence after surgical treatment or even radiotherapy with the risk of metastases. GH tumors appear to predominate although it is known that these cancers can develop in association with corticotrophin cancers or with prolactin cell tumors.

[Toxic nodular goiter]. / Les goîtres nodulaires toxiques.

INTRODUCTION: To date no study in our country was specifically dedicated on toxic nodular goiter. They were just mentioned in generally studies about hyperthyroidism. METHOD: The authors report a retrospective series of 62 cases of toxic nodular goitre collected between 1979 and 1999 at the internal medical clinic of Dakar teaching hospital. The diagnostic of toxic nodule was retained on following criteria: to existence of one or several thyroid nodule with signs or thyrotoxicosis, the existence of a hyperfixating nodule at 131 iodine scintigraphy. Increasing of T3 and/or T4 thyroide hormone. The aims of the study was to analyse the epidemiological, clinical, and therapeutics aspects. RESULTS: We are collected 49 cases of solitary nodule (79.03%) and 13 cases of multi nodular goitre (20.97%). In the cases of solitary nodule, mean age was 40 years, sex ratio of 0.04 (47 female, 2 men). The nodule was clinically diagnosed in 47 cases (95.9%) and extinctive in 73.5%. 34.3% of patients have cardiothyreosis. In the cases of multi nodular goitre mean age was 45 years, all cases were female, goitre was clinically identified in 95.3% (12 patients) and 46.5% had cardiothyreosis. 62% of patients were lost to follow up during medical treatment. Only 2 patients on the 37 who were addressed for surgery come back after thyroidectomy. CONCLUSION: This study confirm the predominance of toxic nodular goitre in young female, its severity related to cardiothyreosis and underlines the difficulties limited to the therapeutical care.

[Hypergonadotropic hypogonadism with sella turcica tumor syndrome: gonadotropic adenoma?]. / Hypogonadisme hypergonadotrope à grosse selle turcique. Faut-il évoquer le diagnostic d'adénome gonadotrope?

A 43-year-old patient, known for infertility for ten years, presented hypogonadism (low libido, impotence, low testosteronemia) with hypergonadotropism (high FSH contrasting with low LH) and a tumor syndrome of the sella turcica. The biological, immunohistochemical and clinical features of gonadotropic adenoma are presented.

[Menopause in Africa]. / La ménopause en Afrique.

Menopause occurs earlier in African women than European or American women. Multiple parity in a short period of time is the main reason. The myths and beliefs about this stage of life of the African woman are largely unknown. Symptoms do not vary greatly from those observed elsewhere, but social, economic and nutritional factors may influence the biological pattern. For some authors, the incidence of breast cancer does not decline at this age as it does in western countries. For other authors, 50% of breast cancers occur during the post-menopause period, revealing an aggressive form of the disease. Exceptional uterine cancers have also been observed. Osteoporosis is apparently milder in African women. This observation should be examined in more detail.

[Diabetic retinopathy in Dakar and review of African literature: epidemiologic elements]. / Rétinopathie diabétique à Dakar et revue de la littérature africaine.

Literature review shows that in the African Sub-Sahara, prevalence of diabetic retinopathy is between 15 and 52%, the main age being the fifties (between 45.5 and 53.25 years in our cases); after 5 years of diabetes evolution (8.45 +/- 6.93 years in our cases) men being two to three fold more affected than women; non insulin dependent diabetes representing 77% and insulin dependent diabetes 23%. The type of retinopathy is usually mixed, both edematous and ischemic (88% being non proliferative). Retinopathy concerned mainly non obese, non insulin dependent diabetics in our cases. Risk factors are poor glycemic control and arterial hypertension. Diabetes duration was the sole and most evident risk factor. Diabetes duration was 5.28 +/- 5.28 years when retina was normal and reached 8.58 +/- 5.33 years for Stage II and 12.8 +/- 6.31 years for retinopathy Stage III and 16.75 +/- 7.25 years for retinopathy Stage IV. These factors, delayed diagnosis and diabetes progression in Africa justify improvement of diabetes care by multidisciplinary team to prevent blindness.

[Thyrotoxic neuromyopathies]. / Neuromyopathies thyréotoxiques.

Chronic thyreotoxic neuromyopathy was observed in four patients. The first two cases were observed in a 43-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man. In the man, muscle disorders were the first manifestation and in the woman they were preceded by Graves' hyperthyroidism. Muscle signs were seen as functional impotency with amyotrophy of the girdle which was major in the man and minor in the woman. In a third case, a pyramidal syndrome was associated with polyneuropathy in a 28-year old man. Laboratory tests showed hyperthyroidism, neurological signs regressed with antithyroid drug therapy. A fourth case presented as thyrotoxic hypokaliemic periodic palsy in a 37-year-old man who had loss 12 kg over a two month period after a psychological stress. This man then experienced two acute episodes of hypokaliemia and hypotonic tetraplegia. These signs were linked to Graves' hyperthyroidism. Clinical course was good under carbimazole and then radioactive iodine. These four cases illustrate the reality of thyrotoxic neuromyopathies in black Africans.

[Apropos of three cases of Turner's syndrome]. / A propos de trois cas de syndrome de Turner.

The authors report 3 cases of Turner's syndrome. These rare observations in Africans are the opportunity to give clinical and cytogenetic characteristics of Turner's syndrome. The importance of molecular biology in this disease is emphasized. All this because consensus about diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations are projected.

[Hyperthyroidism in people over 50 years of age in Senegal. Study of 31 cases observed over a 14-year period]. / Hyperthyroïdie après 50 ans en milieu sénégalais. Etude de 31 cas colligés en 14 ans.

PURPOSE: Though common in elderly, with poor and masked symptomatology, hyperthyroidism has never been studied in people older than 50 years of age in African countries. METHODS: Of the 300 cases of hyperthyroidism that were observed during this study, 31 belonged to this category. We analyzed the frequency of various parameters, demographic characteristics, motivation for consulting, thyrotoxic syndrome, non thyrotoxic signs, cardiac manifestations, hormonal and scintigraphic characteristics, etiology and etiologic factors, and treatment. RESULTS: The frequency of hyperthyroidism in this population was 10%. Housewives were more numerous, with 20 cases observed in the 31 patients. The main group (13/31) was of rural origin. Signs that predominantly led to consultation were weight loss (23/31), cervical tumor (17/31), and palpitations (12/31). Three major signs were associated with the thyrotoxic syndrome: weight loss (29 cases), tachycardia (27/31), and the existence of tremors in the extremities (22/31). Hormone assays showed that thyroxine (T4) was about 265 +/- 74 nmol/L and triiodothyronine (T3) about 6 +/- 2 nmol/L, at immunoradiometric assay; thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was about 0.17 +/- 0.23 muIU/mL. Eye protrusion predominated in the nonthyrotoxic syndrome, with 25 cases in the 31 patients. Etiologic forms of the disease were composed of 25 Grave's disease, with 22 typical cases. Etiologic factors were various, however without any case of neoplasia. Cardiac complications included two cases of atrial fibrillation. No iatrogenic form of the disease was observed. Mean initial carbimazole dosage was about 34 +/- 8 mg/d. Of the 23 patients, 15 had a favourable outcome. CONCLUSIONS: In this series, the high number of housewives and the patients' rural origin were less characteristic of hyperthyroidism than the Grave's disease etiology. This might be due to the young age of this African population.

[Diabetic pregnancy in Senegal (years 1980 to 1989)]. / La grossesse diabétique au Sénégal (Années 1980 à 1989).

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Diabetic Pregnancy Prognosis in Seventies is it better in Eighties because of Patient Education? METHODOLOGY: Retrospectively, since 1980 to 1989, in Women in status to breed, Diabetic Pregnancy was screened in our Department. W.H.O.'s (1980) Diabetes Mellitus Criterias, PEDERSEN's Criterias, White's Classification were used. Studied Parameters were etiologic factors (age, type, Diabetes oldness and control), former and present Evolution of Pregnancies (term and pregnancy's product). RESULTS: A--In Global Study, 15.07% Diabetic Pregnancies were observed: 22 (37%) Insulin Dependent and 38 (63%) Non Insulin Dependent. The global mean of age was 31 years; Diabetic Mellitus was less than 10 years old in 90% cases whatever the type. Their control was not good (Glycemic Control < 1.4 g/l in less than 50%). Diabetes complications were nephropathy (13.6% and 8%), retinopathy (13.6% and 18.5%), arterial hypertension (0% and 26.32%), cetoacidosis (31.42% and 0%), urinary tract infection (18% and 0%) respectively in Insulin Dependent and Non Insulin Dependent Pregnancies. Near a third (31.6%) of Insulin Dependent and a third (33.41%) for Non Insulin Dependent were of D, F, H White's Class. Multipares were often Non Insulin Dependent and inversely Insulin Dependent frequently paucipare. Former Pregnancies had near 25.5% interrupted term in Insulin Dependents. Present Pregnancies have given 28.5% and 32% of Normal Children: 14.25 and 12% of Abortions and 14.25% and 6% of Spontaneous Premature Parturitions respectively in Insulin Dependents and Non Insulin Dependents. B--In Analytic Study of Foetopathies, bad Prognosis Factors were high Maternal Age, Multiparity, bad Glycemic Control whatever Diabetes type. For Insulin Dependent, Negligency was added and for Non Insulin Dependent, Obesity, Arterial Hypertension and all PBSP. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: A relatively mild Diabetic Pregnancy Prognosis in our areas with limited means has been observed despite of Patients Education.

[Hyperthyroidism and diabetes mellitus: analysis of 10 African cases]. / Hyperthyroïdie et diabète sucré: analyse de 10 observations africaines.

This retrospective study of 10 patients with hyperthyroidisma and diabetes mellitus concerned 8 women and 2 men, aged from 15 to 77 years. The two disease developed at the same time in 8 cases. Diabetes mellitus occurred first in 2 cases. Common signs were loss of weight. Hyperthyroidism led to tachycardia at more than 100 bpm. Diarrhea was observed simultaneously in 2 cases and muscular weakness in 5. Goiter was found in 10 cases with a diffuse aspect. Graves' disease was diagnosed with exophthalmia in 9 cases and affected both eyes in 8. Elevated levels of thyroid hormones confirmed diagnosis in 8 cases. Diabetes was insulin-dependent in 3 cases and non-insulin dependent in the 7 others. IDDM patients (2 female and 1 male) were aged 15, 17 and 38. Keto acidosis was the first symptom in all cases. NIDDM patients (6 female and 1 male) were aged between 37 and 77.

[Pheochromocytoma in Africa: rarity, gravity and ectopy]. / Le phéochromocytome en Afrique: rareté, gravité et ectopie.

Pheochromocytoma is one of the main curable etiologies of high blood pressure, although its diagnosis and therapeutic management can be problematical: an incorrect diagnosis or inappropriate treatment may lead to fatal complications. This disease was exceptionally uncommon in the 1950s, and 30 years later about 30 cases had been reported; however, since 1981 there has been a progressive increase in the incidence of pheochromocytoma (48 documented cases in Africa). In Africa, this disease has two particular characteristics: the gravity of the clinical symptoms, mainly due to the physiological and pharmacological effects of catecholamines which as a result of this disease are stored and liberated at very high rates; and the ectopic site in a number of cases. To facilitate the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma improved clinical investigation is therefore advocated, but the necessary medical equipment is not always available in Africa. On this continent, the ectopic factor confirms the observations made in the early 1980s, and should be taken into consideration in the diagnosis and management of this disease.

[Emergence of terminal diabetic nephropathy in insulin-dependent diabetes in young Black Africans: report of five cases from Dakar]. / Emergence de la néphropathie diabétique terminale du diabète insulinodépendant du jeune Noir africain: à propos de cinq cas dakarois.

The authors have reported five cases of end stage diabetic nephropathy. Thi growing disease has began to reduce vital prognosis of Black african insulin independent diabetic. So, economic and social problem for their resolution (hemodialysis, kidney graft) is going to appear.

[Aspects of antihyperglycemic oral bitherapy in 76 cases of non insulindependent diabetes in Dakar]. / Aspects de la bithérapie antihyperglycémiante orale chez 76 patients diabétiques non insulinodépendants à Dakar.

Some reasons justify the introduction of the association of sulfonylurea and metformine when monotherapy is ineffective. Hereafter a period of monotherapy by sulfonylurea or metformine only bitherapy has been instituted. Socio-demography, number of consultations, type of monotherapy and of association, duration of treatment, body mass index, fasting blood glycemia and post-prandial glycemia, blood pressure and type of complication were studied. There were 2.5 times more women than men with lower mean age for women. The majority of patients were from Dakar (81.6%). More than half of patients were women at home (60.5%). Present obesity (plethoric diabetes) or past obesity (metaplethoric diabetes) concerned 90.3% of patients. Patients have done 9.14 4.39 consultations under bitherapy. The gliclazide-metformin association was observed 37 times and the glibenclamide-metformin association 67 times. The duration of monotherapy was 45.9 39.7 months and that of bitherapy 92.5 43.7 months. The variations of body mass index showed a diminution of 1.26 kg/m2 and for fasting blood glycemia and augmentation of 0.011 g/L and post-prandial a diminution of 0.05 g/L. The body mass index variations in diabetic patients showed a diminution of weight more in plethoric patients in bitherapy compared to monotherapy. This study is retrospective and cannot show the optimal efficacy of bitherapy. But the combination of enhancement of glucose captation and lowering of hepatic glucose production has been shown during this bitherapeutic association. Addition of metformine and treatment with sulfonylurea make a combination that significatively improves glycemic control but also cholesterol level and allows obtation of better weight in type 2 non insulin-dependent diabetes with insulinoresistance.

Pernicious anemia: the African experience (3 cases reports). / Anémie de Biermer: expérience africaine (à propos de 3 observations).

We report three cases of pernicious anemia diagnosed in women in Africa. All three women had macrocytic anemia with megaloblasts evident on medullogram. The patients had neurological signs of combined sclerosis and the presence of megaloblasts confirmed the diagnosis of pernicious anemia. All were successfully treated parenterally with vitamins. This disease seems to be underdiagnosed in Africa given the number of cases reported in previous studies.

[Dysthyroidism after 60 years of age]. / Dysthyroïdies à partir de 60 ans.

This work has been conducted on 162 subjects, aged over 60 years, living in Senegal, investigated in the Departement of Biophysics and Nuclear Medecine of Dakar for suspicion of dysthyroidism. The levels of T3, T4 and TSH US hormones were determined by a radio-immunological method. This technique, exhibiting good functionnal sensitivity and its high specificity, is likely to be beneficial to the diagnosis of dysthyroidisms. Besides, this experiment leads us to consider that the dosage of TSH remains an useful first intention examination for the old patients and could notably improve the screening of dysthyroidisms with a decrease in the cost of the investigation. However, because of the therapeutical implications, some biological profiles schould be interpreted cautiously. The equipment for the determination of the free fractions (T3 and T4) with the brought additional accuracy could allow to dismiss some diagnostci uncertainties.

[Pheochromocytoma in Dakar: report of nine cases]. / Le phéochromocytome à Dakar: à propos de neuf observations.

Pheochromocytoma is a catecholamine-secreting neoplasm of chromaffin tissue. The most common symptom is hypertension but there are incidentally discovered forms at imaging. From 1981 to 1998, the authors observed nine pheochromocytomas through three hospitals in Dakar. This study included seven male and two female patients. The average age was 31.61 years. Hypertension was present in 77% of the cases. Headache, palpitations and sweating were the authors most frequent symptoms, occuring in 55% of cases. Measurement of vanillyl mandelic acid level in six cases and urinary metanephrines in three cases made the diagnosis. There were six adrenal and three extra adrenal pheochromocytomas with two malignant tumors features. In our countries, measurement of urinary metanephrines and computed tomography processing may improve detection of pheochromocytomas.

[Insulin-dependent diabetes in Senegal: HLA-DR combinations according to age of onset and sex]. / Le diabète insulino-dépendant en milieu Sénégalais: combinaisons HLA-DR en fonction de l'âge d'installation et du sexe.

In insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, HLA-DR markers are involved, namely DR3, DR4 and DR9 alleles, among black senegalese populations. Studying the different associations of these alleles showed a strong predisposition to insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus with DR3/4 (p > 10(-2); OR = 13.6); DR4/9 (p < 10(-2); OR = 8.32) and DR9/9 (p < 0.05; OR = 7.78). And then it was observed a tendency to an inverse relationship of DR3/4 frequency with age of onset in male patients.

[Contribution of plasma C-peptide to the classification of sugar diabetes in Dakar, Senegal]. / Apport du peptide-C plasmatique dans la classification du diabète sucré à Dakar (Sénégal).

When diabetes has been diagnosed, its classification into different types is traditionally carried out according to clinical criteria. But with arising of new parameters, one of which is C-peptide, and various subtypes of diabetes, it became more difficult. So, in order to improve the accuracy of the classification, 270 diabetic patients and 269 controls, all black senegalese subjects, were submitted to a two-step oral glucose tolerance test (0 and 120 min.) with determination of plasma glucose and C-peptide concentrations. The majority of NIDDM were confirmed at the opposite of IDDM; furthermore, it has been pointed out a group corresponding with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) among the initial controls. When comparing the two classification modes, before and after plasma C-peptide determination, it appeared statistically significant differences with p values of 10(-4) for both IDDM and NIDDM.

[HLA-DR:DQ genotypes and insulin-dependent diabetes in Senegal]. / Génotypes HLA-DR:DQ et diabète insulino-dépendant en milieu sénégalais.

At the opposite of HLA-DR, HLA-DQ was not well documented in homogeneous negroïd populations. So, 93 IDDM and 115 control patients, all black senegalese people, were studied. The results showed three HLA-DQ IDDM-related susceptibility genotypes and also a high risk conferred by HLA-DR4/DR9 usually described in Mongoloïd people. Furthermore, DR:DQ associations allowed the identification of three IDDM predisposition genotypes, each of them with a characteristic mean age for disease diagnosis.