Biomedical subjects

A Kane

Publications and source records attributed to A Kane.

129 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

[Relation between lupus-antiphospholipids antibodies and heart disorders].

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Antiphospholipids antibodies (APL) are autoantibodies found in lupus erythematosus and disorders like. Their frequency varies between 2 and 62% according to the literature. An increased frequency of cardiac disorders in antiphospholipids (APL) positive lupus has been reported. The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of APL as an independent risk factor of cardiac disorders in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A prospective study during 14 months has been designed with the cooperation of dermatologic, internal medicine and cardiology departments of the Aristide Le Dantec hospital of Dakar. Platelets count (Beckmann Coulter analyzer), activated partial thromboplastin time (Diagnostiga stago analyzer) and antiphospholipids antibodies (Elisa) were determined. RESULTS: 37 patients affected by lupus were included in this study with a net feminine prevalence (89%); 8 (14.6%) had APL's significant results and 20 presented an echographic heart abnormality. The analysis of our data did not reveal an increased risk of cardiac diseases among APL positive lupic patients as compared to the negative group (p = 1). CONCLUSION: The presence of APL in patients with systemic lupus does not so seem to be an independant risk factor of heart diseases.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Primary systemic amyloidosis with a retroperitoneal mass.

A 73-year-old black woman presented with congestive heart failure, abdominal distension and ascites. A large retroperitoneal mass was demonstrated by gray-scale abdominal ultrasonography and confirmed by laparatomy and postmortem examination. This retroperitoneal mass consisted mainly of amyloid, as demonstrated by green birifringence with alkaline Congo red staining. Resistance of this staining pattern to permanganate treatment and the absence of inflammatory disease or malignancy at autopsy suggest the diagnosis of primary systemic amyloidosis. This is the first reported case of this disease manifesting as a retroperitoneal mass.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus syndromes in Senegal. A retrospective study of 30 patients seen over 10 years.

OBJECTIVE: To define the presenting manifestations, course and prognosis of systemic lupus erythematosus in Senegal. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty cases of systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus syndromes seen over a ten-year period were reviewed retrospectively. Nineteen patients met American College of Rheumatology criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus. All 30 patients were Senegalese-born black women. Mean age at diagnosis was 30 years (range, 16-73 years). RESULTS: Polyarthritis was the most common presenting picture (n = 8), followed by discoid lupus (n = 6). Eight per cent of patients had at least a combination of skin and joint symptoms at diagnosis. Prevalences of organ involvement were as follows: skin, 97%; joints, 97%; kidneys, 57%; serous membranes, 43%; nervous system, 23% and blood, 83%. Mean symptom duration at diagnosis was 24 months in systemic lupus erythematosus patients and 43 months in lupus syndrome patients. This significant diagnostic delay explains why as many as five of the 30 patients (17%) died either before or within five months of treatment initiation. Eight patients (32% of treated patients) who had a favorable course under therapy were lost to follow-up after discharge. The overall mortality rate was 26%. Renal failure was the main cause of death, followed by infectious and neurologic complications. CONCLUSION: We anticipate that the reported prevalence of lupus in Senegal will rise in the near future as a result of improvements in diagnostic tools and of increased interest for lupus among physicians. We also hope that improved detection of mild and early forms, together with close long-term follow-up of patients, will translate into a better overall prognosis.

Adolescent↗