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F Héron

Publications and source records attributed to F Héron.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

[Spontaneous splenic hematoma: trauma injury or drug reaction or both?].

INTRODUCTION: Spontaneous splenic hematomas are uncommon and frequently associated with infectious, hematologic, or neoplastic diseases. Presentation is typically acute but progressive forms have been described. CASE: We report the case of a 45-year-old man consulting for abdominal pain that was found to be due to a spontaneous splenic hematoma. No recent injuries, infections, or hematologic, neoplastic or gastrointestinal diseases were found, but the patient had had a minor injury 9 months earlier and had been treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (venlafaxine) for the past year. This history suggested that the drug might play a role. DISCUSSION: Although the likely cause of this splenic hematoma appears to be a minor injury 9 months before the onset of pain, we cannot rule out the possibility that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment was a predisposing factor.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed2005

[Tuberculosis peritonitis: an always present disease. About 4 new cases].

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculous peritonitis, a major problem in developing country, occurs preferentially in immigrant population and in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Although rare in France, it did not disappear and epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic approach deserve to be reminded. EXEGESIS: We reported 4 patients (immigrants in two cases), occurred in caucasian and African persons (one with AIDS). Disease was characterized by fever, abdominal pain, anorexia, weight loss and ascites. Biological and radiological were unconclusive. Cell count analysis from ascitic fluid show a lymphocytic predominance with negative direct smear for Ziehl-Neelsen strain. Tuberculous peritonitis was established with combined visual and histological diagnosic laparoscopic examination. CONCLUSION: These observations have the interest to underline that tuberculous peritonitis must be evoked in case of lymphocytic ascitis. We believe an aggressive diagnostic approach, particulary with peritoneal biopsy, is warranted for the diagnosis of tuberculous peritonitis. Validity of PCR amplification is ascitic fluid still needs to be established.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Does hepatitis c virus-related autoimmune thyroiditis exist? Reflections on a controlled study of 58 consecutive subjects].

PURPOSE: Interferon alpha treatment for virus C hepatitis may be responsible for autoimmune thyroiditis. Relationships between thyroiditis and virus C infection are still debated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the existence of this association. METHODS: The prevalence of autoimmune thyroiditis in 58 patients (35 male and 23 female patients, mean age 52.6) with untreated virus C hepatitis was compared to that of 56 alcoholic patients (41 male and 15 female patients, mean age 53.8). Autoimmune thyroiditis was defined as the association of abnormal TSH and an increase in antithyroid antibodies. RESULTS: We did not find any statistical difference in either autoimmune thyroiditis or antithyroid antibodies prevalences. CONCLUSION: Both our results and a literature review suggest that the few reported cases of related autoimmune thyroiditis and virus C infection are probably coincidental.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Flow cytometry analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with bullous pemphigoid.

BACKGROUND: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune disease observed in elderly subjects in which alteration of peripheral blood lymphocyte subset repartition has been described. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets from BP patients and identify immunologic changes that can be assigned either to the autoimmune disease or to the ageing process. METHODS: Peripheral blood lymphocytes from 24 patients with BP and 24 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were analyzed by flow cytometry and these results were compared to those obtained from young adults. RESULTS: This study showed: (i) the presence of T-cell lymphopenia with a decreased number of CD8+ and gdgammadelta T lymphocytes in BP patients compared with younger adult controls; (ii) a high dispersion of the results in the BP population; (iii) the absence of a significant difference of lymphocyte subset levels between BP patients and age- and sex-matched controls. CONCLUSION: This flow cytometry study suggests that the modifications of lymphocyte subpopulation values observed in BP patients are related to immunologic changes induced by age in elderly people.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1998

[An unusual way of detecting Horton's disease: inflammatory abdominal aortitis].

We report an original case of giant cell arteritis, revealed by abdominal aortic arteritis on CT-scan, which was performed because the patient presented with a biological inflammatory syndrome. Course was favorable with steroid therapy. CT-scan, one month later, demonstrated a stable appearance of both regular and concentric thickening of the abdominal aortic wall. Aortic involvement is rare and occurs late in the course of giant cell arteritis. Usually clinical and biological manifestations of aortitis associated with giant cell arteritis either absent or non specific, leading to diagnostic difficulties. Furthermore, aortic giant cell arteritis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Gravity of aortic impairment is mainly linked to the risk of development of aneurysm and/or acute dissection. A search for aortic involvement should therefore routinely be carried out, once a year, in patients with giant cell arteritis, particularly a complete vascular clinical examination and a chest X-ray. Finally, our case report suggests that non invasive methods, notably CT-scan, may serve as a helpful test in diagnosis and follow-up of aortic giant cell arteritis.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

[Late manifestation of congenital intrahepatic portacaval shunt in a healthy liver].

We report the discovery of a congenital intrahepatic portocaval shunt during heart failure in a 68 year-old woman, without cirrhosis or portal hypertension. She had hepatic encephalopathy. Only 17 such cases have been reported. Their physiopathology remains unclear. Reasons for late revelation are debated. Color doppler imaging is very useful for diagnosis following and treatment of these shunts. Therapeutic options are presented.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

[Thiol-proteolytic activity in rheumatoid polyarthritis. Assay by spectrofluorimetry].

Joint and bone damage in rheumatoid arthritis is thought to be caused primarily by an imbalance between proteolytic proteinases and their specific inhibitors. Matrix destruction can in part result from the activity of lysosomal cystein proteinases such as cathepsin B and L. Cathepsins usually are determined by enzyme immuno-assay. The aim of this study was the direct determination of synovial thiol-proteolytic activity by spectrofluorimetry using a synthetic substrate (Z-Phe-Arg-NMec) and a cystein proteinase specific inhibitor (E64 = L-trans-epoxy-succinyl-leucylamino-(4 guanidino)-butane). 18 rheumatoid synovial fluids were tested compared to 10 osteoarthritic synovial fluids. Thiol-proteolytic activity appeared higher in rheumatoid arthritis compared to osteo-arthrosis (mean value = 1,311 mU/l vs 156 mU/l, p less than 0.01). Synovial thiol-proteolytic activity is well correlated with synovial elastase-alpha1-proteinase-inhibitor complex. The authors found no correlation with synovial polymorphonuclear count (p = 0.38) nor with clinical and biological parameters of disease evolution. The highest values were observed in patient with radiological signs of joint destruction. Synovial thiol-proteolytic activity might represent the potential destructive evolution of rheumatoid arthritis.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗