PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

I Delèvaux

Publications and source records attributed to I Delèvaux.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

[Pancreatic involvement in Wegener's granulomatosis: a rare and difficult diagnosis].

INTRODUCTION: Pancreatic involvement in the course of wegener's granulomatosis is rarely reported. EXEGESIS: We report a case presenting as a pancreatic tumorlike lesion. We also discuss six further cases from the medical literature. Two of them had a tumorlike lesion, three had acute pancreatitis and the last had exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. CONCLUSION: Treatment, association of corticoid and cyclophosphamide, is efficient if it is started quickly. So we think that this unusual manifestation of Wegener's granulomatosis should be recognized.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Intractable hiccup as the initial presenting feature of systemic lupus erythematosus.

An infarctus of medulla oblongata was discovered in a 44-year old man with an intractable hiccup and 10, 11th and 12th right cranial nerves palsies. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with antiphospholipid syndrome was subsequently diagnosed. Hiccup has withdrew with corticosteroid therapy and low-dose aspirin. The other cases of literature and pathophysiologic hypotheses are briefly reported.

Accessory Nerve Diseases↗
PubMed2003

Can procalcitonin measurement help in differentiating between bacterial infection and other kinds of inflammatory processes?

OBJECTIVE: To study the levels of procalcitonin (PCT) in various inflammatory states seen in an internal medicine department and to evaluate the possible discriminative role of PCT in differentiating bacterial infection from other inflammatory processes. METHODS: PCT, C reactive protein (CRP), and white blood cell count (WBC) were measured in patients admitted to the department for fever or biological inflammatory syndrome, or both. The serum of 173 consecutive patients was analysed according to the aetiological diagnosis. The patients were divided into two groups: group I (n=60) with documented bacterial or fungal infection; group II (n=113) with abacterial inflammatory disease. RESULTS: PCT levels were >0.5 ng/ml in 39/60 (65%) patients in group I. In group II, three patients with a viral infection had slightly increased PCT levels (0.7, 0.8, and 1.1 ng/ml) as did two others, one with crystal arthritis and the other with vasculitis (0.7 ng/ml in both cases). All other patients in group II had PCT levels <0.5 ng/ml. In this study a value of PCT >0.5 ng/ml was taken as the marker of bacterial infection (sensitivity 65%, specificity 96%). PCT values were more discriminative than WBC and CRP in distinguishing a bacterial infection from another inflammatory process. CONCLUSION: PCT levels only rose significantly during bacterial infections. In this study PCT levels >1.2 ng/ml were always evidence of bacterial infection and the cue for starting antibiotic treatment.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

[Value of abdominal-pelvic computed tomography in adult rheumatoid purpura].

PURPOSE: Henoch-Schonlein purpura is a rare eventuality in adulthood. Abdominal involvement can worsen the short-term prognosis and justify medical treatment to avoid surgery. METHODS: Abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) was performed in six adult patients (four men and two women; age range, 19-74 years) with Henoch-Schonlein purpura before any treatment. Abdominal symptoms were concomitant with the purpuric rash in two cases and followed it in the other cases. RESULTS: The small bowel was always involved with a parietal thickening, and the target sign was observed in three patients. The lesions were located in the duodenum in two patients, the jejunum in two and the ileum in five. Two segments were involved in one patient and three segments in another patient. A peritoneal effusion was always present. No colonic lesion was discovered on CT. Once the results were known, all patients received steroids with initially intravenous methylprednisolone in five patients at doses ranging from 80 to 1,000 mg/day. On follow-up, none of the patients underwent surgery. CONCLUSION: Abdominopelvic CT scan demonstrated signs suggestive of intestinal vasculitis. An underlying neoplasia or an eventual other cause of abdominal pain were explored and a steroid therapy was then began with a good outcome. Abdominal CT can be helpful in the diagnosis of abdominal involvement in Henoch-Schonlein purpura.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed2001

[Chronic urticaria and Hashimoto-Hashimoto's thyroiditis: report of 6 cases].

PURPOSE: Chronic urticaria is a common skin disorder. The cause is rarely determined. Autoimmune diseases, particularly autoimmune thyroiditis, have been implicated in the occurrence of chronic urticaria. METHODS: We reviewed clinical records of patients with Hashimoto's disease and chronic urticaria. RESULTS: In our department, six patients had presented chronic urticaria associated with Hashimoto's thyroiditis: four patients, of which three treated with L-thyroxine were euthyroid, the other two were hypothyroid. Hashimoto's thyroiditis had been diagnosed for three patients during the investigation of chronic urticaria. Three patients developed chronic urticaria though they were treated with thyroid suppression for Hashimoto's disease. Two of them had a dramatic improvement with opotherapy. One patient who was euthyroid without treatment improved with hormonal therapy. The fourth patient had a partial remission with thyroid hormones and was cured with corticotherapy. CONCLUSION: The mechanism by which thyroid autoimmunity is associated with urticaria is poorly understood. A cross-linking of IgE receptors of mastocytes induced by antithyroid antibodies may be a cause of histamine release. Hormonal therapy may be a potent event for the clinical improvement by the suppression of chronic thyroid stimulation. Assay of thyroid hormone and antithyroid antibodies should be performed in patients with chronic urticaria. Discovery of Hashimoto's thyroiditis with chronic urticaria requires thyroid hormone replacement not only in hypothyroid but also euthyroid patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Mesenteric venous thrombosis: early diagnosis with abdominal CT scan and screening for coagulopathies. Six observations].

PURPOSE: Mesenteric venous thrombosis is an uncommon entity whose diagnosis is difficult because the symptoms are nonspecific. Yet early recognition of this disease helps avoid the evolution towards mesenteric infarction. METHODS: We describe clinical symptoms and hypercoagulable states discovered in six patients with superior mesenteric venous thrombosis. RESULTS: Five of six patients were admitted to hospital for abdominal pain whose mean duration was 9 days before the diagnosis of venous thrombosis was made. Three of them had a fever. Two patients had a past history of deep venous thrombosis. All patients had a hypercoagulable state and three of them had two associated disorders of coagulation. In all cases, abdominal CT scan had permitted the diagnosis of mesenteric venous thrombosis. An anticoagulant therapy was conducted successfully in five of six patients. CONCLUSION: A CT abdominal scan done early in the case of nonspecific abdominal pain, since the patients had a previous history of venous thrombosis, may permit a nonsurgical treatment of mesenteric venous thrombosis. A screening for thrombophilia must always be carried out since coagulation disorders are very frequently the recognised causes in mesenteric venous thrombosis.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Ophthalmologic manifestations of systemic vasculitis: report of six cases and review of the literature].

PURPOSE: Study of characteristics of ocular involvement in systemic vasculitis. METHODS: We describe six cases of systemic vasculitis with ocular involvement observed between 1992 and 2000. These cases are compared with those reported in the literature. RESULTS: Our patients suffered from Wegener's granulomatosis (four cases), periarteritis nodosa and Churg-Strauss syndrome. Ocular manifestations were conjunctivitis, scleritis, orbital pseudotumor, optic neuritis and extraocular muscle palsy. These manifestations are similar to those reported in the literature. Their treatment requires steroids and immunosuppressive drugs. In one of our cases, intravenous immunoglobulins were effective in controlling an optic neuritis. CONCLUSION: Ocular involvement in systemic vasculitis may concern any orbital structure. It usually occurs during the course of vasculitis but may be one of its first manifestations. It requires an appropriate treatment to prevent ophthalmic complications and especially blindness.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed2001

Concomitant diagnosis of primary Sjögren's syndrome and systemic AL amyloidosis.

A 48 year old woman was referred to hospital for buccal discomfort. Physical examination showed a macroglossia and features of xerostomia. She was diagnosed as having primary Sjögren's syndrome according to the criteria proposed by the European Community study group in 1993. Furthermore, a lower lip salivary gland biopsy showed amyloid deposits that were also seen in the stomach and in the bone marrow. Echocardiography was consistent with cardiac amyloidosis. Serum immunofixation identified a monoclonal IgGlambda. As far as is known, this is the first report of systemic primary amyloidosis associated with Sjögren's syndrome. The relation between these two disorders is discussed.

Amyloid↗
PubMed2000

[Multiple medullary and extramedullary plasmacytomas in an HIV infected female patient].

INTRODUCTION: Before the HIV infection era, plasmocyte tumor rarely occurred in patients younger than 40 years of age. Less frequent than lymphomas, the incidence of these blood diseases has however substantially increased in HIV-infected patients. In these patients, in addition to onset at earlier age, their clinical presentation is quite different and extramedullary plasmocytomas in unexpected locations are more common. EXEGESIS: We report the case of a 29-year-old HIV-infected female patient in whom were diagnosed occipital, parotidal, sphenoidal, epidural, and uterine plasmocytomas for which chemotherapy and subsequent radiotherapy were successful. The increase in the incidence of plasmocyte tumors in HIV-infected patients might be facilitated by Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) co-infection, HIV-related chronic antigenic stimulation, and secretion of interleukin 6 by infected lymphocytes. CONCLUSION: Plasmocyte tumors belong to neoplasia whose incidence is increased in HIV infection. Their currently poor diagnosis should be improved by highly active antiretroviral therapies allowing enhanced chemotherapy with possibility of autograft.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1999

[A paraneoplastic acrosyndrome].

BACKGROUND: Paraneoplastic digital ischemia is an uncommon complication of metastatic adenocarcinomas. CASE REPORT: Two years after remission of an uterine adenocarcinoma, the patient developed an acrosyndrome involving all four limbs with digital ischemia. Recurrent carcinoma was evidenced by a very high antinuclear antibody titer. Chemotherapy improved the acrosyndrome. DISCUSSION: Vasomotor disorders which developed in older subjects with no other signs of autoimmune disorders should suggest a neoplastic origin. Icshemia of the fingers would be caused by vasculitis. An elevated antinuclear antibody titer may be a supplementary argument suggesting a neoplastic etiology.

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗
PubMed1998

[Mixed corticomedullary tumor].

BACKGROUND: Pheochromocytoma and primary hyperaldosteronism rarely occur simultaneously. Few cases have been reported in the literature. CASE REPORT: A patient explored for hypertension was found to have hypokalemia related to primary hyperaldosteronism. Pathology examination of the ablated adrenal showed a co-existing pheochromocytoma suspected at history taking although urine catecholamines were normal. DISCUSSION: Different pathogenic hypothesis have been proposed. Such dual tumors could be a simple coincidence, occur in a particular genetic setting, be related to direct contact between cortical and medullary tissue leading to reactional cortical hyperplasia, pheochromocytoma produced factors stimulating aldosterone synthesis, or factor X, a substance produced by cortical adenomas and favoring growth of the pheochromocytoma.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Two enlarged kidneys: a manifestation of Erdheim-Chester disease.

Erdheim-Chester disease is a rare form of non-Langerhans' cell histiocytosis. This disorder is characterized by a bone involvement and several extraskeletal manifestations. We describe the case of a patient with a pleural and pericardial effusion leading to tamponade. Pathological examination of pericardium and mediastinal adenopathy was normal. The abdominal computed tomography scan showed two enlarged kidneys suggestive of Erdheim-Chester disease. Bone scan scintigraphy demonstrated symmetrical increased labeling of the long bones. The biopsy of perirenal soft tissue confirmed the diagnosis of Erdheim-Chester disease.

Bone Diseases↗