[Pseudotumoral calcinosis of the wrist compressing the radial nerve in systemic sclerosis]

BACKGROUND

Pseudotumoral calcinosis, a rare complication of systemic scleroderma, is characterized by the presence in extra-articular tissue, but rarely intra-articular tissue, of large masses made up of hydroxyapatite crystals.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We report an original case of intra- and extra-articular pseudotumoral calcinosis of the wrist diagnosed in a patient followed for mild systemic scleroderma. The calcinosis was revealed in a highly unusual way via ductal syndrome secondary to compression of the radial nerve in the wrist. Surgical treatment resulted in marked clinical and functional improvement.

COMMENT

Although subcutaneous calcinoses are a fairly common complication of systemic scleroderma, the pseudo-tumoral form remains extremely rare. It may be complicated by pain, recurrent infection, and functional restriction, but literature contains only very rare reports of its revelation via ductal syndrome.

[A rare infectious etiology of COPD exacerbation]

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common respiratory disorder. Its exacerbation is infectious in more than half of the cases: with viral priority, while parasitic causes remain exceptional. In this work, we report a case of a COPD exacerbation caused by a visceral leishmaniasis (VL) complicated by a macrophage activation syndrome in an adult living in a Moroccan non-endemic region for this of leismaniasis form. In such atypical clinical feature, the diagnosis of VL was based on the myelogram after presence of peripheral cytopenia. Despite the seriousness of these pathologies, the early and specific treatment of VL allows a quickly improvement in the disorders caused by these diseases.

[Thrombo-haemorrhagic disease-related hypoprothrombinemia-lupus anticoagulant syndrome revealing a light chains multiple myeloma]

Thrombosis and hemorrhage are two opposing manifestations of multiple myeloma. These hemostatic disorders are present in less than 12% of patients at diagnosis and involve various pathophysiological mechanisms. We report the case of a 39-year-old patient with multiple myeloma revealed by the association of a hemorrhagic syndrome and deep vein thrombosis related to a hypoprothrombinemia-anticoagulant lupus syndrome.

[Cardiac arrest during liver hydatid cyst surgery]

L'hydatidose est une pathologie fréquente qui reste encore endémique au Maroc. Sa localisation privilégiée est le foie. Son traitement repose essentiellement sur la chirurgie. Celui-ci est parfois incriminé dans la survenue de réactions allergiques sévères pouvant menacer le pronostic vital. Nous rapportons un nouveau cas de réaction anaphylactique sévère de grade IV peropératoire au cours d'une chirurgie de kystes hydatiques multiples du foie. Nous insistons sur la nécessité de sa reconnaissance rapide afin d'instaurer rapidement un traitement efficace. La prévention de cet accident est basée sur des précautions chirurgicales pour éviter les fuites ou les ruptures accidentelles peropératoires des kystes hydatiques.

[Sarcoïdose in patient with chronic hepatitis C treated with pegylated interferon]

Induced sarcoïdosis during therapy with interferon for chronic viral hepatitis C involves mainly by isolated cutaneous lesions or with lung lesions. Systemic forms are very rare. We report an observation. A 50-year-old patient developed a systemic sarcoïdosis two months after the end of treatment for hepatitis C with pegylated interferon and ribavirin with lung, joint and hepatic manifestations. After starting corticosteroid therapy, the evolution was favourable. Induced sarcoïdosis by interferon therapy is rare, treatment necessitates stopping interferon, and sometimes corticosteroid therapy.

[The acute respiratory distress syndrome in malaria: is it always the prerogative of Plasmodium falciparum?]

Severe malaria causes nearly one million deaths annually in endemic areas and is a public health priority worldwide. Severity associated with the occurrence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a well-known complication of infection with Plasmodium falciparum and can reach 25% of infected adults. However, ARDS is less often described with other Plasmodium species. We report the case of a young Moroccan soldier who died in an array of ARDS related to malaria of Plasmodium ovale 7 months after his return from an endemic country.

[Septicaemia due to Lactobacillus jensenii: bacteriological diagnostic orientation]

Septicaemia concerning Lactobacillus jensenii is exceptional. This bacteria commensal of the normal human flora is known for its low pathogenicity. We report here the observation of a woman, 50 years old, who was admitted in our service for an obstructive acute renal failure and who has presented a septicaemia due to L. jensenii, with a favourable issue by use of antibiotics (amoxicillin-clavulanic acid). This observation permits to report the clinical and bacteriological characteristics of L. jensenii. The importance of the immunodepressed status (diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure) and use of the endoureteral acts is mentioned.

Protracted fever of unknown origin as the presenting symptom of Behçet’s disease. Report of a case

We report a case of Behçet's disease that presented as protracted fever of unknown origin. The diagnosis was established when a thromboembolic event and ora3l aphthous ulcers occurred simultaneously. Antibiotics had no effect on the fever, which resolved when glucocorticoid and anticoagulant therapy was given. Among causes of protracted fever of unknown origin, Behçet's disease is exceedingly rare but should be considered together with the other vasculitides. Above all, the presence of a fever should prompt a search for a thromboembolic complication.