Anévrismes infectieux de l’aorte. À propos d’une série de dix patients

Purpose

Infectious aortic aneurysms are rare, being responsible of less than 3% of aortic aneurysms. In this study, we report the clinical characteristics and the outcome of patients presenting with infectious aortic aneurysms in an internal medicine unit.

Methods

Diagnosis of infection-related aortic aneurysm was obtained using: computed tomographic scan; and blood cultures, cultures and molecular biology testing of aortic wall and intra-aneurismal thrombus.

Results

The 10 consecutive patients included in this study consisted in eight men and two women with a mean age of 61.7 years. Patients presented with fever (n = 9), asthenia (n = 2), abdominal (n = 4) or chest pain (n = 1), lumbar pain (n = 3). Computed tomographic scan showed aneurysm involving both thoracic and abdominal aorta (n = 1), abdominal (n = 8) or thoracic aorta (n = 1). Isolated microorganisms were: positive Gram cocci (70%) and negative Gram bacilli (30%). All patients underwent both medical and surgical therapy. Outcome was favorable in nine patients; the remaining patient died from aneurismal aortic rupture.

Conclusion

Clinical manifestations revealing infectious aortic aneurysms are variable, including aneurysm rupture as well as atypical abdominal pain with inflammatory syndrome. These latter presentations are more common in patients, who are hospitalized in internal medicine. Our study underlines that this clinical pattern should not be ignored, in order to avoid both diagnostic and therapeutic delay that could lead to life-threatening complications and poor prognosis.     

Sclérites,aspects cliniques, étiologiques et thérapeutiques : à propos d’une série de 32 observations

Purpose

To report on the various clinical presentations, etiological diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of patients with scleritis evaluated at a tertiary care eye center.

Methods

Retrospective, monocentric study on a series of 32 patients in a tertiary center.

Results

The mean age of included patients with scleritis was 46.8 years (range, 22 to 77 years). Nineteen patients were women and 13 were men. Twenty-six patients (81%) had anterior scleritis (15 nodular, 8 diffuse and 3 necrotizing), six (19%) had posterior scleritis. Unilateral inflammation was present in 24 patients (75%). Twelve out of the 32 patients (37.5%) had an underlying systemic disease: granulomatosis with polyangiitis (n = 3), Behçet's disease (n = 2), unspecified inflammatory arthritis (n = 2), psoriatic arthritis (n = 1), ankylosing spondylitis (n = 1), sarcoidosis (n = 1), Cogan's syndrome (n = 1) and ulcerative colitis (n = 1). Six patients (18.8%) were suspected of having infectious disease with herpes virus: clinical context and positive treatment response with oral valacyclovir. Systemic agents and topical agents were required in 28 patients (87.5%). The first line therapy was mainly oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in 15 patients (47%) and oral corticosteroids in 8 (25%). Immunosuppressive drugs were required in 6 patients. The mean follow-up was 16.3 months. Six patients (19%) had a decrease in visual acuity.

Conclusion

The number of systemic disease in our series is similar to the main series in the literature. Treatment with valaciclovir might be effective in patients with suspected herpes simplex scleritis.     

La pancréatite lupique : une série de six cas

Purpose

The occurrence of acute pancreatitis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is known but rare, and is exceptionally the presenting manifestation. Its pathogenesis is multifactorial, and it is difficult to separate what belongs to vasculitis, thrombotic phenomena in the context of an associated antiphospholipid syndrome, or iatrogenic complications. We report on six cases of lupus pancreatitis.

Methods

This is a retrospective monocenter study of 110 patients with SLE. The diagnosis of lupus pancreatitis was established after exclusion of other causes of pancreatitis.

Results

Five women and one man (5.4%) with a mean age of 36.3 years presented with lupus pancreatitis. In four patients the pancreatitis was concurrent with the diagnosis of SLE and it occurred later during an exacerbation of the disease in the two remaining patients. In all patients, pancreatic manifestations were associated with other organ involvement. Clinical manifestations were: abdominal pain (n = 6), vomiting (n = 3), and fever (n = 3). Elevated pancreatic enzyme was noted in all cases. All patients were treated by high doses of glucocorticoids. The outcome was favorable in five patients, and one patient died.

Conclusion

Pancreatitis may be the presenting manifestation of SLE. Its pathogenesis is often multifactorial. The outcome is usually favorable with corticosteroids.     

Uvéites révélant une sarcoïdose : caractéristiques cliniques à propos de 23 cas

Purpose

Uveitis may rarely reveal sarcoidosis in Caucasian patients. Our objective was to analyze the clinical manifestations, and the outcome in a group of patients in whom uveitis was the presenting manifestation of sarcoidosis.

Methods

Retrospective study including 23 patients (mean age: 50.3 ± 14.5 years) diagnosed with sarcoidosis after an episode of uveitis. Granulomatous lesions were documented in 14 patients.

Results

Ophthalmological examination revealed anterior uveitis (n = 5), intermediate uveitis (n = 2), posterior uveitis (n = 25) and panuveitis (n = 11). Ocular inflammation was bilateral in 16 patients (69,6%), typical aspects of granulomatous uveitis were found in only 16 eyes over 39 (41%), posterior uveitis was found in 18 eyes (46.2%), with an averaged visual acuity of 5/10. Macular oedema was noted in five patients. Suggestive signs of ocular sarcoidosis were present in 43% of the patients. Stage 1 or 2 pulmonary involvement (n = 22), musculoskeletal (22%), skin (13%), or spleen (9%) involvements were the most common findings. Oral corticosteroids were necessary in 91.3% of the patients, immunosuppressive agents in 26.1%, with a prolonged treatment greater than two years in 58%. The visual prognosis was good, with visual acuity greater than 6/10 in 96% of the cases if the ocular inflammation spared retina and choroid. However, a visual acuity less than 6/10 was observed in 44% of the cases when the posterior segment was involved.

Conclusion

Sarcoidosis may be revealed by an intraocular inflammation, with typical patterns in only 43% of the cases. Sarcoidosis should therefore be included in the differential diagnosis of every uveitis. Oral corticosteroids are required in almost all cases, owing to ocular involvement rather than visceral involvement.     

Amylose cardiaque : à propos d’une série de 14 patients,description et facteurs pronostiques

Purpose

Cardiac amyloidosis is rare. The objective of this study was to report on a case series of 14 patients with cardiac amyloidosis and to study the prognostic factors.

Methods

Monocentric retrospective study of all adult patients who presented with cardiac amyloidosis, diagnosed at the Georges-Pompidou European hospital in Paris between 2003 and 2011.

Results

Fourteen patients were identified (10 men and four women). Median age at diagnosis was 66.5 years. Twelve patients were diagnosed with AL amyloidosis, one with AA amyloidosis, and one with transthyretin amyloidosis. All patients presented cardiac manifestations: heart failure (n = 9), rhythm disorders (n = 6). Eight patients presented extra-cardiac manifestations of amyloidosis: renal (n = 8), gastrointestinal (n = 5). Troponin serum level was increased in eight patients and BNP level was superior to 400 pg/L in 12 patients. When performed, the cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed, in six patients out of seven, chamber dilatation, concentric hypertrophy or late enhancement. Among patients with cardiac failure at diagnosis (n = 9), seven died with a median survival of 1 month duration. Factors of poor prognosis were, in our study, heart failure, elevated levels of troponin and BNP, and the AL amyloidosis subtype.

Conclusion

Cardiac amyloidosis, especially the AL type, has a very poor prognosis, essentially because of an underlying multiple myeloma and heart failure.     

Myopathies inflammatoires et anticorps anti-PM-Scl : à propos d’une série et revue de la littérature

Purpose

The objectives of this study were to evaluate: (1) the prevalence of anti-PM-Scl antibodies within the framework of antinuclear antibodies detection; and (2) the clinical features and outcome of patients with isolated polymyositis/dermatomyositis.

Methods

Nine thousand and sixty-four consecutive antinuclear testing data allowed us to evaluate anti-PM-Scl antibody prevalence. Second, we also assessed the characteristics of patients with isolated dermatomyositis/polymyositis and associated anti-PM-Scl antibody.

Results

Over 9064 consecutive antinuclear samples tested for antinuclear antibodies, 3263 (36%) were positive; anti-PM-Scl antibody were positive in nine patients: 0.1% of all sera, 0.2% of sera positive for antinuclear antibodies, 1.2% of sera positive for anti-ENA antibodies. Four of the nine patients with anti-PM-Scl antibody had dermatomyositis (n = 3) and polymyositis (n = 1). Patients with dermatomyositis/polymyositis and anti-PM-Scl antibody exhibited severe complications, as follows: ventilatory insufficiency (n = 2) requiring mechanical ventilation in one case, esophageal involvement requiring enteral feeding (n = 1); also, two of these patients had cancer.

Conclusion

Our case series suggests that the presence of anti-PM-Scl antibody is not a favorable prognostic factor in patients with dermatomyositis/polymyositis. This type of antibody appears to be associated with lung and esophageal involvement; in addition, anti-PM-Scl antibody may co-exist with malignancy in PM/DM patients. Taken together, we suggest that patients with dermatomyositis/polymyositis and anti-PM-Scl antibody require both initial evaluation for lung/digestive manifestations and cancer and close surveillance.     

Dénervation rénale dans le traitement de l’hypertension artérielle résistante : expérience du CHU de Lyon

Aim

We report the first experience of Lyon's university hospital regarding renal denervation to treat patients with resistant essential hypertension.

Patients and methods

Over a one-year period, 17 patients were treated (12 men, 5 women) with renal denervation. Baseline characteristics were as follows: age 56.5 ± 11.5 years, BMI 33 ± 5 kg/m² and ambulatory blood pressure 157 ± 16/87 ± 13 mmHg with 4.2 ± 1.5 anti-hypertensive treatment.

Results

We did not observe per procedural and early complications. After a median follow-up of 3 months and with the same anti-hypertensive treatment, office systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) decrease respectively of 20 ± 15 (P < 0.001) and 10 ± 13 mmHg (P = 0.014) (n = 17). After six months of follow-up, ambulatory blood pressure (ABPM) decrease of 17.5 ± 14.9 mmHg (P = 0.027) for SBP and of 10.5 ± 9.6 mmHg (P = 0.029) for DBP (n = 6). Among these patients, five of them were controlled (ABPM inferior to 130/80 mmHg) and electrical left ventricular hypertrophy indexes decreased: R wave in aVL lead of 4 ± 3 mm (P = 0.031), Sokolow index of 3 ± 3 mm (P = 0.205), Cornell voltage criterion of 9 ± 7 mm (P = 0.027) and Cornell product of 1310 ± 1104 (P = 0.027).

Conclusion

Our results are in accordance with data from other centers. On average blood pressure decreases significantly but important inter individual variations are observed. The procedure seems safe.     

Granulomatoses rénales : étude rétrospective de 44 observations

Purpose

Granulomatous interstitial nephritis (GIN) are identified in 0.5 to 1,3% of all renal biopsies. Renal outcome and treatment modalities are not clearly established in the literature.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed a case series of 44 GIN identified among all renal biopsies performed between 1984 and 2005 in the Rhône-Alpes area.

Results

The study population included 25 men and 19 women with a mean age of 56 years, and mean diagnostic delay was 11 months. Renal function was severely impaired (mean creatinine clearance 24 mL/min). Proteinuria was observed in 77% (mean value 0,9 g/24 h) of the patients and associated with microscopic hematuria and leukocyturia in 30% and 25%, respectively. The most common diagnosis was sarcoidosis (25%, n = 11), followed by drug-induced GIN (9%, n = 4), tuberculosis (6,8%, n=3), hemopathy-related paraneoplastic GIN (6,8%, n = 3), HIV infection (n = 1) and chronic renal allograft rejection (n = 1). In other patients, no aetiology was found (48%, n = 21). Severity of renal failure justified hemodialysis in 34% (n = 15) of the patients. Three patients underwent renal transplantation. Nonetheless, renal outcome was generally favorable: renal function improved in 41% (n = 18) and stabilized in 34% (n = 15) of patients.

Conclusions

Sarcoidosis, drug-induced and infections represent the main causes of GIN. Histologic features are not specific enough to determine the aetiology. Corticosteroids is the gold standard in sarcoidosis, drug-induced, and idiopathic GIN. Treatment is etiologic in the other cases.     

Antisynthetase syndrome: a retrospective study of 14 patients

Purpose

Antisynthetase syndrome is a rare entity characterized by myositis (dermatomyositis or polymyositis), interstitial lung disease, arthritis, Raynaud's phenomena and mechanic's hands skin manifestation, and the presence of autoantibodies against aminoacyl-transfer RNA synthetase.

Patients and methods

Fourteen patients with antisynthetase syndrome followed-up between 1997 and 2009 were included. We studied retrospectively their clinical, radiological, and pathological findings.

Results

The sex ratio women/men was 2.5. Mean age at disease onset was 46 years. Arthritis (43%) and interstitial lung disease (38%) were the most frequent features at disease onset. Seven patients had myositis. Ten patients had anti-Jo1 autoantibodies, three had anti-PL7 and one anti-PL12. Corticosteroid therapy was given in all cases, immunosuppressive drugs in 12 cases, due to initial severity (n = 8), disease relapse (n = 3) or corticosteroid dependence (n = 1). After a mean follow-up of 64 months, nine patients improved, four stabilized and one patient died after lung transplantation, required for pulmonary hypertension.

Conclusion

The diffusion of immunologic assay will help us in the future to identify the specificity of this syndrome in order to improve care.     

Variabilité des concentrations plasmatiques de l’angiotensinogène et risque d’hypertension artérielle chez le rat transgénique

Aim

Genetic polymorphisms of the human angiotensinogen gene are frequent and may induce up to 30% increase of plasma angiotensinogen concentrations with a blood pressure increase of up to 5 mmHg. Their role for the pathogenesis of human arterial hypertension remains unclear. High plasma angiotensinogen levels could increase the sensitivity to other blood pressure stressors.

Methods

Male transgenic rats with a 9-fold increase of plasma angiotensinogen concentrations and male non-transgenic rats aged 10 weeks were treated or not with NG-Nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester for 3 weeks in their drinking water (n = 3/group). Systolic blood pressure and body weight were measured at baseline and at the end of the study when left ventricular weight and ventricular expression of angiotensin I-converting enzyme and procollagen Iα1 were determined (polymerase chain reaction).

Results

At baseline, transgenic rats had +18 mmHg higher bood pressure and –8% lower body weight compared to non-transgenic rats (P < 0.05) without significant changes for the vehicle groups throughout the study (P > 0.05). NG-Nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester increased blood pressure, left ventricular weight and left ventricular weight indexed for body weight by +41%, +17.6% and +18.6% (P < 0.05) in transgenic and +25%, +5.3% and +6.7% (P > 0.05) in non-transgenic rats compared to untreated animals, respectively. Cardiac gene expression showed no differences between groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Increased plasma angiotensinogen levels may sensitize to additional blood pressure stressors. Our preliminary results point towards an independent role of angiotensinogen in the pathogenesis of human hypertension and associated end-organ damage.     

Anévrismes infectieux de l’aorte thoracique : présentation de 7 cas et revue de la littérature

Purpose

Infectious aortic aneurysms are rare conditions, being responsible of 2% of aortic aneurysms. Most published results are surgical case series concerning infected abdominal aorta. In this retrospective study, we assessed clinical features and outcome of patients presenting infectious thoracic aortic aneurysms.

Patients and methods

Diagnosis was based upon a combination of imaging evidence for thoracic aorta aneurysm and evidence for an infective aetiology including a culture of a causative pathogen, or a favourable outcome with anti-infective therapy. Retrospective case series.

Results

Six men and one woman were included, with a mean age of 66 years. All the patient presented at least one cardiovascular risk factor or atherosclerosis localisation. Fever (71%) and chest pain (42%) were the most common clinical presenting manifestations. The causative pathogens were: Staphylococcus aureus (N = 1), Salmonella enteritidis (N = 3) and Candida albicans (N = 1). The contrast-enhanced computed-tomography disclosed an aneurysm whose diameter reached more than 50 mm (N = 5), that increased rapidly in size (N = 5), or presented an inflammatory aspect of the aortic wall (N = 4). Management was both medical and interventional: surgery (N = 3) or endoluminal repair (N = 4). Outcome was favourable in six patients; one patient died from aneurysm-related complications.

Conclusion

Clinical manifestations revealing an infectious thoracic aneurysm are variable. Diagnosis should be considered in patients presenting a rapidly-growing aneurysm, especially in the presence of elevated acute phase reactants. Endoluminal repair constitutes a treatment option. The role of FDG-PET for diagnosis and follow-up remains to be defined.     

Fibrose(s) rétropéritonéale(s) : stratégie diagnostique,pathologies associées et suivi à long terme d’une cohorte française

Purpose

Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) is a rare disease with an expanding etiologic spectrum. We aimed to analyze non-invasive diagnosis strategy, associated disorders, monitoring, treatment and prognosis.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study in a single tertiary center.

Results

Eighteen RPF cases (11 males) followed between 1996 and 2009 were reviewed. Blood CRP level was high in all cases before treatment. CT scan, associated or not with MRI or 18-FDG PET-scan, confirmed the diagnosis in 15 patients. Histological analysis of a surgical biopsy specimen was performed in only three cases. Ten patients suffered retroperitoneal fibrosis secondary to systemic vasculitis (granulomatosis with polyangeitis, n = 1, Takayasu aortitis, n = 2), systemic fibrosis with Riedel thyroiditis (n = 1) and atheromatous periaortitis (n = 6). Fifteen patients were treated with corticosteroids with a mean treatment duration of 60 months (12–228). Dependency to corticosteroids was recorded in ten patients. Patients with fibrosis related to vasculitis were younger, had a higher CRP level, more frequent corticosteroid dependency and a higher relapse rate. Relapses were successfully treated with steroids. Immunosuppressive treatment was only prescribed in the setting of systemic vasculitis. No patient died, after a 6 ± 2 years follow-up. Late relapses could occur, sometimes years after steroid therapy cessation.

Conclusion

In our study, RPF occurred as a secondary disorder in 60% of the cases. Disease extension, relapse rate and treatment response varied according to the underlying cause of RPF, pleading for an extensive and systematic initial assessment. Since no death or end-stage renal insufficiency was observed, RPF might be considered as a steroid-sensitive and benign disorder.     

Intérêt de l’imagerie par résonance magnétique nucléaire au cours de l’atteinte cardiaque du syndrome de Churg-Strauss. Trois observations et revue de la littérature

Purpose

The reported prevalence of cardiac complications is variable in patients with Churg-Strauss syndrome (15–92%) and depends on diagnostic tools. Diagnosis at early stage of heart involvement is crucial, resulting in appropriate management.

Methods

We report three patients who developed cardiac manifestations, revealing Churg-Strauss syndrome. The diagnosis of cardiac involvement was obtained using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Results

Two patients were males and the remaining one was a female. Presenting clinical manifestations were: cardiac failure (n = 1) and retrosternal pain (n = 2). Laboratory findings disclosed: high blood count of eosinophils (range: 6000–11 000/mm³); antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies were positive in a single patient. Cardiac MRI demonstrated: (1) late gadolinium enhancement (n = 3), involving mainly the apical and mid-cavity left ventricular segments; (2) impaired left ventricular function (n = 2), mean left ventricular ejection fraction being: 51%; and (3) pericardial effusion (n = 3). Outcome was favourable after institution of combined therapy with prednisone and cyclophosphamide (n = 2); one patient also underwent plasma exchanges.

Conclusion

Our case series underlines that MRI is a helpful tool in the diagnosis of Churg-Strauss syndrome-related cardiac complications. We further suggest that clinical assessment of patients with Churg-Strauss syndrome should include cardiac MRI, in order to detect cardiac involvement at an early stage; indeed, because cardiac manifestations are predictive factors of poor prognosis, diagnosis at early stages of cardiac involvement may result in improvement of patients management.     

Corrélations entre antécédents d’angioplastie coronaire et mortalité précoce après chirurgie coronaire

Background

In this study, we examine the effect of previous percutaneous intervention on the rate of adverse perioperative outcome in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG).

Methods

Outcomes of 240 CABG patients, collected consecutively in an observational study, were compared. Gp A (n = 35) had prior PCI before CABG and Gp B (n = 205) underwent primary CABG.

Results

Statistically significant results were obtained for the following preoperative criteria: previous myocardial infarction: 48.6% vs 36.6% (P = 0.003), distribution of CAD (P = 0.0001), unstable angina: 45.7% vs 39% (P = 0.04). For intraoperative data, the total number of established bypasses was 2.6 (GpA) vs 2.07 (Gp B) (P = 0.017), with the number of arterial bypass grafts being: 20% vs 13% (P = ns). Regarding the postoperative course, no significant difference in troponine I rate, 24-hour bleeding: 962 ml (Gp A) vs 798 ml (Gp B) (P = 0.004), transfusion (PRBC unit): 3.63 (Gp A) vs 2.5 (Gp B) (P = 0.006). Previous PCI emerged as an independent predictor of postoperative in-hospital mortality (OR 2.24, 95% CI [1.52–2.75], P < 0.01).

Conclusion

Patients with prior PCI presented for CABG with more severe CAD. Thirty-day mortality and morbidity were significantly higher in patients with prior PCI.     

Particularités cliniques de l’embolie pulmonaire chez la personne âgée : étude comparative de 64 patients

Purpose

To date only a few studies regarding pulmonary embolism (PE) in elderly have been published. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical features of PE in elderly patients (≥ 75 years).

Methods

All patients hospitalized for PE in our internal medicine department from January 2005 to December 2010 were included in the study. The aim was to compare the features of PE in elderly patients (≥ 75 years) to those of patients younger than 75 years. The following data were recorded: past medical history, risk factors for venous thrombo-embolism (VTE), clinical features, and PE etiologies.

Results

The population was composed of 64 patients (women 56%) with a median age of 82 years (IQR: 13.5). There was no statistical difference for risk factors of VTE. Syncope was more frequent in elderly patients (33% versus 7%, P = 0.04) whereas thoracic pain predominated in younger patients (36,5% versus 7%, P = 0.005). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was more frequent in the past medical history of elderly patients. The diagnostic of PE was less suspected in elderly patients (47% versus 72%, P = 0.035). The etiologies were similar between the two groups.

Conclusion

Our study highlights the frequency of syncope as the presenting feature of PE in elderly, whereas thoracic pain is uncommon. We confirmed the difficulty to diagnose PE in elderly population.     

La maladie de Behçet chez la femme

Purpose

Behçet's disease (BD) is a multisystemic inflammatory disease characterized, on the one hand, by the frequency of benign mucocutaneous and articular manifestations, and on the other hand by the severity of ocular, neurological, vascular and digestive manifestations which may threaten functional or vital prognosis. The male BD predominance is obvious in many retrospective studies and a few studies only have focused on BD in women.

Methods

In this study, we report the epidemiological, clinical, outcome and therapeutic data of a series of 71 female BD compared to a series of 111 male BD. This retrospective study was conducted in the internal medicine department of Monastir university hospital over a 19-year period (1990 to 2008), including all patients followed-up and treated for BD.

Results

The comparison of clinical manifestations of BD between men and women showed the predominance of erythema nodosum (P = 0.016), necrotic pseudofolliculitis (P = 0.001), and joint involvement (P = 0.009) in women, while genital ulcers (P = 0.039), ocular involvement (P = 0.003) and vascular (P = 0.002) involvement were more common in men.

Conclusion

Our results confirmed the results of previous studies regarding the benign nature of BD in women compared to men.     

Évaluation départementale des délais de reperfusion des syndromes coronariens aigus avec élévation du segment ST en fonction de la filière de recours aux soins

Introduction

Acute coronary syndrome with ST segment elevation (STEMI) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in France, directly correlated with the time management of the patient to achieve reperfusion of the artery as early as possible. But the delay of reperfusion is related to the course that will take the patient to the revascularization.

Methods

To make an observation of departmental practices, we conducted a retrospective monocentric study on the STEMI supported on 4 years in the Departmental Hospital of La Roche-sur-Yon by comparing the time of reperfusion in two groups: patients who used the recommended chain = diRect chain (Call the emergency number–specialist mobile emergency unit–Cardiac intensive care unit or cardiac catheterization laboratory), and patients who used another chain = Long chain.

Results

On 838 patients with STEMI, 356 (42.5%) used the Direct chain. The average time of reperfusion in the Direct chain group is 4.26 hours (±3.12), 6.17 hours (±4.82) in the Long chain group. There is a significant difference between the two groups of 1.9 hours (P < 0.001). Of 186 patients who consulted a general practitioner, 40.3% of patients were not supported by the mobile emergency unit.

Conclusion

These results should lead to improved practices, to carry on continuing medical education with all actors in the chain and patient information to shorten up the time of reperfusion.     

Fibrose rétropéritonéale idiopathique : évolution à long terme du pronostic rénal dans une série rétrospective multicentrique de 30 cas

Purpose

Idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis (IRF) is an inflammatory disorder, affecting the aorta and the surrounding vessels and tissues. The prognosis is mainly driven by the risks of chronic kidney disease and relapse. Our aim was to assess the prevalence of chronic kidney disease at follow-up.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients diagnosed for IRF in Seine-Saint-Denis (France) between 1987 and 2011. We collected informations about presentation, radiologic findings and follow-up. Diagnosis of IRF was confirmed when all the following criteria were met: infiltration of the infrarenal aorta or iliac vessels, absence of aneurysmal dilation, lack of clinical suspicion of malignancy.

Results

Thirty patients were identified, with a male/female ratio of 4.9. Mean age was 55 ± 13 years old. The mean creatinine clearance was 66 mL/min/1.73 m² and the mean CRP was 45 ± 36 mg/L. In 24 (80%) patients, the location of IRF was periaortic and periiliac. Eleven patients (37%) underwent a diagnostic biopsy, and 14 (47%) required an ureteral procedure. A mean follow-up of 63 months was available for 29 patients: 69% relapsed, 7 developed chronic renal disease (24%), and one died of urinary sepsis. Older age (P = 0.023), diabetes (P = 0.007), and initial renal insufficiency (P = 0.05) were associated with a risk of chronic renal insufficiency.

Conclusion

The high frequency of relapses and chronic renal disease emphasizes the need of close follow-up in patients diagnosed with IRF.