Place de l’allergie des pollens et dermatite atopique

Atopic dermatitis (DA) affects about 20% of children, being most prevalent in developed countries. It is a multifactorial disease characterized especially by an immunological response to environmental allergens. Many factors are thought to be at the origin of exacerbations of DA but few scientific data are available to validate their clinical importance. Among these factors are food, airborne allergens such as house dust mites and pollen, contact allergens, bacterial infection, certain atmospheric conditions and stress. The aim of this literature review is to analyze arguments for the clinical relevance of pollen as triggers of exacerbations of AD and for the efficacy of specific therapeutic options that could control this potential triggering factor.     

Manifestations cutanées associées aux gammapathies monoclonales

Whatever their aetiology, monoclonal gammopathies can be associated to several clinical features. Mechanisms are various and sometimes unknown. Skin is frequently involved and may represent a challenging diagnosis. Indeed, skin manifestations are either the presenting features and isolated, or at the background of a systemic syndrome. Our objective was to review the various skin manifestations that have been associated with monoclonal gammopathies.     

Définitions des termes utilisés en allergologie alimentaire chez l’enfant

In so far as there are no recent medical references that specify terms used in allergy, and particularly terms dealing with food allergy, it seemed to us that it would be of use to compile a glossary that would be helpful in daily practice. The defined terms (plus comments) have been retained according to sequences that correspond to steps in a food allergy work-up. The following terms are entered successively in this review: atopic dermatitis; SCORAD; asthma; pulmonary function tests; medications for children; symptoms and severity of food allergies; immediate skin tests; intradermal tests or “atopy patch-tests”; allergen-specific and total serum IgE levels; oral provocation test; labial provocation test; other tests used in allergy work-ups; allergy, hypersensitivity, atopy; allergens, allergies, sensitizations, allergic cross-reactions; treatment of an allergic reaction.     

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.     

Personne de confiance et directives anticipées : défaut d’information et de mise en œuvre

Purpose

The French law allows the persons of age to appoint a trusted person and to draft advance directives in case they are one day in a condition that prevents them from expressing their will regarding their health care. Our study objective was to assess patients’ and relatives’ knowledge and collecting their opinion regarding these means of expression of their will.

Methods

An anonymous survey by self-administered questionnaire was conducted in the admission offices of the University Hospital of Nancy in April 2011. The questions focused on trusted person and anticipated directives.

Results

We collected 367 answers, 61.8% of which were females. Average age of respondents was 48.7 years old (standard deviation: 15.6). Three fourths of respondents were informed of their possibility to appoint a trusted person and were able to establish the difference between a trusted person and a contact person. Respondents mainly chose their spouse (52%). They thought that the trusted person's opinion takes precedence over the family's or relatives’ one (64.7%), given that this opinion is based on indications previously provided by the patient (74.8%). The majority of people surveyed were ignorant of the possibility to draft advance directives but were glad of it (57.5%). They would include herein their refusal of unreasonable obstinacy (75.8%), their wishes to withhold/withdraw of some treatments, to stop active treatments in case of high odds of chronic coma or vegetative state (52.8%) or their will to donate organ after death (50.6%). More than three fourths of the patients wished to include these informations on their health care card chip.

Conclusion

Legal means of expression of the patient's wishes and are not systematically known by the population. The possibility to appoint a trusted person is much more known than that to draft advance directives. After the release in December 2012 of the Sicard report regarding the end of life in France, an important information campaign of the general public remains to be undertaken.     

Hémochromatose héréditaire : circonstances de découverte et délais diagnostiques

Purpose

Hereditary hemochromatosis is characterized by an excessive absorption and progressive accumulation of iron in the liver, the pancreas, the heart, and the joints. Tiredness and joint manifestations occur usually before hepatopathy, diabetes or cardiopathy. Such common and unspecific symptoms seem to be largely unknown and important diagnostic delays have been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the discovery circumstances and the diagnostic delay.

Methods

A survey was carried out amongst French patients with C282Y homozygous hemochromatosis who were contacted through patients associations or blood centers.

Results

The questionnaire was answered by 374 patients. Mean age at diagnosis was 48.6 ± 11.9 years. In 53% of the cases, the serum level of ferritin was greater than 1000 μg/L. Diagnosis was based on family genetic survey (29%), or fortuitous analyses showing an abnormal serum ferritin (26%), or clinical manifestations (45%). Main complaints were joint pain, tiredness or liver disease. Only 2.1% consulted for diabetes, cardiopathy or changed complexion. Time to diagnosis was lower than 1 year for 98% of patients who presented with fatigue but from 1 to 15 years for 23.4% and 29% of patients who presented with arthropathy and hepatopathy, respectively.

Conclusion

For 55% of patients, diagnosis was based on familial genetic survey or fortuitous abnormal results of blood samples. An initial serum level of ferritin greater than 1000 μg/L was a factor of severity for 50% of patient. These two elements must be taken into account to consider a population mass screening. Long time to diagnosis required a sensitization of the population to be aware of the clinical manifestations of hemochromatosis.     

Neuropathie des petites fibres : approche diagnostique et traitement,et place de son association au syndrome de Gougerot-Sjögren primaire

This article reviews the diagnostic issues and the therapeutic management of small fibre neuropathy (SFN), and a detailed literature analysis of its association with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). A diagnosis of SFN should be raised in the presence of diffuse neuropathic painful manifestations (burning sensation, paresthesia, pricking, allodynia or hyperesthesia) and neurovegetative signs. The neurological examination and the electroneuromyogram are usually normal. The diagnosis of SFN can be confirmed by the evidence of decreased intra-epidermal nerve fibre density after a skin punch biopsy or the presence of abnormal nonconventional neurophysiological tests exploring the A-delta and C small nerve fibres (laser-evoked potentials, quantitative sensory tests, cutaneous sympathic reflex, autonomic function tests). The association of SFN and pSS has been scarcely evaluated, probably because of its lack of awareness and the low availability of the required diagnostic procedures. According to our literature review, pSS may be present in 9 to 30% of patients with SFN. Conversely, a pure SFN is present in 3 to 9% of patients with pSS where it may represent 25 to 35% of pSS-associated peripheral neuropathies. The treatment of SFN is mainly symptomatic and based on antalgic neuropsychotropic drugs and conventional analgesics. Corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs are usually unsuccessful. The effectiveness of intravenous immunoglobulins is only supported by a few case reports. SFN deserves to be separately evaluated among pSS-associated peripheral neuropathies. This requires a better availability of the appropriate diagnostic procedures, the investigation of underlying immunopathological mechanisms and the assessment of the new treatments recently proposed in pSS, mainly rituximab.