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Aim: We aimed to present a rare case of pseudotumoral tuberculosis of the cervix. Introduction: Tuberculosis has many localizations. Urogenital and particularly cervical involvement is rare. Case Presentation: Our observation concerned a case of pseudotumoral tuberculosis of the uterine cervix simulating a cancer. The clinical signs were pelvic pain and metrorrhagia, which were non-specific. The ulcerative-bourgeons appearance of the cervix was suggestive of cancer. Histology allowed the diagnosis to be made by showing an inflammatory granuloma and the absence of malignant cells. Despite the absence of bacteriological evidence, the clinical, biological, and histological presumptive arguments and the good therapeutic response made it possible to correct the diagnosis. The prognosis of our patient was mainly functional due to the risk of infertility. Conclusion: The interest of this observation lay in the rarity of this tuberculosis localization, especially in an immunocompetent subject, and the predominant place of histology.

In rapidly growing cities in the tropics, unregulated urban development presents a major risk to groundwater quality. Here, we assess the vulnerability of an unconfined aquifer of Quaternary sands in the Thiaroye area of Dakar (Senegal) to contamination using four GIS-based indices (DRASTIC, DRASTIC_N, SINTACS, SI). Our correlation of assessed vulnerability to observed impact is semi-quantitative, relating observed groundwater quality, based on nitrate concentrations and tryptophan-like fluorescence to vulnerability degrees (i.e. coincidence rates). We show that considerably more of the Thiaroye area has a “very high vulnerability” according to SI (36%) relative to DRASTIC (5%) and SINTACS (9%); “high vulnerability” is estimated using DRASTIC_N (100%), DRASTIC (66%) and SINTACS (69%). Single-parameter sensitivity tests show that groundwater depth, soil, topography, land use and redox parameters strongly influence assessments of groundwater vulnerability. Correlation with observed nitrate concentrations reveals aquifer vulnerability is better represented by SI (coincidence rates of 56%) relative to DRASTIC_N (43%), SINTACS (38%) and DRASTIC (34%). The underestimation of groundwater vulnerability in Dakar using DRASTIC, DRASTIC_N and SINTACS is attributed to their reliance on an assumed capacity of the unsaturated zone to attenuate surface or near-surface contaminant loading, which in the low-income (Thiaroye) area of Dakar is thin and affords limited protection. The inclusion of a land-use parameter in SI improves the characterization of groundwater vulnerability in this low-income, rapidly urbanizing area of Dakar.

Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis are two common autoimmune diseases. Their association with other autoimmune diseases is not exceptional. However, the co-occurrence of these two diseases is not often described. In this case, report, we describe the observation of a patient who had long been followed for exophthalmos and pretibial myxedema as a sign of thyrotoxicosis. Examination of this patient revealed a clinical picture of clinical and biological hypothyroidism related to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This case had made it possible to retain an association between Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and basedowdisease, which is rarely described. This observation underscores the importance of monitoring these patients with autoimmune disease systematically even if there is no clinical manifestation.

Introduction: Autoimmune thyroiditis is relatively common in medicine. However, comprehensive studies are few in number, especially in Africa and particularly in Senegal. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the epidemiological, clinical, profile of Autoimmune Thyroid Diseases (OITD). Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study from 2016 to 2019 of the records of patients who consulted or were hospitalised for autoimmune dysthyroidism in the internal medicine department of the Aristide Le Dantec Hospital. During this period, 1227 new consultations were recorded; they concerned three specialized consultations including endocrinology. The autoimmune origin was confirmed in 159 patients, i.e. in 45.69% of cases the AIDM then 12.96% of all consultations. The autoimmune origin was established on clinical, biological and immunological grounds. The data were collected from the medical records of the patients and recorded on a pre-established individual survey sheet taking into account the objectives of the study. The data collected was entered into the Sphinx V5 software on an established form. The analysis was carried out with the following software: Excel 2010 and Epi info 7.2. Results: Among this dysthyroidism, 159 patients had a confirmed autoimmune thyroid disease. On all new consultations, OITD represented 12.96% of internal medicine consultations. The sex ratio M/F was 0.18. The majority of our patients (57.86%) were aged between 25 and 44 years with extremes ranging from 11 to 63 years. In Graves’ disease, the notion of an irritative spine was found in 60.27% of cases. Signs of thyrotoxicosis were present in 92.7% of cases. There was a goiter in 81.1% of cases with a vascular character in 76.47% of cases. Anti-THR antibodies were positive in 96.15% of cases. Complications were noted in 9 patients (6.5%) such as cardiothyreosis in 8 patients (5.7%) and malignant orbitopathy noted in 1 patient (0.8%). In Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, signs of hypometabolism were evident in 87.50% of patients. Anti-TPO antibodies were positive in all patients. All patients had received thyroid hormone supplementation. Thyroid autoimmune disease was associated with other autoimmune diseases in 6.2% of cases. Conclusion: Autoimmune thyroiditis is common in our daily practice in Senegal; it is dominated by Grave’s disease. Hypothyroidism was the most common manifestation of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. The inaccessibility of antithyroid antibody testing is an obstacle to the diagnosis and management of these conditions.

In rapidly urbanising low-income towns and cities, there remains an absence of scientific evidence and regulatory structures to sustain the quality and quantity of groundwater used for low-cost water supplies and to reconcile this with continued use of the subsurface for low-cost sanitation. Here, we analyse the relationship between the density of on-site sanitation and shallow groundwater quality in the Thiaroye aquifer of Quaternary sands in Dakar, Senegal. On-site sanitation was mapped using object-oriented classification and visual interpretation of high-resolution, optical satellite images and ground-truthing surveys. Groundwater quality was assessed over a three-year period (2017–2019) from a network of 61 sources comprising boreholes, dug-wells, hand tubewells and piezometers. More than 253,000 on-site sanitation facilities are identified over an area of 520 km2 with densities ranging from 1 to 70 per hectare. A moderate, statistically significant linear relationship (r2 = 0.55, p « 0.01) is found between the density of on-site sanitation facilities and nitrate concentrations in sampled groundwater sources. Groundwater contamination beyond the WHO drinking-water guideline value (50 mg/L) occurs where densities of on-site sanitation facilities exceed 4 (±4) per hectare, a threshold commonly surpassed in peri-urban areas underlain by the Thiaroye aquifer of Dakar.

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with increasing of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality due to accelerated atherosclerosis. Several studies showed also the increasing of the prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis, but there are little data from sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, subclinical carotid atherosclerosis and the ability of the Systematic Coronary Risk Estimation (SCORE) modified by European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) to predict the high CV risk in our patients. Patients and Method: We conducted a cross sectional study in Senegalese patients with RA. The RA was retained according to 2010 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)-European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) criteria. Patients with RA were assessed in a clinical research consultation. Results: We included 50 RA patients. The mean age was 44 years (+/- 12.37) and the sex-ratiowas 0.06. The frequency distribution of traditional cardiovascular risk factors was: hypertension (HT) (30%), diabetes-mellitus (6%), smoking (2%), no-exercise (22%), obesity (16%), metabolic syndrome (8%). Fifty-eight percent of patients were classified at low cardiovascular risk according to mSCORE. 51.7% of patients classified as moderate-risk according to mSCORE, were reclassified as high cardiovascular risk according to carotid ultrasound evaluation (gold-standard). The sensitivity of the mSCORE in the prediction of high CV risk was low at 20%. In the present study, the prevalence of carotid subclinical atherosclerosis was 20%. Age (>45 years) and HT were correlated to subclinical atherosclerosis. Conclusion: In the present study, the prevalence of atherosclerosis in RA patients was higher than expected frequency in comparison with the prevalence in Senegalese general population. We showed that CV risk was underestimated by mSCORE which had a low sensitivity in the prediction of high risk. We showed also the importance of carotid ultrasound for an appropriate stratification of the risk.

Introduction: The extended administration of corticoids by oral way for a length of more than 3 months defines the long-term-corticosteroid-therapy. This one, used in numerous indications, displays most often at the risk of undesirable effects linked sometimes to the habits of prescription of the doctors. Patients and Methods: In order to study the prescription modalities of this treatment, we conducted a cross-sectional, multicentric and descriptive study from June 1st, 2017 to August 1st, 2017, over a period of 2 months. It involved a questionnaire given to medical specialists of all medical specialties and practicing in the University Hospital of Dakar. Results: 170 doctors were interviewed. Dermatologists and internists were mostly found 19.4% and 18.8% or 33% and 34% doctors. Systemic autoimmune diseases alone accounted for 48% of prescription reasons. Prednisone was prescribed in 88% of cases. The immunosuppressive dose of 1 mg/kg was most often prescribed. Practitioners very heterogeneously prescribe most adjuvant measures to prolonged systemic corticosteroid therapy. Thus, the recommendation of a low-sodium diet (38% of physicians), and the systematic prescriptions of proton pump inhibitors (44.7% of physicians) and vitamin-calcium supplementation were frequently performed by physicians (34% of physicians). While the low carbohydrate diet was advocated by less than a quarter of doctors and the prevention of pneumocystosis and osteoporosis were rare (respectively 61% and 52% of prescribers did not). Conclusion: The global analysis of the habits of our medical specialists concerning the use of long-term glucocorticoids reflected a diversity of indications, heterogeneity of practices, with certain habits not in accordance with the usual recommendations.

Introduction: Immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting programmed death protein-1 and cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte-antigen-4 have revolutionized the treatment of various cancers. Despite their effectiveness, these therapies can lead to immune related adverse events. Observation: We reported a case of a 43- year-old white woman who was referred to our department for a management of acute polyarthritis. She was followed for a relapsing metastatic melanoma (stage IIIb) by surgery and Pembrolizumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor targeting programmed death protein-1. After receiving her 4th cycle of this therapy she developed arthritis of the knees and the ankles, tenosynovitis and dry eyes with keratitis. After exclusion of other causes of polyarthritis such as connective-tissue disease, the diagnosis of rheumatologic immunerelated adverse events was retained. She was treated by 20 mg of prednisone daily, Pembrolizumab was discontinued. The evolution was favorable. Conclusion: Rheumatologic manifestations secondary to immune checkpoint inhibitors have been less well described in the literature. Their management requires the collaboration of oncologists and rheumatologists to limit the diagnostic delay and for an appropriate therapeutic choice according to their severity.

Introduction: Venous thromboembolic disease (VTE) is a real public health problem worldwide. The practice guide produced periodically by the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) has become the international standard. However, thromboprophylaxis remains underused. Methodology: We carried out a descriptive cross-sectional study. The goals of that study were to evaluate the effectiveness of the practice of thromboprophylaxis in the various medical services of the Dakar Public Hospitals. Our investigation was conducted for two weeks in September 2017. Results: 160 patients were included (81 men and 79 women) in our series, with male predominance: sex ratio of 1.02. The average age was 48. Infectious pathologies were the predominant clinical pictures (35% of cases). The thromboembolic risk factors (RF) mainly found were represented by prolonged bed rest, followed by cardiovascular (RF): age greater than 60 years (31.2%), hypertension (8.8%), obesity (4.4%) and diabetes (3.8%). The thromboembolic RF of patients hospitalized in these medical services has been evaluated empirically. We noted a lack of use of the VTE risk assessment scores. 40.9% (n = 56) of patients received overall VTE prophylaxis, a rate corresponding to almost half of those at risk (51.4%). This result reflects an under-use of thromboprophylaxis in the Dakar medical environment and a low level of adherence by practicians to the guidelines on VTE prophylaxis. Conclusion: It is therefore recommended to develop a national strategy to assess patients at risk for VTE, as well as measures to educate and inform doctors about the appropriate forms of thromboprophylaxis.

Introduction: The occurrence of tuberculosis (TB) during the follow-up of Connective tissue diseases (CTD) is a particular situation often posing real diagnostic problems. This is an association described in the literature. Patients and methods: We conducted a retrospective and descriptive study at the internal medicine department of Aristide Le Dantec Hospital. The purpose of this study was to determine the treatment that patients followed for CTD and suffering from TB took before the occurrence of this one. Results: During a study period of 11 years and 6 months, 21 cases of TB were diagnosed in 602 cases of CTD (0.03%). The predominance was female with a sex ratio (H/F) of 0.6. The median age was 42 years old. The majority of cases originated from the Dakar region (13 patients or 61.9%) and 85.7% had previous follow-up exclusively in modern medicine and 21 cases (95%) received the CTD’s treatment. This consisted of prednisone (90.5%) combined with methotrexate (52.4%), azathioprine (23.8%) or cyclophosphamide (19.4%). The respective medians doses of these drugs were 12.5 mg per day for prednisone, 13.5 mg per week for methotrexate and 100 mg per day for azathioprine. The median duration of patient follow-up was 36 months. The cumulative dose of prednisone during this period was 23.6 g and that of methotrexate 2.25 g. CTD were dominated by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (57.1%), and systemic lupus (19%). Isolated cases of systemic scleroderma, primary Sjogren, SHARP syndrom, mixed connective tissue disease, and multiple autoimmune syndrom were noted. TB was localized in 95% of cases, readily bilateral and poorly disseminated. The respective medians diagnostic delays for systemic disease and TB were 21 months and 5 months. Tuberculin intradermal reaction was performed in 16 cases and was positive in 9 cases, sputum bacilli was performed in 19 cases and was positive in 15 cases. Conclusion: The association of TB and CTD was characterized by its rarity, its poorly disseminated character and its frequency on RA field.

Background: The morbidity and mortality of systemic lupus erythematosus are largely due to accelerated atherosclerosis. This is partly related to the high prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of our study was to determine the frequency of these factors in lupus patients compared to a control population in a department of internal medicine. Methods: We realized a case-control study in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus according to ACR criteria in 1997. Patients were matched by age and gender with controls subjects without autoimmune disease. We studied the frequency of traditional cardiovascular risk factors in both populations. The study was done in the department of internal medicine of Aristide Le Dantec teaching Hospital, in Senegal, during the period from August 2017 to December 2018. The statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 23.0 software and the level of significance was retained for a p-value < 0.05. Results: We recruited 100 subjects including 50 patients and 50 controls. The mean age was 33.5 ± 11.3 years in cases and 33.3 ± 11.3 years in controls. Dyslipidemia was significantly associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (p = 0.009). Levels of triglycerides (p < 0.001) and uricemia (p < 0.001) were significantly higher in patients. The level of HDL cholesterol (p = 0.028) was lower in cases. Thus, low HDL cholesterolemia (p = 0.001), hypertriglyceridemia (p < 0.001), and hyperuricemia (p = 0.043) were more common in the cases. Renal failure was associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (p < 0.001). Difference in LDL-cholesterol (p = 0.103), hypertension (p = 1) and metabolic syndrome (p = 1) between cases and controls was not significant. Obesity and overweight were predominant in controls (p = 0.028). Conclusion: Traditional cardiovascular risk factors including dyslipidemia and hyperuricemia were more common in patients. Similarly, renal failure was associated with lupus.

We report four observations of myasthenia gravis associated with other autoimmune diseases. Myasthenia gravis can be associated with all autoimmune diseases with a predominance of dysthyroidism. Among the autoimmune diseases associated with myasthenia gravis in our series, there were associations with hyperthyroidism, sjogren syndrome, Biermer’s disease. You would have to know how to look for another autoimmune disease in front of all myasthenia gravis by looking for the slightest sign of appeal that could point you towards another pathology.

Background The association of macrophage activation syndrome and primary Sjögren’s syndrome has been rarely reported in the literature. We report the first observation of this association in Africa, south of the Sahara, and we discuss the diagnosis and therapeutic challenge. Case presentation A 26-year-old Mauritanian and Berber woman was followed for primary Sjögren’s syndrome. After a voluntary cessation of her usual background treatment, she was admitted to our department for an outbreak of her illness. A clinical examination revealed anemic syndrome, peripheral polyarthritis, coughing rales at both pulmonary bases, and fever at 39.5 °C. On biologic examination, there was bicytopenia with anemia at 5.70 g/dl, lymphopenia at 796/mm3, a biological inflammatory syndrome with a sedimentation rate at 137 mm in the first hour, C-reactive protein at 97 mg/l, hyperferritinemia at 1778 mg/l (9 normal value), and hypergammaglobulinemia at 20.7 g/l of polyclonal appearance. The triglycerides were 1.95 g/l (1.4 normal value) and the lactate dehydrogenase level was 491 IU/l (1.5 normal value). Cytological examination of a medullary puncture revealed an image of hemophagocytosis. An infectious screening was negative. Thoracic computed tomography showed non-specific interstitial lung disease. A diagnosis of macrophage activation syndrome complicating primary Sjögren’s syndrome was selected with a probability of 97.2%, according to H-Score. The evolution was favorable under a treatment including etoposide (VP-16). Conclusion Macrophage activation syndrome is a rare entity, rarely reported during primary Sjögren’s syndrome. Its spontaneous evolution is invariably fatal. There is no consensus on therapeutic treatment. Etoposide is a therapeutic option especially in forms refractory to corticosteroid therapy.

La paralysie périodique hypokaliémique thyrotoxique est une complication rare de l'hyperthyroïdie. Plus souvent rapportée chez les sujets asiatiques, elle est peu décrite dans la population noire. Son mécanisme peu élucidé, serait lié à une hyper activité de la pompe Na+/K+. Nous présentons deux cas de cette affection survenant chez des sujets noirs africains. La présentation clinique était identique chez les deux malades. Elle était faite d´une paralysie musculaire proximal des membres inférieurs. Cette paralysie était associée à une hypokaliémie sévère et survenait chez des patientes suivies pour maladie de Basedow sans autre pathologie associée. L´évolution a été rapidement favorable sous supplémentation potassique. Le traitement de l´hyperthyroïdie a permis d´éviter les récidives. Ces observations montrent l´importance d´évoquer le diagnostic de paralysie périodique hypokaliémique thyrotoxique malgré la rareté dans la population noire africaine.

Fluorescent natural organic matter at tryptophan-like (TLF) and humic-like fluorescence (HLF) peaks is associated with the presence and enumeration of faecal indicator bacteria in groundwater. We hypothesise, however, that it is predominantly extracellular material that fluoresces at these wavelengths, not bacterial cells. We quantified total (unfiltered) and extracellular (filtered at s 0.51). No significant change in HLF following filtration across all data indicates these fluorophores are extracellular. Our results suggest that TLF and HLF are more mobile than faecal indicator bacteria and larger pathogens in groundwater, as the predominantly extracellular fluorophores are less prone to straining. Consequently, TLF/HLF are more precautionary indicators of microbial risks than faecal indicator bacteria in groundwater-derived drinking water.

Introduction: Antisynthetase syndrome is an original entity and rare autoimmune myositis and systemic disease, characterized clinically by a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations and the presence of autoantibodies directed against aminoacyl RNAt synthetases. We describe this disease in 03 Senegalese patients. Observations: The first patient was a 49-years-old black woman who was referred in our department after 06-months of follow-up for a misdiagnosis of tuberculosis. The clinical examination revealed polyarthritis, muscle weakness, chronic cough with crackling rales at the pulmonary bases, Raynaud phenomenon and dry syndrome. The second patient, a 21-years-old black woman, had polyarthritis and a progressive muscle weakness. The clinical examination showed also cutaneous signs including an erythema on the dorsal part of the fingers and the presence of the heliotrope erythema on the eyes. The last patient was a 52 years-old black woman. His clinical examination showed polyarthritis, muscle weakness and an appearance of mechanics’ hands. The creatinine phosphokinase was at 6.26 × N, 40.3 × N and 33.64 × N respectively in our patients. The chest computer tomography revealed an interstitial lung disease with a pattern of non-specific interstitial pneumonia in all three patients. The autoantibodies anti-Jo1 was also positive in all patients. The diagnosis of antisynthetase syndrome was retained with an overlap of antisynthetase and Sj?gren’s syndrome in the first observation. The evolution was favourable in our 03 observations with a therapeutic combination including Prednisone-Azathioprine and Kinesitherapy. Conclusion: Antisynthetase syndrome has been exceptionally reported in sub-Saharan Africa. It must be particularly mentioned in front of the triad: myositis, arthritis and interstitial lung disease. The identification of an auto-antibody directed against RNA t synthetases, particularly anti-Jo1, is essential for its diagnosis. Prognosis is related to interstitial lung involvement. The evolution has been favourable in our patients receiving Glucorticoid-Azathioprine combination therapy.

Introduction: The central, psychiatric and peripheral neurological manifestations of lupus are among the most severe visceral disorders and are grouped under the general term of “neuro-psychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus” (NPSLE). We conducted a cross-sectional observational study within our Department of Internal Medicine aimed at describing the clinical and evolutionary aspects of central neurological disorders of SLE, excluding lupus myelopathy. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective and observational cross-sectional study carried out from 1 January 2015 to 31 October 2017, in the Department of Internal Medicine of Aristide le Dantec University Hospital in Dakar (Senegal). All patients hospitalized during this period who met the 1997 ACR classification criteria of SLE and who presented with a central neuropsychiatric syndrome attributable to SLE (as defined by ACR 1999) were included. Patients with isolated headache, acute myelitis or secondary neurological involvement attributable to a toxic, metabolic, infectious or tumour-related cause were excluded from our study. Results: During the study period, 10 patients with neuropsychiatric lupus involvement were treated at our institution, including 9 women and 1 man; the median age was 29 years (20 - 55 years). Neurological involvement occurred during the course of lupus evolution in 9/10 cases. The median time to SLE evolution was 18 months (0 - 60 months). Neuropsychiatric syndromes as defined by the 1999 ACR were commonly associated and more than half of our patients had multiple neuropsychiatric syndromes. There were 5 cases of confusion syndrome and coma, 4 cases of seizure, 3 cases of psychosis, 2 cases of acute cerebrovascular disease and 1 case of aseptic meningitis. Among the extra-neurological manifestations of SLE, haematological and dermatological involvements were common. Renal involvement affected half of the patients. The other manifestations were: polyarthritis in 3 patients, serositis in 2 patients, 5 cases of fever, 4 cases of deterioration of the general state, and one isolated case of ophthalmological involvement. Therapeutically, 8 patients received a bolus of methylprednisolone and 3 patients received a bolus of cyclophosphamide. Oral corticosteroids and hydroxychloroquine were administered to all patients, and azathioprine was administered in 2 patients. The evolution was favorable in 4 patients, other 2 patients maintained neurological sequelae and 2 patients were transferred to intensive care. Death was recorded in 4 patients. Conclusion: Neuropsychiatric manifestations of lupus are rare and sometimes severe, potentially life-threatening. In our patients, we have identified some of the most severe neurological syndromes according to the ACR nomenclature. The neurological involvement is exceptionally revealing, as these syndromes are often associated and integrated into a systemic context of lupus. The evolution is rapidly unfavorable and requires early diagnosis and optimal management.

Introduction: Hemorrhage by ruptured cerebral aneurysm is a rare and severe complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We reported a case of this complication. Observation: A 24-year-old woman black Senegalese patient was followed in our department since for a systemic lupus with cutaneous and articular involvement and class III and V Lupus nephritis. She was readmitted for acute headache and early postprandial vomiting. The examination showed a meningeal syndrome, a subacute lupus eruption in the trunk, panniculitis and fever. The cerebral computer tomography showed spontaneous haemorrhage from saccular aneurysm. She was managed by immediate aneurysm clipping and medical treatment including bolus of methylprednisolone and immunosuppressive therapy was maintained. The outcome was favourable, but there was neurological damage such as brachial weakness. Conclusion: Hemorrhage by ruptured cerebral aneurysm is a rare and severe complication of SLE. The risk of damage is also significant. Immediate neurosurgical management and aggressive medical treatment may improve the prognosis.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with accelerated atherosclerosis and increasing cardiovascular risk which is recognized as a major cause of morbidity and death. Whether subclinical atherosclerosis has been evaluated by several methods, there are very limited data about Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. The aim of the present study was to compare this index, between SLE patients and controls. We conducted a case-control study in the Department of Internal Medicine of our institution during the period from August 1, 2017 to December 31, 2018. We included 100 subjects, including 50 SLE patients and 50 control cases. This included 44 women and 6 men in patients with an identical distribution in controls. The mean age was 33.5 ± 11.3 years for cases and 33.3 ± 11.3 years (p-value: 0.93) for controls subjects. There was higher frequency of cardiovascular risk factors such as dyslipidemia (p-value at 0.009), low level of serum HDL-cholesterol (p-value 0.001), hypertriglyceridemia (p-value at 0.000) and hyperuricemia (p-value at 0.000) in patients with SLE. Overweight/obesity was higher in controls subjects (p-value at 0.028). There was no statistically significant difference in the frequency of diabetes-mellitus, smoking and high blood pressure. The abnormally ABI was recorded in 19 patients with SLE (38%) and 8 controls (16%) with a p-value: 0.01 and odds ratio: 3.22. Eight patients (16%) and four controls (8%) had low ABI without significant difference (p-value: 0.11 but odds-ratio at 2.98). Eleven patients with SLE (22%) and five controls (10%) had high ABI (p-value: 0.05 and odds-ratio: 3.24). In patients with SLE only disease activity (cSLEDAI) at the inclusion of the study was correlated to abnormal ABI. Conclusion: This study showed an increasing prevalence of abnormal ABI in black African patients with SLE compared to controls with a correlation between disease activity and abnormal ABI.

Objective: Describe the design and implementation of an electronic medical record—E-INTMED—customized for Internal Medicine in Dakar, Senegal. Methodology: This study was carried out in a public teaching hospital in Dakar Senegal. It entailed collaboration between physicians specialized in various fields in Internal Medicine and Computer Scientists to carry out the compilation of data and their electronic transcription to produce a prototype which met users’ needs. Results: E-INTMED software is structured around several hierarchical tables allowing users to register and store all relevant patients’ information. E-INTMED structures patient’s data to provide a clear overview of their medical history and users’ activity performance. E-INTMED makes medical users’ life so much easier. Users can generate and send letters and prescriptions quickly and efficiently using the customized templates which they can modify or create new ones. In addition to these capabilities, all of the features expected in an Internal Medicine EHR are handled by E-INTMED, such as lab orders and results, mechanisms for continuity of care, embedding and access to images and documents, and so much more. E-INTMED provides medical students with a number of educational, practical and administrative advantages. Conclusion: Computerization of medical records has become a necessity today. Crossing the line to Electronic medical records could help to improve medical practice and medical training.

Introduction and background Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a condition caused by inappropriate stimulation of macrophage cells with hemophagocytosis. This paper aims to describe its diagnostic specifics and etiology and seeks to identify the factors that affect its prognosis in the black African adult population. Methods A retrospective multicentre study was carried out in three medical units in Senegal: Department of Internal Medicine at Pikine Teaching Hospital, and Department of Internal Medicine and Department of Nephrology at Aristide Le Dantec Teaching Hospital; the study covered the period from January 1, 2012 to March 30, 2015. This study included patients aged 18 years and older with a Hemophagocytosis Score (HScore) of ≥202 (with probabilities of acquired HLH of >90%). The data was obtained through medical records. Results In total, 26 patient files were included. The average age of the patients was 41 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 2.25:1. Fever and cytopenia were frequent. Other clinical signs included peripheral lymphadenopathy (69.2%), hepatomegaly (53.8%), splenomegaly (34.6%), neurological disorders (34.5%), and respiratory disorders (15.3%). Thrombocytosis was noted in three cases. Renal involvement was present in eight patients, with one case of collapsing glomerulopathy. The bone marrow aspirate revealed myelodysplasia in 12 patients. The dominant etiologies of HLH were hematological malignancies and infections. The mortality rate of HLH was 73%. Male gender and non-etiological targeted therapy were significantly associated with mortality. However, the age of

Introduction: Systemic diseases have been the subject of few studies in the African literature and have probably been under-estimated. The objective of our study was to specify their spectrum, their epidemiological aspects and diagnostic delay in Internal Medicine Departments of Dakar (Senegal). Material and Method: It was a multicentric retrospective and descriptive study regarding all systemic diseases during 119 months from 1st January 2005 to 30 November 2014 in 5 hospital centers down Dakar. Systemic diseases were retained according to their international consensus criteria. Results: During the studying period, 726 patients were included with 632 women and 94 men (sex ratio of 0.14). The average age was 43.76 years. Inflammatory rheumatoid family history was noted in 10.06% of cases. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was the predominant affection, recorded on 564 patients, isolated or associated with other systemic diseases. It was followed in a decreasing order, in the systemic auto-immune diseases sub-groupe, by systemic lupus (56 cases), Sjogren’s syndrome (32 cases), Systemic Sclerosis (26 cases), Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (21 cases), Undifferentiated connective tissue diseases (20 cases), Anti Phospholipid’s syndrome (6 cases) and Mixed connective tissue disease (6 cases). A diagnosis of systemic vasculitis was recorded in 19 patients. The other systemic affections were represented by systemic sarcoidosis (8 cases), Adult-onset Still’s disease (03 cases), amyloidosis (02 cases) and 02 cases of systemic syndrome associated to immunodeficiency. The mean diagnostic delay duration before the diagnostic was 3.46 years. Conclusion: Systemic diseases in internal medicine are characterized by their diversity, the clear predominance of RA, and significant diagnostic delay.

Sternoclavicular location of tuberculosis is a rare presentation of tuberculosis. We report a case of a 20-year-old female who presented with swelling in the front of the sternoclavicular joint. The diagnosis of sternoclavicular tuberculosis was made on the basis of computerized tomographic scan findings and microbiological examination of the aspirations of sternoclavicular joint. The bacteriological identification Mycobacterium tuberculosis was the key element in the diagnosis. The clinical outcome improved after effective anti-tuberculosis treatment. High level of clinical suspicion is needed to make the diagnosis of this rare presentation, which could be the telltale of an underlying pulmonary disease.

Parathroid Carcinoma is a rare cause of primary hyperparathyroidism (PPH). His diagnosis is a real challenge. We report an observation and discuss the diagnostic guidelines before surgery.A 31-year-old Senegalese woman was admitted to our department for the exploration of diffuse bone pain and multiple pathological fractures. Physical examination revealed a right lateral mass of the neck. Serum calcium level was 142.2 mg / l and serum parathyroid hormone 42 N. Ultrasound and cervical tomodensitometry showed a parathyroid mass compressing the thyroid and trachea. The extension assessment revealed osteolytic lesions and T4-T5 epiduritis evoking metastases. Surgery and histology were performed. According to the histopathology and clinical context, the tumor was identified as a parathyroid carcinoma.The preoperative evaluation of a patient with severe hypercalcemia and high PTH levels should include the possible diagnosis of parathyroid carcinoma, especially in symptomatic patients or in case of palpable neck mass.

La localisation cervicale de la tuberculose est rare et peut prendre l'apparence d'un cancer du col utérin. La présentation pauci-symptomatique et l'évolution insidieuse sont à l'origine d'un retard diagnostique. Les symptômes communément rencontrés sont non spécifiques, ce qui contribue au retard thérapeutique et majore le risque d'infertilité qui reste la séquelle quasi inéluctable. Nous rapportons un cas de tuberculose du col utérin dont le diagnostic de prime abord n'a pas été évident. En effet une patiente a été adressée à notre département pour suspicion de cancer du col utérin. Le diagnostic de suspicion de cancer a été alors retenu devant un col qui saignait au contact avec une tomodensitométrie abdominopelvienne en faveur d'une tumeur du col utérin. Une biopsie de confirmation histologique a été indiquée. On a retrouvé à l'examen anatomopathologique, un granulome épithélio-giganto-cellulaire avec nécrose caséeuse, compatible avec une tuberculose cervicale. La recherche d'un terrain était négative. Un traitement antituberculeux instauré a conduit à la guérison. Retenue souvent sur la base d'éléments présomptifs, la décision diagnostique et thérapeutique de tuberculose du col cervicale reconnait la place de l'examen anatomopathologique.

We report a rare association of seronegative myasthenia gravis and a Biermer’s anemia (or pernicious anemia). A Senegalese patient of 31 years has been followed for a vitamin B12 deficiency anemia, 12 months before his hospitalization in our department. She has been admitted for an intense and invalidating fatigability in spite of the correction of anemia, associated to a right ptosis. This clinical picture has electively been improved to the prostigmine test. The electromyography had revealed a compatible decrement with a diagnosis of myasthenia. The positivity of the antibodies anti gastric parietal cells and the twice negativity of the antibody against acetylcholine receptor (AChR) and muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) had permitted to deduct a diagnosis of seronegative myasthenia and Biermer’s anemia. The evolution was favorable under substitutive B12 vitamin therapy associated to corticotherapy and azathioprine. We insist on the research and the early treatment of a myasthenia, in a context of Biermer’s anemia, before suggestive clinical signs in spite of the negativity of the anti-Rach antibodies and anti-Musk.

Introduction: The Behcet’s disease is deemed to be scarce in Black Africa where data are still scattered. The purpose of our study is to describe the epidemiological, clinical, paraclinic and evolutive particularities of the patients whose presenting symptoms of the Behcet’s diseases were a venous thrombosis. Patients and Methods: It was a descriptive, multicenter, and cross-sectional study lasting 15 months. We brought together all the cases of the Behcet’s disease revealed by venous thrombosis. The diagnosis was based on clinical criteria of the international group of study of the Behcet’s disease in 2007. Results: We have grouped 10 revealing thrombosis cases of the Behcet’s diseases during our study period. The average age was 34. The average wait period between the appearances of the early symptoms and the diagnosis of the very disease was 30 months. The admission motives were the abdominal pain (2 cases), a thrombophlebitis of the lower limb (2 cases), headaches (1 case), coma (1 case), a thrombophlebitis of the upper limb (3 cases). The thrombotic symptoms were exclusively venous-located. The seats of the thrombosis were the vena cava superior in 30% of the cases, the vena cava inferior in 20% of the cases, the veins of the lower limb in 20% of the cases, the cerebral vein in 20% of the cases, and the auxiliary vein in 10% of the cases. The treatment of the deep venous thrombosis consisted in all the cases of an effective anticoagulation associated with the colchicine. Primarily, the corticotherapy with a high dose was used in all the patients. One of them in the comatose stage, manifesting both cerebral thrombophlebitis and aseptic meningitis, had died. Conclusion: Behcet’s disease is a disease of the young adult, but it must be evoked even in old age, with a view to appropriate management, in order to avoid the complications of the disease. Although it is rare in our regions, it should be sought in the etiological assessment of venous thrombosis whatever the location.

INTRODUCTION: An adenopathy is a pathological hypertrophy of a lymph node of various etiologies requiring a rigorous approach. Thus we proposed in this work to study the etiological particularities of patients admitted for adenopathy in order to identify their specificities. METHODS: This was an observational study of a transverse and descriptive type, which took place from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016 in the internal medicine department of the Aristide Le Dantec national hospital in Dakar. RESULTS: We identified 84 patients, consisted of 46 male and 38 female. The sex ratio was 1.2. The mean age was 37.5 years. The consultation period was on average 2 months with extremes of 1 month and 1 year. The mean hospital stay was 29. 2 days with extremes of 1 week and 2 months. The etiologies found were classified into 6 groups. Hemopathies (30.9%) were dominated by acute leukemia in 8 patients (9.52%), non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 9 patients (9.5%), Hodgkin’s disease in 5 patients (5.9%). Chronic lymphocytic leukemia was retained in 3 patients (3.5%) and Castleman disease in 1 patient. Systemic diseases (11.9%) were divided into lupus disease in 4 patients and rheumatoid arthritis in 4 patients, one case of Sj?gren’s syndrome and one case of sarcoidosis. Infections were very frequent in our study, found in 34 patients (40.4%). Tuberculosis was more frequent (27.3%). The association with HIV was noted in 4 patients. The other infections were pyogenic in 3 patients (3.5%), HIV in 6 patients (7.1%), Borrelia and toxoplasma in 1 patient respectively. Cancers (8.3%) were metastatic of primary tumors including the esophagus, lung, prostate, cavum, stomach, pancreas and breast, one case each. One patient presented lymphadenopathy with inguinal localization, the etiology of which was found to be thrombophlebitis of the right lower limb. The hystiocytic pathologies (3.5%) were all related to lymphohystiocytic activation syndrome (LHAS) secondary to tuberculosis in 2 patients and pyomyositis in 1 patient. The difficulties encountered were mainly the inaccessibility of certain complementary examinations and the delay in obtaining the results. CONCLUSION: Adenopathies are a very common reason for consultation in internal medicine. This study allowed us to draw up the etiological profile of adenopathies in our practice but also to identify the main difficulties which are among other things the inaccessibility of certain complementary examinations.

Introduction: We assess the severity of the rheumatoid arthritis in a Senegalese African black population. Patients and methods: It is a retrospective study achieved in the service of Internal Medicine of Aristide Le Dantec teaching hospital of Dakar between January 2005 and December 2016 in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. We specified for every patient the predictive data of severity of the rheumatoid arthritis. Results: Four hundred and three patients have been gathered (39 men and 364 women), with the mean age of 45.8 years. An active tobacco addiction was noticed in 10 patients. The diagnostic delay was on average of 72 months. Characteristic articular deformations were noticed in 215 patients (53.3%). They were correlated to male (p = 0.038), to age (p = 0.001) and to the activity of the rheumatoid arthritis (p = 0.0445). Systemic manifestations have been observed in 213 cases (52.9%), particularly anemia (50.8%). They were correlated to the anti-CCP antibodies (p = 0.047). The ESR was increased at the first hour in 84.4% of cases (median: 43 mm; extreme: 1and 160). CRP was elevated in 63.71% of cases (median of 12 mg/l; extreme: 1 and 384). The rheumatoid factor was positive in 57.6% of the cases. The anti-CCP antibodies were present in 89.2% of the cases. Articular erosions were objectified in all cases. A DAS 28 superior to 5.1 was noticed in 71% of cases. Conclusion: The rheumatoid arthritis was severe in our study.

Pernicious anemia in black people, is little known. Through this study we assess its diagnostic and evolutive aspects, and compare vitamin therapy B12 intramuscular and oral. Sixty six Biermer disease patients followed (January 2000-June 2014) at Internal Medicine Department of Aristide Le Dantec University Teaching Hospital (Senegal) are included. They were 26 men and 46 women (gender ratio: 0.65), who had a mean age of 47.84 years ± 15.25 years. Patients consulted for anemia (65 cases), acquired melanodermia (36 cases), gastrointestinal symptoms (30 cases), peripheral neuropathy (27 cases), venous thrombosis (2 cases), acute depression (1 case). Macrocytosis was observed in 52 cases. The mean hemoglobin in the vitamin B12 intramuscular group (52 patients) or oral group (14 patients) was the inclusion: 6.55 g/dl ± 3.12 g/dl vs 6.52 g/dl ± 2.18 g/dl (p = 0.04); and at day 8 treatment: 8.69 g/dl ± 2.49 g/dl vs 8.85 g/dl ± 1.9 g/dl (p = 0.43). Neurological and vascular presentations are unusual in contrast to macrocytic anemia. Oral administration of vitamin B12, simple and effective should be recommended in country with limited resources.

The lymph node is the revelation mode of several pathology. In tropical area, their etiology are dominated by tuberculosis and hemopathy. Some etiology such as histiocytosis are rarely mentioned. We report two cases of Rosai-Dorfman-Destombes disease. The first observation concerned a patient of 45 years without pathological antecedent, who had a inguinal and cervical tumoral lymph nodes. This evolved in a feverish poor general condition. Infection research was negative. Morphological explorations found deep lymph nodes. The excision biopsy examination concluded to Rosai-Dorfman-Destombes disease. The second observation concerned a patient of 40 years without pathological antecedent, who had a chronic non-inflammatory left supra-collarbone lymph node, associated with poor general condition and fever. X-ray showed mediastinal lymph nodes and ultra-sonography showed mesenteric lymph nodes, and latero-aortic lymph nodes. The examination of the excision biopsy was for Rosai Dorfman Destombes disease. The difficulty of diagnosis in our regions based on technical tray lack and our patients financial limits. Also this disease is rarely mentioned first. This is often the source of considerable diagnostic delay noted in our two patients and therefore the initiation of an untimely anti-tuberculosis treatment.

Summary of Lupus and Basedow Disease Association: The association lupus auto-immune thyroid disease is well known. Lupus is most commonly associated with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. As for Graves’ disease, it is most often associated with pernicious anaemia, vitiligo, idiopathic purpura and myasthenia gravis. To our knowledge, we report the first case of lupus associated with Graves’ disease in sub-Saharan Africa. Observation: A female patient of 52 years old has been followed since February 2010 for systemic lupus diagnosed on biological and immunological clinical ACR criteria. There was no skin ailment and kidneys involved. Combined treatment with high-dose corticosteroids early and rapid decrease and hydroxychloroquine was established with good clinical and biological evolution. One year later the patient developed thyrotoxicosis syndrome and vascular goitre without exophthalmos associated with the presence of antibodies anti receptor of TSH leading to the diagnosis of Graves’ disease. The patient has been treated with synthetic anti-thyroid and beta blocker allowing the regression of clinical symptoms and the normalization of thyroid hormones. Since then, the patient had not shown other signs of systemic affection. Conclusion: Systemic diseases are often associated with autoimmune thyreopathies. But association of lupus with Graves’ disease has been rarely described in the literature. One should always watch out for the occurrence of thyroid disease in front of any systemic disease and vice versa.

Kimura’s disease, common pathology in the East, responsible of chronic neck swelling is rarely reported in sub-Saharan Africa. We reported a case which was observed in the internal medicine department of Aristide Le Dantec hospital in Dakar. This was a young 15-year-old, with no particular disease history, who had recurrent non-inflammatory swelling next to the left zygomatic bone associated with itching. Biology revealed an inflammatory syndrom, eosinophilia and increased serum IgE. The histological examination of the mass biopsy concluded to Kimura disease. The corticosteroid has reduced the size of the mass within a few weeks of treatment. Kimura’s disease is unknown in our regions. His painless character and chronic evolution delay the time of diagnosis. This case proves the reality of this disease, which must find a place in the diagnosis approach of cervical swelling.

Background Malaria and tuberculosis are co-endemic in many developing countries. However their associations are rarely reported. Yet, it has been suggested that a pathological process may link the two diseases. Case presentation A 20-year-old female patient was admitted in the internal medicine service of Aristide Le Dantec Hospital for uncomplicated malaria. She was previously treated for autoimmune hemolytic anaemia using prednisone at 5 mg per day. Clinical examination showed swelling in front of the sternoclavicular joint. She presented with fever and headache. Thick smear from blood revealed trophozoites of P. falciparum at parasite density of 52,300 parasites/μl. The Ziehl–Neelsen stained smear showed the presence of acid-fast bacilli from the fluid puncture of the swelling. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was further isolated in culture. The diagnosis of falciparum malaria co-infection with sternoclavicular tuberculosis was posed. The patient was treated successfully using antimalarial drugs subsequently followed by multidrug antitubercular therapy. Conclusion Interactions between malaria and tuberculosis need to be largely and prospectively investigated and appropriate treatment should be undertaken.