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Resume Propos Les difficultes de raisonnement clinique et de therapeutique dans le champ de la medecine generale ont conduit a la mise en place d’un service d’assistance telephonique assure par le service de medecine interne du centre hospitalier universitaire de Nantes. L’objectif principal de ce travail etait de decrire le profil des appelants, leurs motifs de recours ainsi que le type de reponses apportees. Methodes Une etude prospective, transversale, observationnelle et descriptive a ete conduite. Pour chaque appel etaient recueillis l’identification de l’appelant, sa specialite et son mode d’exercice, le motif d’appel et son adequation, la reponse apportee, le delai d’acces au service, le temps de gestion de l’appel, et si la reponse avait evite un passage aux urgences. Un rappel de chaque appelant permettait de recueillir les caracteristiques demographiques et professionnelles de l’appelant, et les donnees concernant l’appel et le service d’assistance. Resultats Soixante-trois journees ont ete evaluees et 276 appels identifies. Les 237 appelants identifies etaient majoritairement de sexe feminin (54 %, n = 93), avec un âge moyen de 46 ans, diplomes de la faculte de Nantes (65 %, n = 86), exercant en medecine generale ambulatoire (69 %, n = 164) en Loire-Atlantique (82 %, n = 176) depuis une duree moyenne de 15 ans. Les appels etaient principalement lies a des difficultes diagnostiques (61 %, n = 166) concernant des motifs cliniques (57 %, n = 155). Un avis telephonique seul etait le principal type de reponse (56 %, n = 147) et un passage aux urgences etait evite pour 17 % des appels. Conclusion Le fonctionnement du service d’assistance telephonique apparait en adequation avec ses missions et semble faciliter la prise en charge des patients plaidant pour la mise en place de structures similaires dans d’autres services. Des ameliorations doivent etre apportees en termes d’information, de disponibilite et de formation.

A patient presented diffuse pulmonary parenchymal micronodules. Tropheryma whipplei was detected in the saliva, a bronchial biopsy and bronchoalveolar fluid. PAS staining, immunohistochemistry and PCR for T. whipplei were negative in the duodenal biopsies. T. whipplei was isolated from the bronchoalveolar fluid, reinforcing its role as a respiratory pathogen.

Resume Introduction Une myelite transverse complique l’evolution d’un lupus erythemateux systemique (LES) dans moins de 5 % des cas. La myelite longitudinale, caracterisee par une atteinte inflammatoire d’au moins quatre segments medullaires, en est une forme particuliere. Observation Nous rapportons l’observation d’une patiente lupique de 31 ans, hospitalisee pour une paraparesie avec syndrome confusionnel. La ponction lombaire et l’IRM permettaient de retenir le diagnostic de myelite longitudinale. L’evolution etait rapidement favorable sous-corticotherapie. Conclusion Si de nombreuses observations de myelite transverse lupique ont ete rapportees dans la litterature, l’atteinte longitudinale est plus exceptionnelle. Elle est a evoquer devant une paraplegie, voire une tetraplegie, avec deficit sensitif et troubles vesicosphincteriens. En IRM, des hypersignaux T2 medullaires sont retrouves. Des sequelles neurologiques sont possibles. Les formes corticoresistantes sont habituellement traitees par cyclophosphamide.

Resume Introduction La face est une localisation frequente de la sclerose cutanee au cours de la sclerodermie systemique. Les principales manifestations stomatologiques comprennent la limitation de l’ouverture buccale, la xerostomie, l’atrophie cutanee, la nevralgie du V3. L’objectif de cette etude est de decrire les manifestations buccofaciales des patients sclerodermiques issus de notre cohorte. Methodes Entre mars et octobre 2006, une consultation de stomatologie a ete incluse dans le suivi systematique des patients sclerodermiques vus en consultation ou en hopital de jour de medecine interne et de dermatologie. Chaque patient a fait l’objet d’un recueil de donnees demographiques, cliniques et biologiques. Le recueil comportait la mesure de l’ouverture buccale, les tests au sucre et de Schirmer, l’analyse de l’orthopantomogramme, ainsi qu’une evaluation du retentissement des symptomes sur la qualite de vie par echelle visuelle analogique (EVA entre 0 et 10). Resultats Cette etude a inclus 30 patients (87 % de femmes, âge moyen 58,6 ± 13,6 ans). La sclerodermie systemique (cutanee limitee n = 20, diffuse n = 10) evoluait depuis huit ans en moyenne. Les manifestations buccofaciales identifiees etaient les suivantes : atrophie cutanee ( n = 28), rhagades peribuccales ( n = 25), telangiectasies ( n = 21), limitation de l’ouverture buccale ( n = 20), xerostomie ( n = 20), xerophtalmie ( n = 16), elargissement du ligament alveolo-dentaire ( n = 10), erosions osseuses ( n = 2), nevralgie du V3 ( n = 1). La xerostomie etait davantage percue comme genante (EVA moyenne = 3,8) que la limitation de l’ouverture buccale (EVA moyenne = 2,6). La xerostomie, decrite comme le second symptome le plus genant de la sclerodermie, etait significativement associee a la forme cutanee limitee ( p = 0,045) et a la presence d’anticorps anticentromere ( p = 0,002). La limitation de l’ouverture buccale etait correlee a l’atteinte œsophagienne ( p = 0,025). Conclusion Chez des patients sclerodermiques vus en consultation de stomatologie, les manifestations buccofaciales apparaissent frequentes et occasionnent une gene fonctionnelle majeure dominee par la limitation de l’ouverture buccale, souvent associee a une atteinte œsophagienne. La xerostomie est frequente et volontiers observee dans les formes limitees avec anticorps anticentromeres. L’evolution des anomalies radiologiques a type d’elargissement du ligament alveolo-dentaire (33 % des cas) ou d’osteolyse (7 %) est mal connue.

Resume Introduction La face est une localisation frequente de la sclerose cutanee au cours de la sclerodermie systemique. Les principales manifestations stomatologiques comprennent la limitation de l’ouverture buccale, la xerostomie, l’atrophie cutanee, la nevralgie du V3. L’objectif de cette etude est de decrire les manifestations buccofaciales des patients sclerodermiques issus de notre cohorte. Methodes Entre mars et octobre 2006, une consultation de stomatologie a ete incluse dans le suivi systematique des patients sclerodermiques vus en consultation ou en hopital de jour de medecine interne et de dermatologie. Chaque patient a fait l’objet d’un recueil de donnees demographiques, cliniques et biologiques. Le recueil comportait la mesure de l’ouverture buccale, les tests au sucre et de Schirmer, l’analyse de l’orthopantomogramme, ainsi qu’une evaluation du retentissement des symptomes sur la qualite de vie par echelle visuelle analogique (EVA entre 0 et 10). Resultats Cette etude a inclus 30 patients (87 % de femmes, âge moyen 58,6 ± 13,6 ans). La sclerodermie systemique (cutanee limitee n = 20, diffuse n = 10) evoluait depuis huit ans en moyenne. Les manifestations buccofaciales identifiees etaient les suivantes : atrophie cutanee (n = 28), rhagades peribuccales (n = 25), telangiectasies (n = 21), limitation de l’ouverture buccale (n = 20), xerostomie (n = 20), xerophtalmie (n = 16), elargissement du ligament alveolo-dentaire (n = 10), erosions osseuses (n = 2), nevralgie du V3 (n = 1). La xerostomie etait davantage percue comme genante (EVA moyenne = 3,8) que la limitation de l’ouverture buccale (EVA moyenne = 2,6). La xerostomie, decrite comme le second symptome le plus genant de la sclerodermie, etait significativement associee a la forme cutanee limitee (p = 0,045) et a la presence d’anticorps anticentromere (p = 0,002). La limitation de l’ouverture buccale etait correlee a l’atteinte œsophagienne (p = 0,025). Conclusion Chez des patients sclerodermiques vus en consultation de stomatologie, les manifestations buccofaciales apparaissent frequentes et occasionnent une gene fonctionnelle majeure dominee par la limitation de l’ouverture buccale, souvent associee a une atteinte œsophagienne. La xerostomie est frequente et volontiers observee dans les formes limitees avec anticorps anticentromeres. L’evolution des anomalies radiologiques a type d’elargissement du ligament alveolo-dentaire (33 % des cas) ou d’osteolyse (7 %) est mal connue.

Summary Objective This study used Doppler ultrasonography and computed tomographic angiography (CTA) to assess the prevalence of abdominal aortic lesions that suggested abdominal aortitis at diagnosis of giant-cell or temporal arteritis (GCA). We also evaluated the contribution of these 2 techniques to diagnosis. Methods This single-center study included patients admitted to the internal medicine department of the Nantes (France) University Hospital, between May 1999 and May 2002 at the time of their diagnosis with biopsy-proven GCA. In the 8 weeks after diagnosis, patients underwent a thorough workup, including the collection of clinical and laboratory data. Imaging tests for each patient included Doppler ultrasonography and a CTA scan of the abdominal aorta, looking for aneurysms, ectasia, and thickening of the aortic wall. Results This study included 20 patients (17 women, mean age 73.9 ± 7.2 years, mean CRP = 116 ± 75.9 mg/L). Doppler ultrasonography suggested aortitis in 8 cases (40%): 7 patients (35%) had a hypoechoic halo, 3 (15%) a small aneurysm (diameter Conclusion At the time of GCA diagnosis, both Doppler ultrasonography and CTA can detect morphological abnormalities of the abdominal aorta. Here they suggested asymptomatic abdominal aortitis in half the patients. Doppler ultrasonography appears more effective for detecting aortic aneurysms, while CTA seems helpful for the diagnosis of parietal thickening. The risk factors associated with abdominal aortitis in GCA remain to be identified.

Resume Propos L'atteinte inflammatoire des vaisseaux de gros calibre est retrouvee chez 10 a 20 % des patients ayant une maladie de Horton. L'atteinte aortique en represente la forme la plus grave avec des risques de rupture d'anevrisme et/ou de dissection aortique, pouvant compliquer ou reveler la maladie. L'aortite de la maladie de Horton concerne davantage l'aorte thoracique, mais l'atteinte abdominale est egalement possible. Il n'existe que peu de donnees sur l'evaluation de l'atteinte de l'aorte abdominale au stade initial de la maladie. Patients et methodes Il s'agit d'une etude prospective monocentrique qui a inclus consecutivement 30 patients au moment du diagnostic de maladie de Horton, prouvee par biopsie d'artere temporale, entre mai 1998 et mai 2002. Chaque patient a fait l'objet d'un recueil de donnees cliniques et biologiques puis a beneficie d'un examen systematique de l'aorte abdominale par echographie-doppler avec recherche d'anevrisme, d'ectasie, d'epaississements parietaux, et d'un halo hypoechogene periaortique. Resultats Parmi les 30 patients de cette serie (25 femmes et cinq hommes, âge moyen 68,5 ans), quatre (13 %) avaient un anevrisme de l'aorte abdominale de petite taille (23 a 27 mm de diametre), etendu sur 2 a 5,5 cm. Un epaississement parietal d'au moins 3 mm etait note chez 17 patients (68 %). Un halo hypoechogene periluminal, mesurant 4 a 8 mm etait note chez dix patients (33 %). Ce signe du halo etait note chez trois des quatre patients avec anevrisme. Conclusion L'atteinte aortique est une complication potentiellement grave de la maladie de Horton. La question du depistage systematique de cette complication reste posee. Notre etude montre que l'echographie-doppler permet de deceler des anomalies morphologiques de l'aorte abdominale des le stade initial de la maladie. Ces anomalies a type d'anevrisme debutant, d'epaississement parietal, et de halo periaortique, pourraient correspondre a des localisations inflammatoires de la maladie. Des etudes complementaires sont necessaires pour en preciser la specificite et la gravite potentielle.

Resume Propos. – Dans 10 a 15 % des cas, les hepatites granulomateuses sont idiopathiques. Quand elles sont symptomatiques, notamment avec une fievre prolongee, un traitement d'epreuve est discute. Le but de cette etude est de decrire les modalites de traitement d'epreuve que proposent les internistes francais devant une telle situation clinique. Methodes. – Il s'agit d'une enquete de pratique realisee au sein de la Societe nationale francaise de medecine interne (SNFMI), sous la forme d'un questionnaire anonyme a propos d'une observation clinique fictive d'hepatite granulomateuse idiopathique. Ce questionnaire a ete propose aux membres de la SNFMI lors des congres de juin et decembre 2004. La decision de mise en route d'un traitement ainsi que les modalites de ce traitement, etaient laissees a l'appreciation des internistes interroges. Resultats. – Trente-six internistes ont repondu a cette enquete. Dans la situation proposee, 89 % des internistes interroges instaurent un traitement d'epreuve. Dans 18 cas sur 36 (50 %), un traitement d'epreuve antituberculeux est propose en premiere intention (quadritherapie dans 11 cas). Dans sept cas (19 %), un traitement d'epreuve par prednisone serait prescrit, aux doses de 0,4 mg/kg par jour ( n = 1) et 1 mg/kg par jour ( n = 6). Pour sept internistes interroges (19 %), un traitement d'epreuve par cyclines serait indique, aux doses de 100 a 400 mg/j. La mediane de la duree de ce traitement d'epreuve serait de 28 jours (extremes = 8–252 jours). Les indicateurs d'efficacite de ce traitement sont : fievre (69 %), poids (59 %), taux de proteine C-reactive (59 %), et bilan hepatique (53 %). En cas d'echec du premier traitement d'epreuve, les praticiens interroges en prescrivent un deuxieme dans 69 % des cas : prednisone a la dose de 0,4 a 2 mg/kg par jour (72 %), traitement antituberculeux (16 %), cyclines 200 mg/j (12 %), d'une duree mediane de 28 jours. Sept des praticiens (19 %) ont propose de poursuivre une association de deux traitements d'epreuve. Discussion. – Devant une hepatite granulomateuse idiopathique, les internistes interroges proposent quatre options therapeutiques : l'abstention, le traitement antituberculeux, le traitement par cyclines, la corticotherapie. Le traitement antituberculeux de premiere intention est une proposition coherente du fait de la prevalence elevee de la tuberculose. Les donnees de la litterature concernant les traitements empiriques par corticoides ou par cyclines sont peu nombreuses. Les modalites precises de la conduite d'un traitement d'epreuve doivent etre validees. Conclusions. – La prise en charge des hepatites granulomateuses idiopathiques est difficile. Notre etude montre que les pratiques therapeutiques des internistes sont heterogenes. La proposition dominante est celle d'un traitement d'epreuve antituberculeux de premiere ligne, a evaluer au bout de quatre semaines, avec corticotherapie en cas d'echec (prednisone a la dose quotidienne de 1 mg/kg). A defaut de representer un consensus d'experts, notre etude jette les bases de l'elaboration de recommandations de pratique clinique face a une situation rare, complexe et heterogene, typiquement du ressort de la medecine interne.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the present study was to compare the silent form of giant cell arteritis (GCA) to the classic cephalic form of the disease. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study based on a chart review of 50 consecutive, biopsy-proven GCA, recorded at a department of internal medicine. We sought to distinguish a silent form, defined by a prolonged inflammatory syndrome or fever of unknown origin with the absence of cephalic signs, polymyalgia rheumatica, or large artery involvement, from an overt "classic" cranial temporal arteritis. RESULTS: The prevalence of the silent form of GCA was 46% in our study. Abnormal temporal arteries were more frequent in the cephalic group. The silent GCA group had higher C-reactive protein levels (p0.05), a higher platelet count (p0.05), and lower serum albumin (p0.05). There was no significant difference in temporal artery specimens in the two groups. Clinical relapses tended to be more frequent, and patients free of corticosteroids tended to be less frequent, in the cephalic group, though the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The silent and cephalic forms of GCA could have distinct clinical and biological patterns and different outcomes. The limitation of our study was its retrospective design. Further studies are required to determine if this distinction is useful in treating GCA patients.

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) are typically found in patients with necrotizing vasculitis, especially Wegener’s granulomatosis for cytoplasmic ANCA (cANCA), which recognizes protein...

Resume La maladie de Horton est une arterite inflammatoire diffuse, touchant preferentiellement les arteres temporales superficielles, mais pouvant se localiser aux arteres de plus gros calibre. Differentes techniques dˈexploration vasculaire peuvent apporter une aide dans le diagnostic ou le bilan dˈextension de cette affection. A visee diagnostique, les techniques dˈimagerie, principalement lˈechographie couplee au Doppler des arteres temporales superficielles, apparaissent moins performantes que la biopsie dˈartere temporale, qui reste un geste indispensable et bien tolere. Lˈexploration vasculaire des arteres de gros calibre permet de depister de frequentes stenoses parfois asymptomatiques, avec un tropisme preferentiel pour les axes axillo-sous claviers. Lˈaortite de Horton est une forme particulierement grave de la maladie, pouvant se compliquer de dissection ou de rupture dˈanevrisme aortique. Les techniques dˈimagerie pouvant conduire au diagnostic dˈaortite sont lˈechographie, la tomodensitometrie, l’imagerie par resonance magnetique (IRM) ou lˈaortographie. Le depistage des lesions aortiques nˈest pas codifie mais le scanner spirale de lˈaorte pourrait avoir un interet dans cette indication.

Giant cell arteritis is characterized by diffuse arterial inflammation that selectively involves the superficial temporal arteries but can occur in larger arteries. Various vascular investigations can assist in diagnosing and evaluating the extent of giant cell arteritis. Imaging techniques, mainly Doppler ultrasonography of the superficial temporal arteries, seem less reliable for the diagnosis than temporal artery biopsy, which is safe and remains indispensable. Investigations of larger arteries can detect asymptomatic stenotic lesions, which are common, particularly in the axillary and subclavian arteries. Involvement of the aorta can cause life-threatening dissection or aneurysmal rupture. Imaging techniques useful for diagnosing aortic involvement include ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and aortography. Although there is no standardized strategy for aortic lesion detection, helical computed tomography may be valuable.

The Gleich's syndrome is a rare disease that causes recurrent angioedema associated with major eosinophilia with good response to corticosteroids. We describe a 53-year-old man who presented with a Gleich's syndrome with a 6-year follow-up and propose a literature review. This case emphazises the favourable prognosis of this disease. In case of poor tolerance of corticosteroids, mepolizumab could be tested.

Objective To describe the clinical, biologic, and histologic features of temporal artery biopsy (TAB)–localized systemic necrotizing vasculitides (SNV), and to assess their frequency among elderly patients undergoing TAB for suspected giant cell (temporal) arteritis (GCA). Methods The frequency of a TAB localization of SNV was prospectively assessed in a multicenter study of elderly patients undergoing TAB for suspected GCA. All patients with SNV fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology criteria for a specific vasculitic syndrome and with evidence of vasculitis on TAB were included in a retrospective, descriptive study. Results SNV was diagnosed based on the TAB in 1.4% of the patients with suspected GCA and in 4.5% of the positive (inflamed) TAB specimens. We retrospectively selected 27 patients (18 female, 9 male; mean ± SD age 62 ± 15 years, range 22–79 years) with SNV and TAB-localized vasculitis. Only 2 of these patients were known to have SNV before TAB localization. Twenty-two patients (81%) had cephalic symptoms, including jaw claudication in 33%, clinically abnormal temporal arteries in 33%, and neuro-ophthalmologic symptoms in 11%. All patients had systemic symptoms suggestive of SNV and histologically proven NV in the TAB specimens (70%) or elsewhere in other biopsy sites (74%). Abnormal biologic results suggestive of SNV were present in 17 patients (63%). For 4 patients, the TAB-documented involvement led to initial misdiagnoses of GCA, and systemic manifestations that developed under steroid therapy revealed the correct diagnosis. The final diagnoses of the patients were polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) (n = 11), Churg-Strauss syndrome (n = 6), micropolyangiitis (n = 3), Wegener's granulomatosis (n = 3), hepatitis B virus–related PAN (n = 2), hepatitis C virus–related cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (n = 1), and rheumatoid vasculitis (n = 1). Conclusion TAB-localized SNV presents a major diagnostic dilemma because it can mimic GCA. Careful analysis of clinical, biologic, and histologic data should lead to the correct diagnosis and help guide the clinician's choice of appropriate therapy.

Resume Les accidents iatrogenes de cause medicamenteuse touchent preferentiellement les personnes âgees. Quatre-vingt-sept cas d'accidents iatrogenes medicamenteux a l'origine d'une hospitalisation chez des patients âges de 65 ans et plus sont analyses dans une etude retrospective sur 1 an representant 7,7 % des entrees des sujets âges de plus de 65 ans. Les principales manifestations sont 21 troubles ioniques, 19 pathologies digestives, 16 manifestations cardiaques, 13 troubles neurologiques, dix manifestations endocrinologiques et six hematologiques. Les principaux medicaments responsables sont les antihypertenseurs (36 %) dont les diuretiques (20,5 %), les psychotropes (24,8 %), les anti-inflammatoires (17,8 %). Le cout moyen par patient s'eleve a 20 602 francs. Le nombre eleve de medicaments quotidiens favorise le risque d'interactions medicamenteuses responsables d'accidents iatrogenes chez 12,6 % des patients dans cette etude.

Objective.Studies have shown that aortitis may be present in half the patients with recent-onset giant cell arteritis (GCA). We assessed whether aortitis at diagnosis affects longterm outcome in patients with GCA.Methods.We retrospectively analyzed the longterm outcome of a prospective cohort of 22 patients with biopsy-proven GCA who all had aortic computed tomography (CT) evaluation at the time of diagnosis of GCA between May 1998 and November 1999. Longterm outcome, especially vascular events such as aortic aneurysm, mortality, relapses of GCA, and requirement for steroids, was assessed in 2011 by chart review and patient/physician interviews.Results.At disease onset, 10/22 patients had aortitis on CT scan. Patients with and without aortitis had similar baseline characteristics, including cardiovascular risk profile. At the time of the study, 12/22 (57%) patients had died. Vascular causes of death were more frequent in patients with aortitis (5/7 vs 0/5; p = 0.02). A higher number of vascular events was noted in patients with aortitis (mean events per patient 1.33 vs 0.25; p = 0.009). Stroke was more frequent in patients with aortitis. These patients seemed to exhibit a more chronic or relapsing disease course, and they were less likely to completely discontinue steroid therapy (p = 0.009, log-rank test).Conclusion.Our study suggests for the first time that inflammatory aortic involvement present at onset of GCA could predict a more chronic/relapsing course of GCA, with higher steroid requirements and an increased risk for vascular events in the long term.

Cutaneous lesions are unusual during the course of multiple myeloma. In rare cases, multiple myeloma may be associated to skin involvement secondary to amyloidosis, cryoglobulinemia, and POEMS syndrome. Paraneoplastic skin involvement occurs preferentially during solid neoplasms. We report the case of an uncommon presentation of an IgA lambda multiple myeloma in a 58 year-old woman preceded by vascular purpura with cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LV) and intense deposit of IgA and kappa light chains in the dermal vessels. Purpura resolved after specific treatment of multiple myeloma and diagnosis of paraneoplastic purpura was asserted. We propose a brief review of the literature about skin involvement during multiple myeloma. This case highlights the necessity to search for MM when we are facing a LV.

Objective.Few studies have investigated the use of muscle biopsies (MB) for the diagnosis of systemic vasculitides (SV). We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic use of MB in this condition.Methods.We reviewed 310 consecutive MB performed in our center between 2000 and 2008 and correlated them with clinical data from the corresponding patients. Thirty-one of the patients, representing a total of 33 MB, were diagnosed with active SV. MB were considered positive when they demonstrated either necrotizing vasculitis or nonnecrotizing vasculitis.Results.Twenty-two of the 33 MB were positive (sensitivity of 66.7%), with necrotizing vasculitis and nonnecrotizing vasculitis being equally frequent. The SV were antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated in 22 patients (71%), and ANCA-negative in 9 cases (29%). Neither the type nor the clinical spectrum of the SV was predictive of MB positivity. None of the muscle symptoms (myalgias or biological rhabdomyolysis) were correlated with MB positivity. All the biopsies were performed uneventfully.Conclusion.The feasibility and positive predictive value of MB make it a valuable tool for ruling out a diagnosis of SV. Since no clinical signs could predict its positivity, MB should be considered in all suspected cases of SV. Unlike other biopsies, including kidney biopsy, MB had no prognostic value.

Objective The prevalence of the involvement of large vessels in giant cell arteritis (GCA) is 3–13%. Aortitis is the most serious complication of GCA. Computed tomodensitometric (CT) scan allows analysis of both the aortic wall and endoluminal part of the aorta. Therefore, we conducted a study using CT scan to analyze aortic abnormalities in patients with recent-onset GCA. Methods This prospective controlled study compared patients with biopsy-proven GCA with a matched control group based on sex, age, and cardiovascular risk factors. During the 4-week period following diagnosis of GCA, patients underwent an aortic CT scan. The aortic imaging results were blindly compared between both groups. Results From January 5, 1998 to January 11, 1999, 22 patients and 22 controls were screened by CT scan for aortic involvement. Thickening of the aortic wall was more frequent among patients than controls (45.4% versus 13.6%; P = 0.02). Aortic thickening (mean 3.3 mm) was located on the ascending part of the thoracic aorta in 22.7% of the patients, with no evidence of thickening in the controls (P = 0.05). Thickening of the abdominal aortic wall was noted in 27.3% of the patients and none of the controls (P = 0.02). Conclusion This study suggests that inflammatory aortic thickening, detected by CT scan, occurs frequently at the time of diagnosis of GCA, and that this condition predominantly occurs on the ascending part of the aorta.

Objective To describe characteristics and outcomes of vasculitides associated with malignancies. Methods The requirement for inclusion in this retrospective, 10-year study was development of vasculitis in patients with a progressing malignancy. Malignancies secondary to immunosuppressants used to treat vasculitis were excluded. The main characteristics of vasculitides were analyzed and compared according to the type of malignancy. Results Sixty patients were included (male/female sex ratio 2.53, mean age 62.4 years). Mean followup duration was 45.2 months. Vasculitides were cutaneous leukocytoclastic (45%), polyarteritis nodosa (36.7%), Wegener's granulomatosis (6.7%), microscopic polyangiitis (5%), and Henoch-Schonlein purpura (5%). Malignancies were distributed as follows: hematologic in 63.1%, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in 32.3%, lymphoid in 29.2%, and solid tumor in 36.9%. Vasculitides were diagnosed concurrently with malignancy in 38% of the cases. Manifestations of vasculitides were fever (41.7%), cutaneous involvement (78.3%), arthralgias (46.7%), peripheral neuropathy (31.7%), renal involvement (23.3%; 11.7% glomerulonephritis, 11.7% microaneurysms, 6.7% renal insufficiency), and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (20.4%). Vasculitis treatments were corticosteroids (78.3%) and immunosuppressant(s) (41.7%). Vasculitis was cured in 65% of patients, but 58.3% died, with 1 death secondary to vasculitis. Independent of subtype, patients with vasculitides associated with MDS more frequently had renal manifestations (P = 0.02) and steroid dependence (P = 0.04) and achieved complete remission less often (P = 0.04) than patients with vasculitides associated with other malignancies. Patients with vasculitides associated with a solid tumor more frequently had peripheral neurologic involvement (P = 0.05). Patients with vasculitides associated with lymphoid malignancy had less frequent arthralgias (P = 0.01) and renal involvement (P = 0.02). Conclusion Vasculitides occurring during malignancies present distinctive features according to the vasculitis subtype and nature of the malignancy.

This study used Doppler ultrasonography and computed tomographic angiography (CTA) to assess the prevalence of abdominal aortic lesions that suggested abdominal aortitis at diagnosis of giant-cell or temporal arteritis (GCA). We also evaluated the contribution of these 2 techniques to diagnosis.This single-center study included patients admitted to the internal medicine department of the Nantes (France) University Hospital, between May 1999 and May 2002 at the time of their diagnosis with biopsy-proven GCA. In the 8 weeks after diagnosis, patients underwent a thorough workup, including the collection of clinical and laboratory data. Imaging tests for each patient included Doppler ultrasonography and a CTA scan of the abdominal aorta, looking for aneurysms, ectasia, and thickening of the aortic wall.This study included 20 patients (17 women, mean age 73.9+/-7.2 years, mean CRP=116+/-75.9mg/L). Doppler ultrasonography suggested aortitis in 8 cases (40%): 7 patients (35%) had a hypoechoic halo, 3 (15%) a small aneurysm (diameter30mm), and 2 (10%) both. CTA scans of the aorta showed aortitis in 5 cases (25%), all with abnormal thickening of the aortic wall. CTA did not identify any aneurysms. Overall, abdominal aortitis was suspected in 10 patients (50%).At the time of GCA diagnosis, both Doppler ultrasonography and CTA can detect morphological abnormalities of the abdominal aorta. Here they suggested asymptomatic abdominal aortitis in half the patients. Doppler ultrasonography appears more effective for detecting aortic aneurysms, while CTA seems helpful for the diagnosis of parietal thickening. The risk factors associated with abdominal aortitis in GCA remain to be identified.

Digestive involvement in systemic sclerosis is frequent and serious, because it provides morbidity and fatality. From the pathophysiologic point of view, the first step could be Raynaud-associated neural dysfunction, followed by smooth muscle atrophy then irreversible muscle fibrosis. Oesophageal disorder is common with its main consequence: the occurrence of gastroesophageal reflux disease which could run into peptic erosive oesophagitis. Oesophageal manometry is the main diagnostic tool, gastrointestinal endoscopy helps to assess oesophageal mucosal inflammation and its possible sequels. Gastric involvement is rarely recognized but it is frequent in case of systematic investigation as well as small intestinal involvement which may provide a lot of complications: malabsorption, pseudoobstruction, bacterial overgrowth. At colonic level, anorectal involvement is frequent and leads to fecal incontinence and rectal prolapse. Reynold's syndrome is a special case which associates systemic sclerosis with primary biliary cirrhosis. The symptomatic treatments must be systematic and improve the disease's overall prognosis.

Background Aortitis is a potential life-threatening complication of GCA. Up to 30-50% of cases of GCA may have clinical or radiological signs of aortitis (1). Images of aortic involvement may be non symptomatic and their real outcome remain elusive. Objectives This study was conducted to describe the long-term outcome of patients with or without suspicion of aortitis at the time of diagnosis of GCA. Methods Twenty-two patients with newly diagnosed biopsy-proven GCA were explored in 1999 using aortic computed tomodensitometry (CT). Ten patients (group 1) had aortic inflammatory thickenings ≥3mm (n=7) and/or aneurism (n=3), whereas 12 patients had no aortitis (group 2). A retrospective study of these 2 groups was conducted in 2011. We contacted and questioned the patients, their family and general practitioner, and analysed each medical file. The following items were investigated: demographic data, cardio-vascular risk factors, total and cardio-vascular mortality, cardio-vascular events, GCA relapses, corticosteroids regimen. Satistics were made using R development Core Team (2009) software. Results This study included 17 women and 5 men (mean age at diagnosis = 73.7±7.2 y). Inflammatory parameters and cardio-vascular risk factors were similar in group 1 and 2. The mean follow-up was 94.8 months. Twelve years after diagnosis of GCA, the total mortality was 50% without differences between group 1 (7/10) and group 2 (5/12). However, the 12y cardio-vascular mortality was statistically higher in patients with initial suspicion of aortitis (50%), than in patients without (0%, p=0.029, Log rank test). In group 1, the causes of deaths of cardiovascular origin were: rupture of abdominal aortic aneurism (n=1), thoracic aortic dissection (n=1), stroke (n=1), heart failure (n=1), peripheral arterial disease (n=1). Twelve cardio-vascular events occured in 7/10 patients of group 1 whereas only 5 occured in 4/12 patients of group 2. Stroke were statistically more frequent in group 1 (40% vs 0% in group 2, p=0.03). Recurrent GCA relapses were noted in 5/10 patients of group 1, 0/12 patients of group 2 and this difference was statistically significant (p=0.01). Moreover, definitive steroid treatment discontinuation was more frequent in group 2 (n=2) than in group 1 (n=8, p Conclusions Despite the limitations due to its retrospective character and its small number of patients, our study suggests that GCA clinical course may differ according to initial CT signs of aortic involvement. CT suspicion of aortitis may lead to aortic fatal events and aortic thickenings deserve to be monitored. Initial aortic CT involvements seem to sign a particular form of GCA, with higher rate of cardio-vascular events and mortality, and with frequent relapses requiring longer steroids treatment. References Agard C, Barrier JH, Dupas B, et al. Arthritis Rheum 2008;59(5):670-6 Disclosure of Interest None Declared