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ABSTRACT: Primary or secondary cardiac lymphomas are not frequent. Their clinical expression is unusual and the diagnosis is rarely made during the patient's life. Our case report, which is a slow atrial flutter with a pericardial effusion, is an uncommon discovery mode for a malignant lymphoma. Their diagnosis and the mechanism of the arythmia were allowed by non-invasive cardiac imagery (transesophageal echography and magnetic resonance imaging), which showed a tumour-like infiltration of the right atrium, of the right ventricle posterior wall, and of the atrioventricular junction. The diagnosis of a high grade B cell malignant non-hodgkin lymphoma, involving the bone marrow, the liver and the kidneys was made by biopsies of lymph nodes, histological analysis of the bone marrow, and a body CT scan. Throughout the first chemotherapy sequence, we observed a spontaneous return to a sinusal rhythm, and the cardiac MRI showed a regression of the myocardial infiltration and of the pericardial effusion; moreover, the patient's state improved and the peripheral lymph nodes shrank back to a normal size. However, the patient passed away, due to neurological complications 13 months after the diagnosis of lymphoma, without recurrence of cardiac involvement.
Annales de cardiologie et d'angeiologie 04/2009; 58(2):117-21. · 0.21 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The authors report the case of a 27 years old athletic patient, without any antecedents, presenting with a recent complete atrioventricular (AV block, disclosed by an effort dyspnoea and syncope. The electrophysiological exploration showed a nodal AV block. The magnetic resonance imaging revealed the existence of a septal hypersignal in T1 mode enhanced after Gadolinium injection, and left ventricular function normality. It also revealed the existence of a pulmonary parenchyma infiltrate, confirmed by thoracic scanner. Pathological examination of transbronchial biopsies showed noncaseating granuloma, consistent with sarcoidosis. Programmed electrical stimulation induced no ventricular arrhythmia. A dual chamber pace-maker was implanted because of the AV block permanence and the poor clinical tolerance, associated with steroid therapy (prednisolone 1 mg/kg/j). After a 18 months follow-up, the patient remains asymptomatic, and the 12-lead ECG shows a normal AV conduction. The authors discuss the different aetiologies of AVB, and emphasize to realize an exhaustive assessment in young adults. The cardiac localization disclosing sarcoïdosis and the complete AV block disappearance under therapy make that observation original. The occurrence of a complete AV block complicating sarcoidosis poses a management and prognosis problem.
Annales de Cardiologie et d Angéiologie 05/2007; 56(2):104-6. · 0.28 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is a little known cause of chest pain in young adults. The prognosis is invariably good.
The authors report two cases of spontaneous pneumomediastinum with different aetiologies developing in young adults. The first occurred during strenuous sport and the second during an asthma attack.
The discussion stresses the frequency of this condition in young men, its pathogenesis and natural history. In particular the authors draw on the current scientific data to explain the absence of predisposing factors and the extreme rarity of relapse of this benign disorder. Poor acquaintance with this clinical entity may lead to unnecessary diagnostic and therapeutic actions. The authors suggest a guideline for the management of this disorder.
Revue des Maladies Respiratoires 03/2006; 23(1 Pt 1):79-82. · 0.59 Impact Factor
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Revue de Pneumologie Clinique 07/2004; 60(3):180-1. · 0.24 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Cardiac sarcoidosis is responsible for 50% of deaths which mainly occur by ventricular arrhythmia or conduction disorders. The aim of this study is to determine the value of cardiac explorations for an early diagnosis of these localizations, which are often underestimated and can cause sudden death.
We prospectively studied 24 consecutive patients, aged 33 +/-10 years, presenting with a sarcoidosis. Nine (38%) were asymptomatic and had no treatment. Fifteen (62%) were symptomatic: two (8%) had only pulmonary lesions and 13 (54%) had a polyvisceral disease. Seven (30%) were treated. Thirteen (54%) had an elevation of the disease activity markers. The patients had a 12-lead ECG, an echocardiography (TTE), a Holter ECG and a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) at inclusion.
Realization rate was: 100% ECG (24), 83% TTE (20), 75% Holter ECG (18) and 62% MRI (15). Only two patients (8%) had a cardiac involvement. The first one had a polyvisceral sarcoidosis presenting with a hypokinetic cardiomyopathy and a complete AV block and the second one presented with a complete AV block which revealed sarcoidosis. Both patients had a MRI septal hypersignal and disease activity markers. They were treated with cardiac stimulation and corticotherapy: the first patient died suddenly, the second one remains asymptomatic after a 14 months follow-up. The 22 patients (92%) with normal explorations did not present any cardiac involvement during the follow-up (3.7 +/-1.6 years).
This study confirms the rarity of cardiac involvement in sarcoidosis. An exhaustive cardiac check-up does not seem very productive even for patients presenting with polyvisceral disease or an elevation of disease markers. A systematic 12-lead ECG seems to be the most useful and simple tool for the early diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis. The other explorations will be realized according to clinical data. The absence of abnormal findings seems to have a good negative predictive value allowing to rule out a cardiac problem.
La Revue de Médecine Interne 06/2004; 25(5):357-62. · 0.61 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The authors report a case of acute eosinophilic myocarditis (AEM) with acute left ventricular failure preceded by an acute hypoxaemic eosinophilic pneumonia. The diagnosis of myocarditis was confirmed histologically. That of the eosinophilic pneumonia was base on the abundance of eosinophilic polynuclear cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage and appearances on computerised tomography. The pulmonary lesions rapidly and definitely regressed and complete recovery of left ventricular function was obtained by long-term steroid therapy. This favourable outcome has been sustained after 11 years of follow-up despite the presence of chronic mild hypereosinophilia. In the absence of specific clinical and paraclinical data, the diagnosis of AEM was based on the demonstration of an inflammatory infiltrate rich in polynuclear eosinophils and necrotic myocardial lesions. This histological signature may be obtained in vivo by endomyocardial biopsy, the indication of which must be rapidly recognised. Only the instauration of early and intensive steroid therapy seems to influence the outcome which is frequently poor. The synthesis of the anatomo-clinical and experimental data suggests a myocardial aggression by cytotoxic effects of granular protein components released during activation of polynuclear eosinophils. The role of AEM is discussed in the different aspects of cardiac hypereosinophilia.
Archives des maladies du coeur et des vaisseaux 02/2004; 97(1):61-6. · 0.40 Impact Factor
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Revue de Pneumologie Clinique 10/2003; 59(4):216-9. · 0.24 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The purpose of this report is to describe the results of a prospective study on pulmonary histoplasmosis in French Guiana. Chest radiographs were performed in 232 French legionnaires returning from a two-year assignment in French Guiana. Further examinations were performed in a total of 8 subjects in whom chest radiographs demonstrated the presence of nodules in the lungs. No evidence of cancer or tuberculosis was found. Findings confirmed histoplasmomas in two cases and demonstrated probable histoplasmosis nodules in 6 cases including three involving calcified lesions. Five of these eight patients had been in high-risk rain forest environments. Pulmonary histoplasmosis should be considered as a possible diagnosis in subjects returning from endemic zones. Confirmation depends on a spectrum of findings. Calcified nodules require only radiographic surveillance with follow-up at six months. Non-calcified nodules require further investigation including CT-scan, bronchoscopy, and serological tests. Surgical biopsy may be necessary to achieve exact histological and mycological identification of the lesion and is recommended in smokers.
Médecine tropicale: revue du Corps de santé colonial 02/2002; 62(1):33-8.
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ABSTRACT: Miliary tuberculosis is rare and requires rapid diagnosis. Outcome is fatal in 25% of the cases. Since radiography and laboratory tests contribute little to early diagnosis, clinical findings are primordial. Antituberculosis antibiotic therapy is frequently started before microbiological confirmation of the diagnosis.
Revue de Pneumologie Clinique 01/2001; 56(6):375-8. · 0.24 Impact Factor
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Revue de Pneumologie Clinique 07/2000; 56(3):215-6. · 0.24 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A patient treated with cyclophosphamide for breast cancer developed functional and clinicoradiological signs of sub-acute diffuse interstitial pneumopathy. Bronchoalveolar lavage revealed lymphocyte alveolitis. Differential diagnoses were excluded and the course was favorable after cyclophosphamide withdrawal. The bronchoalveolar lavage results obtained initially and at follow-up and two previous lavages reported in the literature demonstrate the importance of this examination in the diagnosis of drug-induced pneumopathy.
Revue de Pneumologie Clinique 05/1999; 55(2):100-4. · 0.24 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A 50-year-old man developed a bronchogenic cyst complicated by hemorrhage. A complete radiographic chest work-up provided a reliable diagnostic approach. Bronchogenic cysts are usually asymptomatic incidental discoveries. Chest ultrasonography confirms the cystic nature of the mediastinal mass. Computed tomography scan and especially magnetic resonance imaging further support the diagnosis and are helpful for guiding surgery. Surgery is required because of the unpredictable risk of hemorrhage, infection or enlargement.
Revue de Pneumologie Clinique 04/1999; 55(1):47-50. · 0.24 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: American pulmonary histoplasmosis is a deep mycosis imported from North America caused by the inhalation of Histoplasma capsulatum. It is endemic in several countries throughout the world and occasional cases have been reported in France, mainly imported from out lying French territories. The most frequent clinical forms observed in immunocompetent subjects are generally benign or silent and usually limited to a fortuitously discovered pulmonary nodule. Massive exposure may lead to an acute primary invasion producing a miliary aspect. Chronic forms simulating tuberculosis are exceptional. Inversely, opportunistic histoplasmosis in AIDS patients can produce an severe multiple organ disease. Ideally, mycelium should be isolated for diagnosis, a task which is easier in disseminated or operated nodular forms. More often, the epidemiological context, clinical and radiological features, the elimination of differential diagnoses and, retrospectively, serology are sufficient for diagnosis. The clinical course is usually favorable. Itraconazole is the treatment of choice for symptomatic or complicated forms.
Revue de Pneumologie Clinique 01/1999; 54(6):311-20. · 0.24 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Due to the increasingly widespread development of international exchanges, physicians, particularly pneumologists, working in metropolitan France may encounter patients with respiratory signs who have travelled or lived in tropical zones. In such cases, history taking, physical examination, imaging, bacteriological and parasitological explorations, pathology and immunology are all precious tools for diagnosis. All possible tropical diseases should be entertained, taking into account the geographical setting and the patient's lifestyle. The pneumologist must not forget that these exotic tropical diseases remain uncommon compared with cosmopolitan causes of lung disease: bacterial infections, tuberculosis, cancer.
Revue de Pneumologie Clinique 01/1999; 54(6):399-403. · 0.24 Impact Factor
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La Presse Médicale 12/1998; 27(35):1790. · 0.67 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We report a case of dual parathyroid adenoma associated with an ectopic gland in the right latero-esophageal region of the mediastinum revealed by asymptomatic hypercalcemia. Because of this dual localization and the lack of MBI uptake on the mediastinal scintigram, thoracotomy was used as the first line approach instead of cervicotomy.
Revue de Pneumologie Clinique 11/1998; 54(5):275-8. · 0.24 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Extrapulmonary manifestations of Legionella pneumophilia infection are infrequent. Cardiac involvement can occur. We observed an unusual case which led to acute pericarditis and reviewed the literature on cardiac involvement, particularly pericarditis, in patients which legionellosis.
Revue de Pneumologie Clinique 08/1998; 54(3):152-5. · 0.24 Impact Factor
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Journal de Radiologie 03/1998; 79(2):157-8. · 0.42 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Eosinophilic lung disease comprises a diverse group of disorders characterized by eosinophilic pulmonary infiltration in association with other inflammatory cells. In patients with respiratory symptoms, usually associated with radiographically documented infiltrates, blood eosinophilia is a helpful but inconsistent diagnostic finding. Currently diagnosis is confirmed more often by bronchoalveolar lavage than by lung biopsy. Possible etiologies include parasites, mycotic agents, drugs, and angeitis. Remaining cases are classified as idiopathic eosinophilic lung disease including Carrington's disease, idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome, acute eosinophilic pneumonia, and Loeffler's syndrome. Mild eosinophilia is also a possible finding of bronchoalveolar lavage in several other disorders but the role of eosinophils is less important. The prognosis and treatment of eosinophilic lung disease varies depending on etiology. Corticosteroids are frequently used but treatment modalities also depend on etiology.
Médecine tropicale: revue du Corps de santé colonial 02/1998; 58(4 Suppl):447-53.
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ABSTRACT: Idiopathic chronic eosinophilic pneumonia is a rare disease first described by Carrington 30 years ago. The cause is unknown. As illustrated by the case described in this report, most cases occur in asthmatic patients in the fifth decade of life. Cardinal features are respiratory symptoms, altered general status, laboratory evidence of inflammation, blood eosinophilia in most cases, and x-ray images showing the presence of infiltrates in both lungs. Diagnosis can be confirmed by detection of eosinophils in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid. Extrapulmonary involvement is uncommon and is suggestive of Churg and Strauss syndrome. In atypical cases, diagnosis requires histological study demonstrating infiltration of interstitial tissue and alveolar spaces. Differential diagnosis can be difficult since several disorders identified within the last 10 years are nosologically similar, e.g. acute eosinophilic pneumonia. In many cases, diagnosis is based on response to corticosteroid treatment which is highly effective on idiopathic chronic eosinophilic pneumonia. Frequent recurrence leads to corticosteroid dependence in 20 to 30% of cases.
Médecine tropicale: revue du Corps de santé colonial 02/1998; 58(4 Suppl):455-8.
