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Biomedical subjects

P Toussaint

Publications and source records attributed to P Toussaint.

51 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Gallium67 scintigraphy in the diagnosis of glomerulonephritis.

To assess the role of gallium-67 (67Ga) scintigraphy in the diagnosis of glomerular diseases, we performed the following technique in 39 patients with glomerulonephritis (GN) who underwent simultaneous Ga scan and histologic examination. 72 hours after IV injection of Ga citrate (2 mCi), isotopic kidney activity (normally undetectable) was compared to the activity of the liver and quantified as follows: less than (1+), equal to (2+) or greater than (3+) that of the liver. Renal biopsy was performed at the same time to evaluate the type of the GN and to quantify interstitial cellular infiltration. Proteinuria, serum albumin and creatinine were measured. There was a significant correlation between the level of 67Ga kidney activity and the degree of proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia. On the contrary, no correlation was found between isotopic activity and the degree of renal failure or the degree of interstitial cellular infiltration. Increased kidney 67Ga activity did not appear characteristic of a specific histologic type of GN. Increased glomerular permeability may alter renal uptake of Ga; therefore 67Ga scanning does not appear to contribute significantly to the diagnosis and the follow-up of either primary or secondary GN.

Biopsy↗

[Pulmonary metastasis of meningioma of the falx cerebri].

We report the case of a woman who had been operated upon for a recurrent meningioma of the falx cerebri which, 22 years after it was discovered, produced pulmonary metastases. Metastases from meningiomas are extremely rare; they affect the lungs in 60% of the cases or, less frequently, the liver or lymph nodes. The factors predictive of secondary dissemination are the site of the tumour, the quality of excision, the histological type (haemangiopericytic meningioma) and the presence of cell necrosis, hypercellularity and strong mitotic activity.

Adult↗

An unusual cause of burn injury: skin exposure to monochloroacetic acid.

Chemical burns can be complicated by the absorption of some of the toxic products through the skin and a subsequent systemic toxicity. We report here the case of a 3-year-old child who was accidentally exposed to monochloroacetic acid and sent to our burn unit with second-degree burn wounds. Regardless of the entry route, monochloroacetic is rapidly and very effectively absorbed and induces a severe toxic syndrome. In the case of skin resorption, the severity of the intoxication is directly related to the area of the contaminated skin contaminated with fatalities when the exposure level reaches more than 5% of the body surface. In the case of a chemical burn with a suspicion of systemic toxicity or in case of burn with an unusual product, the correct attitude is to contact a poison information center, to immediately wash the exposed skin, and to start treating the systemic toxicity as soon as possible. The availability of specific antidotes in the case of unusual poisoning can be a problem.

Accidents↗

Ophthalmologic aspects of pituitary apoplexy.

Pituitary apoplexy is an acute hemorragic or ischemic infarction in pituitary adenomas. The incidence in our series was 6.5%. Clinical diagnosis can often be difficult as the patient is frequently unaware of an existing adenoma (seven out of 11 patients). Therefore, the classic features of the syndrome must be known. They include sudden headaches, impairment of consciousness, endocrinological disturbances and sudden visual deterioration or oculomotor palsies. In this retrospective study from 1987 to 1994 of 14 patients presenting pituitary apoplexy there were 11 cases with visual abnormalities. Oculomotor palsies were more common (82%) than chiasmatic impairment (54.5%) and often revealed pituitary adenoma. CT-Scan and MRI examinations led to diagnosis, and emergency treatment (surgical removal by rhinoseptal approach or less often medical treatment) generally led to a regression of visual disturbances.

Adolescent↗

[Erysipelas in the young population of a military hospital].

INTRODUCTION: Erysipelas usually affects either elderly patients or patients with predisposing factors. We studied erysipelas in a young healthy military population. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of patients, less than 30 years old, admitted to the Hôpital d'Instruction des Armées Robert Picqué between 1991 and 1997 was performed. RESULTS: Eighty-one patients were studied, 80 were men, mean age was 21.4 years. Localization of erysipelas was: face: 2; leg: 74. Facilitating factors were: portal of entry in 100 p. 100; venous insufficiency in 1 case; alcohol abuse in 1 case. Anti-inflammatory agents had been given at the beginning of treatment in 32.1 p. 100 cases. 7.1 p. 100 patients had a recurrence.. Complications were: abscess in 8 cases and bursitis in 1 case. No facilitating factor was detected. The course was not related with bacterial findings. No thrombo-embolic complication was observed. DISCUSSION: In a young healthy population, erysipelas is not a rare infection. Face is an exceptional localization of erysipelas in relation to older population. The main risk factor for developing this infection is local factor found in 100 p. 100 cases but general factors as repeated hikes, care access, long standing could also be incriminated. Use of anti-inflammatory agents is frequent but role of anti-inflammatory agents in developing complications is not clear. Complications are rare and benign except for frequence of recurrences while the good health.

Abscess↗

[Intracranial hemorrhages associated with oral anticoagulant therapy. Analysis of 38 cases].

The major risk of oral anticoagulant therapy is haemorrhage potentially affecting all organs. Bleeding in the central nervous system is a rare but severe complication of anticoagulant therapy. This study aimed to analyse a series of intracranial haemorrhages. This series from the Regional Pharmacovigilance Center of Amiens included spontaneously reported and retrospectively collected cases from January 1999 to December 2000. During this period, 38 cases of intracranial bleeding possibly related to oral anticoagulant administration were reported; 19 women and 19 men, median age 69.5 (29 to 87) years. In 34% of the cases, patients died and in 18% neurologic sequelae were still present at the time of the evaluation. In 21 cases (62%), the INR (International Normalized Ratio) was higher than the therapeutic range recommended for the indication. Among the most frequent risk factors, hypertension and recent minor trauma are highlighted in this series. In 17 cases, oral anticoagulants were associated with potentially potentiating drugs. Mental status changes or headache were prominent early symptoms which had often been present for days. Our data confirm that anticoagulant-associated intracranial haemorrhages are not rare, can be severe, potentially fatal and are probably underestimated by physicians. The fact that more than 50% of patients in this series were overanticoagulated at the time of bleeding suggests that many cases of intracranial haemorrhage could be prevented by improved anticoagulation control. Epidemiological studies are needed in order to prospectively evaluate the incidence of this type of complication and its avoidance. The value of anticoagulation clinics can be discussed.

Adult↗

[Non-discal sciatica secondary to a cystic lesion of the posterior longitudinal ligament. 10 cases].

Cyst of the longitudinal posterior ligament of the spine is a new entity described here on the basis of 10 cases. This is a lesion, perhaps of traumatic origin, which occurs in young, athletic subjects suffering from classical lumbosciatica. Computerized tomography showed an image resembling nucleus pulposus herniation. In one of our cases magnetic resonance imaging provided the preoperative diagnosis. Following surgery the outcome was favourable, with less postoperative complications than with discal herniation. The macroscopic and histological findings were the same in all cases, making the anatomico-pathological diagnosis easy.

Adult↗