[Giant cell arteritis: Role of color-duplex ultrasound].

Giant cell arteritis is the most common primary vasculitis of large-vessel occurring in subjects over 50 years of age. Many imaging techniques has been evaluated to improve the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis. Among these imaging techniques, ultrasound has shown good performances to detect inflammatory involvement of the temporal arteries as well as branches of the aorta.

Digital ischemia associated with cancer: results from a cohort study.

Digital ischemia associated with cancer (DIAC) is increasing in frequency and recent reports have suggested the concept of paraneoplastic manifestation. The aims of this study were to characterize the clinical presentation of DIAC and identify clinical features that could lead physicians to diagnose underlying cancer.From January 2004 to December 2011, 100 patients were hospitalized in the Department of Internal Medicine at Rouen University Hospital, France for a first episode of DI.

Detection of microcirculatory impairment by transcutaneous oxymetry monitoring during hemodialysis: an observational study.

Background: Little is known about the effects of intermittent hemodialysis on microcirculatory perfusion. The aim of this study is to assess the effects of hemodialysis on microvascular perfusion using transcutaneous oxymetry (TCPO2).

Methods: In this observational study, hourly TCPO2 measurements were performed during hemodialysis sessions.

[MYH9 syndrome and auto-immune haemolytic anaemia: an unrelated association?].

Introduction: The MYH9 syndrome is a group of rare autosomal dominant platelet disorders associating in most of the cases a macrothrombocytopenia and characteristic leukocyte inclusions. Clinical features may include renal, visual, or hearing impairment. The bleeding tendency is usually moderate.

[Upper limb deep venous thrombosis].

Deep venous thrombosis of the upper limb has become recently more common because of the increasing use of central venous catheters. Diagnosis is sometimes difficult. Main causes are pacemaker and central venous catheter related thrombosis.

Internal jugular vein thrombosis: outcome and risk factors.

Introduction: The aims of this study were to analyse the characteristics of patients with internal jugular venous thrombosis. We compared the characteristics of patients with internal jugular venous thrombosis with those of patients exhibiting upper extremity deep venous thrombosis (UEDVT) without internal jugular vein involvement.

Patients: From 1998 to 2007, 1948 consecutive patients were referred to our Department of Internal Medicine for deep venous thrombosis.

[Anticoagulation clinics for outpatients: a 5-year experience].

Introduction: Anticoagulation clinics and computerized management of chronic oral anticoagulation increase the time spent in the therapeutic range with both mortality and morbidity reduction. Usually, anticoagulation clinics are hospital-based medical care centers. We report the five-year results from a general medicine center (CSCTA) using a computer-assisted management.

[A double-faced myocarditis: Whipple's disease or sarcoidosis?].

Introduction: Whipple's disease is a systemic infection that may mimic sarcoidosis in its initial presentation. The heart involvement is not uncommon and consists generally in an endocarditis. Myocarditis is less common and is usually accompanied by impairment of heart conduction.

Long-term follow-up of hypothenar hammer syndrome: a series of 47 patients.

Hypothenar hammer syndrome (HHS) is an uncommon form of secondary Raynaud phenomenon, occurring mainly in subjects who use the hypothenar part of the hand as a hammer; the hook of the hamate strikes the superficial palmar branch of the ulnar artery in the Guyon space, leading to occlusion and/or aneurysm of the ulnar artery. In patients with HHS, such injuries of the palmar ulnar artery may lead to severe vascular insufficiency in the hand with occlusion of digital artery. To date, only a few series have analyzed the long-term outcome of patients with HHS.

Early atheroma in primary and secondary antiphospholipid syndrome: an intrinsic finding.

Objectives: The relationship between atherosclerosis and the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is unclear. This study compared intima-media thickness (IMT), arterial stiffness, and presence of plaques in APS patients and controls to evaluate the risk of atherosclerosis in this patient population. The study also explored the relationship between these parameters and cardiovascular risk factors.

[Helicobacter pylori prevalence in Raynaud's disease].

Purpose: Recent studies have suggested that the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori may be more frequent in patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon (PRP) compared to healthy subjects. These data prompted us to conduct this prospective study, in order to assess the prevalence of H. pylori infection in a large series of patients with PRP.

[FDG PET and its impact on patient's management in oncology].

FDG, a radioactive glucose analog for PET imaging, requires some precautions: it should be used only in patients with glycemia < 7mmol/L, fasting for at least 6 h but well hydrated, and after pregnancy is ruled out. FDG-PET has many indications in oncology. Its clinical utility has been documented in some circumstances, listed as routine indications in the European Principal Characteristics Summary and the French Standards, Options, and Recommendations.

[Infectious or inflammatory aortitis? One case report].

Introduction: The infectious or inflammatory nature of an aortitis is difficult to assert because the microbiological results are often negative. The development of an aneurysm under treatment is rare, but requires a change in the therapeutic strategy and the etiologic diagnosis needs to be discussed again.

Exegesis: We report the case of a 69-year-old woman treated by corticotherapy for an aortitis thought to be inflammatory, who required emergency surgery when a dissected aneurysm appeared.

[Aortic involvement in giant cell arteritis. A prospective follow-up of 11 patients using computed tomography].

Purpose: To determine clinical and radiological features, using computed tomography (CT-scan) in patients with aortic involvement related to giant cell arteritis (GCA), and to assess both clinical and CT-scan outcome after therapy institution.

Methods: Aortic involvement due to GCA was investigated in all patients, using CT-scan at diagnosis, and at 3, 6 and 12 months follow-up after therapy institution.

Results: The 11 consecutive patients consisted of 4 men and 7 women with mean age of 64.

[Association of sarcoidosis and Takayasu's arteritis: an additional case report].

Introduction: Takayasu arteritis has been described in association with various auto-immune disorders (mainly inflammatory digestive tract diseases). However, only few cases of Takayasu arteritis associated with sarcoidosis have been reported, raising the question of an association by chance.

Exegesis: We report the case of a 26-year old woman with a 1-year history of sarcoidosis, who presented with a right painful upper limb, revealing inflammatory humeral, axillary and subclavian arteritis related to Takayasu arteritis.