[The influence of anthropometric factors, hemorheologic parameters and the level of arterial pressure on pulse wave velocity].

Unlabelled: The measurement of the pulse wave velocity (PWV) is widely used in clinical practice to assess the elasticity of the arterial system. It can be influenced by a number of factors. The present study was undertaken to assess the possible role of anthropometric factors, hemorheological parameters and blood pressure on this element.

[Treatment of Horton's disease].

716 cases collected from 9 recent studies published between 1981 and 1985 served as a basis for a general review of the current treatment of temporal arteritis. Steroid therapy was instituted as first intention in 652 cases, high dose treatment was continued for between 8 days and 3 months but the majority of authors started a reduction in the dosage from the 4th or 5th week. There was no overall agreement regarding the duration of maintenance therapy nor the criteria allowing its discontinuation, and withdrawal was not possible before the 25th month on average.

[Renal hydatid cyst. Contribution of radiology apropos of a case].

Hydatid disease, an infestation of gastrointestinal origin, is essentially localized in the two principal filters of the body, the liver and the lung (80% of localizations); 20% correspond to a random distribution (brain, bones, kidneys, etc.). The observation of a new case of rare renal infestation (1 to 5% of all hydatid cysts) constitutes an occasion to review the role of various radiological investigations in this disease.

[Plasma viscosity and erythrocyte filterability in borderline hypertension].

Hemorheological constants (plasma viscosimetry and erythrocyte filtrability index) were studied in 153 male subjects aged 19 to 23. Borderline hypertension defined by clinical criteria was found in 61 of these patients. Whilst there was no notable modification in plasma viscosity, by contrast there was a significant link between erythrometry and systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

[Computerized processing, using a Macintosh, of ambulatory arterial pressure measurements collected on a Spacelabs monitor].

Unlabelled: The use of the Spacelabs blood pressure recorder has given rise to processing programs running on Apple II and IBM PC computers. The authors have written in M.S.

[Nycthemeral blood pressure monitoring in the diagnosis of borderline arterial hypertension in young adults].

Purpose: Evaluating Blood Pressure Monitoring contribution at rest to the diagnosis and pathophysiology of borderline (BL) hypertension in the twenties.

Method: a nycthemeral blood pressure recording each 15 minute has been performed during the 48 first hours of hospitalisation on two groups of white twenties males with a Dinamap: 143 CONTROLS. Mean age: 21.

[Arthritis and palmoplantar pustulosis].

Pustulosis palmaris et plantaris may be associated with a number of articular diseases. Known to be present in Fiessinger-Leroy-Reiter syndrome and psoriasis arthropatica, this skin disease has been classified by Japanese authors as a new nosological entity: pustular osteo-arthritis. Pustulosis palmaris et plantaris seems to represent a meeting point for axial rheumatisms close to ankylozing spondylitis.

[Digital microembolism disclosing intracardiac thrombosis].

The authors report the observation of a 46 year old man with a case history of myocardial infarction at the age of 26 years, transient ischemic injury at 41 years of age, and in whom a focalised digital ischemic syndrome of microembolic nature led to the discovery of an intracardial thrombosis which was operated upon and progressed without complication. Bloody microembolisms of cardiac origin may be selectively revealed by acrosyndromes, the diagnostic elements of which are mentioned. They are poorly understood conditions.

[Major orofacial manifestations of Kaposi's disease. Apropos of a case report].

After observing a case of Kaposi disease with major oro-facial manifestations, the authors draw a certain number of considerations which lead them to express an etiopathogenic hypothesis concerning this disease. An autoimmune conflict might be produced, along with the emergence of an oncogene virus.

[Hemorrhage caused by rectal varices and portal hypertension].

Hemorrhage from rectal varices due to portal hypertension is an exceptional finding (23 cases published), and arises as a result of derivation of hepatic blood flow into the inferior mesenteric vein (superior hemorrhoidal vein) associated with rectal vein dysplasia. A case is reported in a known cirrhotic.

[Role of dapsone in the treatment of Horton's disease and polymyalgia rheumatica].

The authors report 8 cases of Horton's disease and/or polymyalgia rheumatica treated with prednisone with an initially favourable result. However, the disease progressed despite relatively high dose steroid therapy, complications of which contraindicated increasing the dosage and even necessitated rapid withdrawal of steroids. The association of dapsone 100 mg/day orally had a rapid favourable effect in all 8 cases.