Interstitial lung disease in anti-Jo-1 patients with antisynthetase syndrome.

Objective: To assess the outcome of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in anti-Jo-1 patients with antisynthetase syndrome, determine predictive variables of ILD deterioration in these patients, and compare features of anti-Jo-1 patients with and without ILD.

Methods: Ninety-one anti-Jo-1 patients were identified by medical records search in 4 medical centers. All of these patients had undergone pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans.

Rituximab therapy for refractory interstitial lung disease related to antisynthetase syndrome.

Objective: To report our experience using rituximab as therapy for refractory antisynthetase syndrome (ASS)-associated interstitial lung disease.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the medical records of 7 ASS patients with refractory interstitial lung disease, which had previously failed to respond to prednisone and/or other cytotoxic drugs. All 7 patients received rituximab therapy, i.

Long-term follow-up of upper and lower extremity vasculitis related to giant cell arteritis: a series of 36 patients.

We conducted this retrospective study to determine the prevalence of giant cell arteritis (GCA) in patients exhibiting nonatherosclerotic upper and/or lower extremity arterial involvement and to evaluate the clinical features and long-term outcome of those patients.From January 1997 to March 2008, 36 consecutive patients in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Rouen medical center received a diagnosis of symptomatic upper/lower extremity vasculitis related to GCA. In the 36 patients, upper/lower extremity vasculitis preceded the initial GCA diagnosis in 7 patients (19.

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.

[Renal sarcoidosis: a series of five patients].

Introduction: Renal involvement is uncommon in sarcoidosis, occurring in less than 5% of the patients. Diagnostic delay should be minimal to improve the outcome.

Methods: From 1996 to 2009, 78 patients were seen for sarcoidosis in the Department of Internal Medicine of Rouen University hospital.

[Traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the superficial temporal artery: a case report].

We report a case of traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the superficial temporal artery (STA) in an 87-year-old man. Surgical treatment was undertaken after failure of ultrasound-guided compression. In this report, we review briefly the pathogenic mechanism, presentation, diagnosis and treatment of this type of aneurysm.

[Infectious aortic aneurysms. A case series of 10 patients].

Purpose: Infectious aortic aneurysms are rare, being responsible of less than 3% of aortic aneurysms. In this study, we report the clinical characteristics and the outcome of patients presenting with infectious aortic aneurysms in an internal medicine unit.

Methods: Diagnosis of infection-related aortic aneurysm was obtained using: computed tomographic scan; and blood cultures, cultures and molecular biology testing of aortic wall and intra-aneurismal thrombus.

[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.

[Pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis: an often fortuitous diagnosis. A case report].

Introduction: Lymphangioleiomyomatosis is an uncommon disorder of unknown origin, which exclusively occurs in women of reproductive age. The condition is characterized by proliferation of immature smooth muscle cells throughout the lungs, i.e.

[Thrombophlebitis and cancer: evaluation of the diagnostic value of abdominal ultrasonography in the acute phase of a deep venous thrombosis. Report of 148 consecutive examinations].

If an association between venous thromboembolism and malignancy is now well established, there is no consensus about the investigations which should be performed to detect occult malignancy after deep vein thrombosis episode. We investigated the usefulness of systematic abdomino-pelvic ultrasonography in 148 consecutive patients older than 40 with deep vein thrombosis and or pulmonary embolism. Ultrasonography was abnormal in 8 patients (5.

[Lumbar interapophyseal septic arthritis. Apropos of 3 cases].

Septic arthritis of spinal apophyseal joint, seldom described, mainly concern the lumbar spine. We report three cases. Inflammatory lesions of the paravertebral soft tissues were associated in each case; an epidural abscess was present twice.

Effects of the low-osmolality contrast medium ioversol (Optiray) on renal function in a geriatric population.

Purpose: To assess the incidence of nephrotoxicity following i.v. injection of the iodinated low-osmolality contrast medium ioversol 300 (Optiray) in a geriatric population compared with a control group aged under 60 years, neither group presenting any associated risk factors.

Computed tomography of the normal sternoclavicular joint.

Objective: The objective of this work was to establish a reference population for the study of the sternoclavicular joint (SCJ).

Design: A prospective study of the SCJ was carried out by high-resolution computed tomography (CT). CT images were read by two radiologists and two rheumatologists using a pre-established grid (27 elementary signs).

[Late manifestation of congenital intrahepatic portacaval shunt in a healthy liver].

We report the discovery of a congenital intrahepatic portocaval shunt during heart failure in a 68 year-old woman, without cirrhosis or portal hypertension. She had hepatic encephalopathy. Only 17 such cases have been reported.