Invasive fungal infection in patients with hematologic malignancies: epidemiology and prognostic factors.

Invasive fungal infections (IFI) are emerging opportunistic diseases that occur mainly in immunocompromised patients. Our study aimed to analyze the epidemiology of IFIs in patients with hematological malignancies, and the prognostic factors. Our retrospective study included patients hospitalized in the hematology department between January 1, 2010, and August 31, 2020, and in whom the diagnosis of IFI was made according to the EORTC criteria 2008.

Case Report: Tracheal infiltration with wheezing revealing Hodgkin's disease.

Hodgkin's disease with an initial tracheobronchial involvement is not common. The symptoms might be misleading, resulting in a diagnosis delay. We report the case of a 38-year-old woman with a one-month history of wheezing associated with a dry cough.

Synergistic Effect and Tolerance of Concurrent Radiotherapy and Lenalidomide Use in Relapsing Mantle Cell Lymphoma: A Case Report.

Introduction: Mantle cell lymphoma is an aggressive disease. Limited treatment options are available for refractory or relapsing presentation. We report the first case, to the best of our knowledge, of concurrent radiotherapy and lenalidomide use in this setting, focusing on its possible synergy and tolerance.

Impact of local treatment on survival from hematological malignancies causing spinal cord compression.

Background: Various hematological malignancies, including multiple myeloma, plasmacytoma, aggressive lymphoma, and indolent lymphoma, rarely result in spinal cord compression.

Methods: Here, we retrospectively analyzed 32 patients with multiple myeloma (50%), plasmacytoma (13%), aggressive lymphoma (28%), and indolent lymphoma (9%), resulting in spinal cord compression (2004 and 2016). Patients averaged 57 years of age and presented with the indolent onset of spinal cord compression (91% of cases) resulting mostly in motor deficits (69%).

Chronic myeloid leukemia patients in Tunisia: epidemiology and outcome in the imatinib era (a multicentric experience).

Data are limited in developing countries regarding the clinicopathologic features and response to therapy of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in the era of imatinib (IM). The objective of this study is to report on the clinicoepidemiologic features of CML in Tunisia, to evaluate the long-term outcome of patients in chronic (CP) or accelerated phase (AP) treated with IM 400 mg daily as frontline therapy, and to determine imatinib's efficacy and safety. From October 2002 to December 2014, 410 CML patients were treated with IM in six Tunisian departments of hematology.

[Cerebral actinomycosis pseudotumor: a case report].

Introduction: Cerebral actinomycosis is rare and difficult to diagnose.

Case Report: We report a case of a 45-year-old man hospitalized for seizures associated with fever and left hemiparesis. The white cell count and C-reactive protein were elevated.

Evaluation of serum VEGF levels in untreated erythrocytosis patients.

The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the involvement of angiogenesis in the etiopathogenesis of the different classes of erythrocytosis (polycythemia vera PV, idiopathic erythrocytosis and secondary erythrocytosis). The angiogenic activity was evaluated by the assessment of the serum VEGF levels in 78 untreated erythrocytosis patients and 21 healthy subjects. The results indicated that VEGF was overproduced in advanced and untreated PV patients and at less degree, in early PV, a subgroup of idiopathic erythrocytosis, thus confirming an increased angiogenic activity.

[Tunisian experience in the treatment of aggressive non Hodgkin's lymphoma in adults: about 337 patients].

From January 1997 to December 2005, 337 patients with aggressive non Hodgkin's lymphoma were treated with one of the two successive multicentric non randomized protocols established in Tunisia. The mean age was 53 years. Most patients had diffuse large cell lymphoma with B phenotype in 86% and T in 14%.

Single autologous stem-cell transplantation followed by maintenance therapy with thalidomide is superior to double autologous transplantation in multiple myeloma: results of a multicenter randomized clinical trial.

From April 2003 to December 2006, 195 patients with de novo symptomatic myeloma and younger than 60 years of age were randomly assigned to receive either tandem transplantation up front (arm A, n = 97) or one autologous stem-cell transplantation followed by a maintenance therapy with thalidomide (day + 90, 100 mg per day during 6 months) (arm B, n = 98). Patients included in arm B received a second transplant at disease progression. In both arms, autologous stem-cell transplantation was preceded by first-line therapy with thalidomide-dexamethasone and subsequent collection of peripheral blood stem cells with high-dose cyclophosphamide (4 g/m(2)) and granulocyte colony stimulating factor.

[Pneumocystis pneumonia in 3 non HIV patients].

We report 3 cases of pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) in 2 female and 1 male patients (mean age=50 years) free of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. One female patient presented with breast neoplasm the other with Wegener's granulomatosis, the male patient with lymphoma. All patients were taking immunosuppressive treatment at the time of infection.

[Legionnaire's disease complicated by acute renal failure due to rhabdomyolosis: a case report].

The infectious origin of non-traumatic rhabdomyolysis is rare (5% of cases). An elevated muscle enzyme level is often reported in the legionnaire's disease. We report the case of a 39-year-old male, with no previous medical history, admitted for renal failure (creatininemia=977 micromol/l) secondary to rhabdomyolysis and a twelve-day history of infectious syndrome with pneumonia in the left base.

[Cytomegalovirus myelitis in immunocompetent adult].

Introduction: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection occurs in 40 to 100% of general population. It is often asymptomatic in immunocompetent subject but may induce neurological syndromes such as encephalitis and myelitis.

Case Record: We reported a case of a 64-years-old woman immunocompetent, with acute proximal upper and lower limb weakness, paresthesias and two episodes of urinary retention.

[Neuro-psychiatric disorders revealed pernicious disease without anemia. About three cases].

In addition to an anemic syndrome, pernicious disease can also include neuropsychiatric manifestations. We report here three cases diagnosed as pernicious disease revealed by neuropsychiatric symptoms and even without anemia. Our patients were made of a man and two women with a mean age of 55 years.

[Association of systemic lupus erythematosis and myasthenia gravis. A new case report].

The association of myasthenia gravis (MG) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a quite rare one. We report here one case and try to discuss the physiopathologic mechanisms and also the clinical, evolutive and therapeutic features of this morbid association. It's the case of a woman of 43 years old followed in our department since 1999.