Spondyloarthrites au Sénégal: Étude de 350 Observations

Objective: Spondyloarthritis is classically considered rare in subSaharan Africa where the majority of the population is considered to be HLAB27 negative. Thus, this series allows us to describe the characteristics of SpA in one Senegalese hospital. Patients and methods: Retrospective and descriptive study carried out in the Rheumatology Department of the University Hospital of Dakar. The diagnosis of SpA was retained in accordance with the ASAS and modified New York criteria. For each patient, the following data were collected: age, sex, time to diagnosis, type of SpA, nature of joint involvement: axial, peripheral, extra-articular manifestations, HLA B27 phenotyping. Results: 350 observations of SpA were collected in 228 women (65%) with a mean age of 47 ± 13. The average time to diagnosis was 11 years. AS was the most common: 71.2%, reactive arthritis 8.3%, psoriatic arthritis 6%, IBD 2.6%, SAPHO and undifferentiated forms 2.7%. HLA B 27 phenotyping was performed in 213 patients, 115 patients were HLA B27 positive (50.7%). Treatment was based on nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (47.71%). Conclusion: SpA is growing in a Senegalese hospital. They hit especially the middle aged woman of 46 years old. AS is the most common form of SpA. HLA B27 is present in about in 1 out of 2 patients.Objectif: Les spondyloarthrites sont classiquement considérées comme rares en Afrique sub-saharienne où la majorité de la population est considérée comme HLA-B27 négatif. L’objectif de notre étude était de décrire les caractéristiques des SpA en milieu hospitalier sénégalais. Patients et méthode: Ils’agissait d’une étude rétrospective réalisée dans le service de rhumatologie du CHU Le Dantec de Dakar. Le diagnostic de SpA était retenu en accord avec les critères d’ASAS et de New York modifié. Pour chaque patient, les données suivantes ont été collectées : l’âge, le sexe, le délai au diagnostic, le type de SpA, la nature de l’atteinte articulaire : axiale, périphérique, manifestations extra-articulaires, le phénotypage HLA B27. Résultats: Avaient été colligées 350 observations de SpA chez 228 femmes (65 %) d’âges moyen de 47 ±13 ans. Le délai moyen au diagnostic était de 11 ans. La SA était la plus fréquente : 71,2 %, ARé 8,3 %, le RP 6 %, les MICI 2,6 %, le SAPHO et les formes indifférenciées 2,7 %. Le phénotypage HLA B 27 était réalisé chez 213 patients, 115 patients étaient HLA B27 positifs (50,7%). Le traitement était basé sur les AINS (47,71%). Conclusion : Les SpA sont en croissance en milieu hospitalier Sénégalais. Elles sont surtout fréquentes chez la femme. La SA est la SpA la plus fréquente et l’antigène HLA B27 est présente chez environ 1 patient sur 2

Estimating the contribution of key populations towards the spread of <scp>HIV</scp> in Dakar, Senegal

Introduction: Key populations including female sex workers (FSW) and men who have sex with men (MSM) bear a disproportionate burden of HIV. However, the role of focusing prevention efforts on these groups for reducing a country’s HIV epidemic is debated. We estimate the extent to which HIV transmission among FSW and MSM contributes to overall HIV transmission in Dakar, Senegal, using a dynamic assessment of the population attributable fraction (PAF). Methods: A dynamic transmission model of HIV among FSW, their clients, MSM and the lower-risk adult population was parameterized and calibrated within a Bayesian framework using setting-specific demographic, behavioural, HIV epidemiological and antiretroviral treatment (ART) coverage data for 1985 to 2015. We used the model to estimate the 10-year PAF of commercial sex between FSW and their clients, and sex between men, to overall HIV transmission (defined as the percentage of new infections prevented when these modes of transmission are removed). In addition, we estimated the prevention benefits associated with historical increases in condom use and ART uptake, and impact of further increases in prevention and treatment. Results: The model projections suggest that unprotected sex between men contributed to 42% (2.5 to 97.5th percentile range 24 to 59%) of transmissions between 1995 and 2005, increasing to 64% (37 to 79%) from 2015 to 2025. The 10-year PAF of commercial sex is smaller, diminishing from 21% (7 to 39%) in 1995 to 14% (5 to 35%) in 2015. Without ART, 49% (32 to 71%) more HIV infections would have occurred since 2000, when ART was initiated, whereas without condom use since 1985, 67% (27 to 179%) more HIV infections would have occurred, and the overall HIV prevalence would have been 60% (29 to 211%) greater than what it is now. Further large decreases in HIV incidence (68%) can be achieved by scaling up ART in MSM to 74% coverage and reducing their susceptibility to HIV by two-thirds through any prevention modality. Conclusions: Unprotected sex between men may be an important contributor to HIV transmission in Dakar, due to suboptimal coverage of evidence-informed interventions. Although existing interventions have effectively reduced HIV transmission among adults, it is crucial that further strategies address the unmet need among MSM

Minimizing disruptions to immunization services in the context of COVID-19 in Senegal: lessons learnt and policy options

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the vulnerability of essential health services globally and caused major disruptions, particularly in immunization services. In 2020, an estimated two thirds of 105 countries reported disruptions to routine facility-based and/or outreach immunization services (WHO, 2020b). Within the same year, an estimated 23 million children missed out on basic childhood vaccinations, accounting for the highest number since 2009 and representing a significant increase from 2019 (UNICEF, 2021; WHO, 2021a). Some settings experienced an upsurge in deadly diseases, such as measles outbreaks observed in Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire between late 2020 and early 2021 (WHO, 2022a). The indirect effects of the pandemic on routine immunization services will likely lead to increased illness and death for many years, particularly among vulnerable populations such as women and children

Evaluation of the pulse wave velocity in African rheumatoid arthritis subjects

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease with often fatal vascular events. In addition to traditional cardiovascular risk factors, disease-specific elements contribute to this cardiovascular mortality. The aim of this study was to assess arterial stiffness in rheumatoid arthritis and to determine the factors involved.Methods: We have recruited the black African patients followed in rheumatology and had rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis. Only patients between 18 and 60 years and meeting the American College of Rheumatology criteria were included. All controls were healthy. We evaluated the propagation velocity of the pulse wave finger-toe (PWVft) measured by the pOpmètre®.Results: Present study shows that the PWVft was significantly elevated in over half of patients (55.10%). Besides, the mean patients PWVft was significantly higher than that of the control (respectively 9.40±0.51 and 7.22±0.33 p=0.001). In the patients, no factor was significantly involved in the arterial stiffness, but cons in the control group, the PWVft was significantly correlated with age (p=0.023 and r=0.55).Conclusions: Rheumatoid arthritis patients had higher PWVft compared to controls. Due to the importance of its cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, arthritis requires a regular monitoring element as arterial stiffness, which is currently a major vascular parameter monitoring

Incidence and determinants of new AIDS-defining illnesses after HAART initiation in a Senegalese cohort

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although a dramatic decrease in AIDS progression has been observed after Highly Active Anti Retroviral Therapy (HAART) in both low- and high-resource settings, few data support that fact in low-resource settings.</p> <p>This study describes the incidence of AIDS-defining illnesses (ADI) after HAART initiation and analyzes their risk factors in a low-resource setting. A focus was put on CD4 cell counts and viral load measurements.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>404 HIV-1-infected Senegalese adult patients were enrolled in a prospective observational cohort and data censored as of April 2008. A Poisson regression was used to model the incidence of ADIs over two periods and to assess its association with baseline variables, current CD4, current viral load, CD4 response, and virological response.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>ADI incidence declined from 20.5 ADIs per 100 person-years, 95% CI = [16.3;25.8] during the first year to 4.3, 95% CI = [2.3;8.1] during the fourth year but increased afterwards. Before 42 months, the decrease was greater in patients with clinical stage CDC-C at baseline and with a viral load remaining below 1000 cp/mL but was uniform across CD4 strata (p = 0.1). After 42 months, 293 patients were still at risk. The current CD4 and viral load were associated with ADI incidence (decrease of 21% per 50 CD4/mm³and of 61% for patients with a viral load < 1000 cp/mL).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>During the first four years, a uniform decline of ADI incidence was observed even in patients with low CD4-cell counts at HAART initiation as long as the viral load remained undetectable. An increase was noted later in patients with immunologic and virological failures but also in patients with only virological failure.</p