Première observation malienne d’histoplasmose africaine disséminée à prédominance osseuse chez un enfant VIH négatif. Revue de la littérature

Endemic deep fungal infections are still under recognised diseases in daily medical practice because of their rarity in sub-Saharan area. The African histoplasmosis Histoplasma capsulatum var. duboisii (H. capsulatum duboisii) is the most frequent variety described in Mali through limited studies in adult patients, since the first case described by Catanei and Kervran (1945). Our case report is a disseminated histoplasmosis in a young 6-year-old african child. He was male and rural. The infectious localisations were mucosae, skin, lymphnodes, urinary tract and bones. Evolution has been marred by an episode of worsening of symptoms despite initial clinical improvement with ketoconazole. After healing of mucocutaneous lesions, we noticed a limitation of ampliation of both wrists. The radiographic bone lesions were lysis of the right lower end of the right radius and cubitus and fragmentation of cubital epiphysis of the same arm. Lacunes were present on the fifth right finger in metatarsus and phalanx; lacune and blowing aspect of the second phalanx of the left third finger was noted. The disseminated form of African histoplasmosis may occur in HIV-negative subject. The prognosis depends on early diagnosis and administration of appropriate and well-conducted therapy

La cryptococcose neuro-méningée au Mali

Cryptococcal meningitis is the most common fatal central nervous system infection in AIDS patients in Sub-Saharan Africa. The purpose of this prospective study conducted from March 2003 to February 2004 in the internal medicine and infectious diseases departments of the Point G University Hospital Center was to investigate the clinical, prognostic and epidemiological profile of Cryptococcus neoformans infection in patients hospitalized for brain and meningeale infection (BMI). Diagnosis of neuromeningeal cryptococcosis (NMC) was based on positive identification of Cryptococcus by direct exam of the cebrospinal fluid (CSF) after India ink staining and/or culture on Sabouraud medium without actidione. During the study period, a total of 569 patients were hospitalized including 235 (41.3%) with HIV infection. Overall C. neoformans was identified in 14 patients. Median patient age was 39 ± 8 years. There was a male preponderance with a sex ratio of 1.8 (9 men/5 women). Patients with BMI were HIV positive in 85.7% of cases (n=12) and HIV-negative in 14.3% (n=2). The overall and HIV-specific prevalence of BMI was 2.5% and 5.1% respectively. The CD4 lymphocyte count was between 1 and 49 cells/mm3 in 64.3% of cases. The main clinical symptoms were cephalea in 85.7% of cases, altered consciousness in 50% and nausea/vomiting in 35.7%. Neurological manifestations (hemiparesis and cranial nerve deficit) were noted in 14.3%. HIV infection is the main purveyor of NMC in Mali. The actual incidence of cryptococcosis is unclear due to the poor sensitivity of diagnostic techniques. This study highlights diagnostic difficulties related to clinical polymorphism and poor technical facilities. Agglutination testing of blood and CSF is recommended, but mortality remains

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell leukemia in a black Malian

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a rare, clinically aggressive hematologic malignancy, that most commonly manifests as cutaneous lesions. A 19-year-old Malian female was admitted to the Unit of Medicine of Hopital du Mali with anemia, fever, weakness, and weight loss. On physical examination she was wasted, pale, febrile (37.4°C), and had inguinal and axillary lymphadenopathies. The complete blood count found pancytopenia with Hemoglobin level of 4.8 g/dL, Leucocytes count of 1900/μL (neutrophil: 300/μL), and platelets count of 56 000/μL. The ultrasonographic examination found hepatomegaly and splenomegaly. The bone marrow biopsy and flow cytometer analysis were in keeping with a diagnosis of BPDCN. The patient, unfortunately, was lost four months later after her hospital admission due to late diagnosis by septicemia. The early diagnosis and availability of specific drugs for acute leukemia could improve the clinical outcome of patients with BPDCN in Mali.Keywords: Acute Leukemia, black african, dendritic cell, Mal

A role for the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 1 in epithelial wound healing.

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