Pathological Fractures in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients in a Teaching Hospital in Senegal: Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors

Introduction: The lack of follow-up and adequate management of chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) in chronic hemodialysis patients is associated with pathological fractures. Few studies are available on the subject in sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of this work was to evaluate the prevalence of pathological fractures in our chronic hemodialysis patients, to analyze their clinical aspects and to determine the factors associated with their occurrence. Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective, descriptive and analytical study over 9 years (January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2020) based on the medical records of chronic hemodialysis patients at the CHU Aristide Le Dantec. The diagnosis of pathological fracture was retained in front of any fracture occurring spontaneously or following minimal trauma and confirmed by X-ray. Results: Nineteen cases of pathological fractures were collected with a hospital prevalence of 19.39%. The mean age was 53.32 ± 13.94 years with a sex ratio of 0.36. The average seniority in dialysis was 84.16 ± 29.88 months. Among these patients, one had had 3 episodes of fractures and another 6 episodes. The circumstances of occurrence of the fractures were the fall in 63% of the cases, spontaneously in 37% of the cases. The predominant site of fractures was the femoral neck (47.38% cases). Female gender (p 5 years (p = 0.049), gait disturbances prior to the fracture (p = 0.001), positive CRP (p = 0.028) and the presence of vascular calcifications (p = 0.002) were significantly associated with the occurrence of pathological fractures. Conclusion: This study has identified the factors associated with the occurrence of pathological invoices in hemodialysis patients in our context. These fractures are often associated with the lack of regular biological follow-up due to the low socioeconomic level of our patients.

Acute Renal Failure in the Elderly in the Nephrology Department of Aristide Le Dantec Hospital in Senegal: About 45 Cases

Introduction: The incidence of acute renal failure (ARF) increases with age. In Senegal, few studies have described the epidemiology of ARF in the elderly. The aim of our study is to establish the epidemiological profile of elderly patients with ARF, identify the causes of ARF in the elderly and assess treatment and prognosis. Methods: We conducted a descriptive and retrospective study over a five-year period from 2011 to 2015 involving patients aged 60 and over, treated for ARI during the study period. Data entry and analysis were done on Epi info 7.3. Results: We included a total of 45 patients. The prevalence of ARF was 3.34%. The mean age was 70.31 years (60 - 83) and the sex ratio was 3.5. Phytotherapy was found in 68.9%, hypertension was found in 68.9%, and diabetes was found in 31.1%. Prostate hypertrophy was found in 53.4% of patients. Pre-renal ARF was the most common (46.6%). Most of the cases, 66.67%, were at Stage 3 of KDIGO. The most common etiologies were respectively tumor (35.5%) and infection (20%). The most common complications were respectively hyperkalemia (33.3%) and hyponatremia (33.3%). Recovery was complete in 62.6% of cases, partial in 37.8% of patients and 13.3% of patients ended up on chronic hemodialysis. Mortality was 4.4%. Conclusion: Herbal medicine, hypertension and diabetes are frequently associated with ARF in the elderly. This justifies increased monitoring of the elderly subject with these conditions in order to subject him to early and appropriate care.

Contribution to the Study of Diabetic Kidney Disease in a Sub-Saharan Environment: An Example of the Aristide Le Dantec University Hospital in Dakar

Introduction: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease and dialysis admission. Few studies are available in Sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of this work was to study the epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic characteristics of DKD in our context. Patients and Methods: We conducted an observational, exhaustive and retrospective study focusing on diabetic patients seen in consultation or hospitalized in the Nephrology Department of at the Aristide Le Dantec University Hospital in Dakar during a period of 5 years from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2021. Results: Of 4735 patients seen during the study period, 491 had DKD, i.e. a hospital prevalence of 10.36%. The average age was 59.1 ± 11.4 years with a sex ratio of 0.95. Type 2 diabetes predominated with 93.4%. The average duration of diabetes was 11.5 ± 7.6 years. Diabetes was associated with high blood pressure in 78.81% of cases, dyslipidemia in 23.2% of cases, active smoking in 6.7% of cases and obesity in 1.6% of cases. Renal failure was the main reason for referral 72.3%. One hundred and forty-eight patients (30.1%) had uncontrolled diabetes. Macroalbuminuria was found in 64.8% and microalbuminuria in 18.7% of cases. One hundred and eighty-five patients (37.7%) were in Stage V of kidney disease and 137 patients were in Stage III (18.1% in Stage IIIb and 9.8% in Stage IIIa). Diabetic nephropathy was the main etiology at 61.30%. Nephropathy was mixed (diabetic and hypertensive) in 18.12 cases. Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) blockers were prescribed in 83.5% of patients. Conclusion: The different etiologies encountered during the study show the diversity of diabetic kidney disease. Diabetic nephropathy is not the only kidney damage that can occur in diabetics in our context.

Intra-Dialytique Hypotension: Prevalence and Associated Factors in 2 Haemodialysis Centres in Senegal

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of Intra-dialytic hypotension (IDH) according to the European Best Practice Guidelines (EBPG) definition in relation to the number of haemodialysis sessions and the number of chronic haemodialysis patients and to identify its associated factors. Patients and Methods: We conducted an observational, multicentre and looking-forward study of descriptive and analytical purposes over a 4-week period. The study included all patients with regular chronic haemodialysis with at least two sessions per week and a duration of 180 minutes, who consented to participate in the study and were over 15 years of age. Data collection was done with pre-established forms. The following data were collected: blood pressure before each session, at 30, 60, 120, 180 and 240 minutes of each session;socio-demographic data;dialysis data;clinical, paraclinical, therapeutic data and nursing interventions. Results: The mean age of the patients was 43.84 ± 12.10 years. Among 568 haemodialysis sessions recorded in 50 patients, IDH was noted in 12 haemodialysis sessions, representing a prevalence of 2.11%. Fatigue was found in 5 sessions with IDH episodes (41.66%) followed by yawning (25%), nausea ± vomiting (16.66%) and cramps (16.66%). As nursing interventions, Trendelenburg position and normal saline administration were performed in all IDH episodes. High blood pressure, inter-dialytic weight gain greater than 3 kg, Uf/H > 10 ml/kg/H, anaemia and hypoalbuminaemia were associated with the occurrence of IDH. Conclusion: The prevalence of IDH according to the EBPG definition is low. However, it is an important cause of morbidity and mortality, especially cardiovascular involvement, and the factors associated with its presence have been clearly identified.

Pulmonary Hypertension in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients at Aristide Le Dantec University Hospital

Introduction: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is defined as high blood pressure in the lungs. It is recently described as a vascular disease entity in chronic kidney disease, particularly for chronic hemodialysis patients. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of PH, to describe clinico-biological and morphological characteristics and to identify risk factors associated with PH in hemodialysis patients. Patients and methods: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study during a period of 8 months from January 1, 2019, to August 31, 2019, in the hemodialysis center of nephrology department of Aristide Le Dantec Hospital. All chronic hemodialysis patients for more than 3 months and with PH confirmed by cardiac doppler ultrasound were included. Results: During the study period, 25/94 patients on chronic hemodialysis, presented with pulmonary hypertension (26.6%). The mean age was 49.3 ± 12.9 years. The sex ratio (M/F) was 0.92. Exertional dyspnea was found in 18 patients (72%). Cardiac auscultation revealed an arrhythmia in 3 patients (12%), augmented second heart sound in 12 patients (48%). On transthoracic doppler ultrasound, pulmonary systolic arterial pressure was on average 51.4 ± 13.2 mmHg. PH was moderate in 13 patients (52%), mild in 9 patients (36%) and severe in 3 patients (12%). The left ventricular ejection fraction was altered in 9 patients (36%). Three patients (12%) had valve calcifications. They were mainly located at aortic valve (8%) and mitral valve (4%). The major risk factors associated to PH in our patients are pathological fractures (p = 0.023), aortic calcifications (p = 0.023), ischemic heart disease (p = 0.023). The duration of hemodialysis represents another favoring factor (p = 0.042). Also implicated are arrhythmias (p = 0.004), high cardiac index (p = 0.043), ventricular dilatation (p = 0.034) and left atrial dilation (p = 0.015), as well as dilation of the inferior vena cava (p = 0.048).

Idiopathic Adult Nephrotic Syndrome: A Clinicopathological Study and Response to Steroid in a Sub-Saharan African Country

Introduction: Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome represents 25% to 30% of glomerulonephritis in adults. These glomerulonephritides are responsible of about the half of chronic kidney failure examined as well in United States as in Europe or Africa. The aim of this study was to determine the anatomoclinic, therapeutic and progression patterns of idiopathic nephritic syndrome in Dakar. Patients and Methods: It is a retrospective ten-year study in the nephrology department of Aristide Le Dantec Hospital. Patients with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome were included. We analyzed anatomoclinic, therapeutic and progression data of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. Results: On 202 patients with nephrotic syndrome, 156 (77%) were primitive. The mean age was 29.7 ± 12 years with a sex ratio of 2.4. Edema was found in 98 patients (62.8%) and hypertension in 63 patients (40%). The mean proteinuria was 6.8 ± 4.8 g/24h. Histologic lesions found at renal biopsy were focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in 71 patients (45.5%), minimal change disease in 68 patients (43.5%) and membranous nephropathy in 8 patients (5%). 134 patients (85.8%) received steroids alone, 12 patients (7.6%) received cyclophosphamide and 4 patients (2.5%) azathioprine in association with steroids. 44 patients (28.2%) reached remission. The factors of poor prognosis were: age, above 40 years, proteinuria above 10 g/24h, existence of renal failure at admission, absence of use of steroids therapy. Conclusion: This study shows that idiopathic nephrotic syndrome is frequent in our country with a prevalence of 77%. The most common lesion found at the renal biopsy is the focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Remission is found only in 28% which is very low. 33% of patients progress towards chronic kidney disease due to the lack of early diagnosis and the use of traditional medicine.

Secondary Hypertension in Sub-Saharan African Populations: A Retrospective Study between 2011 and 2016 at Regional Hospital of Saint-Louis, Senegal

Introduction: High blood pressure (HBP) is a worldwide health issue responsible of high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Even though essential HBP is far the most frequently reported in patients, secondary causes must be known because of their severity and the possibility of aetiological treatment. No recent epidemiological data are available about secondary causes of HBP in black African populations. The aim of this study was to describe aetiological patterns of secondary HBP in patients followed at Saint-Louis Hospital. Patients and Method: We conducted a retrospective and descriptive study in regional hospital of Saint-Louis. All patients aged ≥15 years old admitted from January 1st 2011 to January 31st 2015 in internal medicine, nephrology, emergency and cardiology departments were included. Clinical, paraclinical data and patients outcomes were collected from medical records. Hypertension was defined according to JNC8 criteria. Secondary HBP was considered if explorations identified a clear aetiology to hypertension. Statistical analysis was done with Excel 2010 and STATA 12.0. Results: We included 9253 patients with mean age of 35 ± 12 years (15 - 83 years) and sex-ratio of 1.6. Overall 67.5% of patients had hypertension and secondary causes were found in 10.5% of them. The majority of patients presented clinical symptoms suggesting a secondary cause of HBP and first-line laboratory explorations were normal in half of cases. Renal diseases were responsible for 79.1% of secondary HBP cases mainly dominated by glomerulonephritis (22.6%), vascular nephropathies (18.7%) and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (5.8%). They were followed by preeclampsia (13.6%) and endocrinal aetiologies such as hyperthyroidism (5.8%), hypercorticism (0.5%), pheochromcytoma (0.5%), primary hyperparathyroidism (0.4%) and Conn’s adenoma (0.1%). Combination of ≥3 antihypertensive drugs was necessary in 71.5% of cases and surgical treatment was performed in three patients. Blood pressure was normalized in only 27.7% of patients. Conclusion: Secondary causes are frequent in our young patients with HBP. In the majority of patients complete clinical examination and minimal laboratory investigations recommended by World Health Organisation can give an aetiological orientation that needs further radiological and hormonal explorations.

Hyperuricemia in Patients with Chronic Renal Failure in the General Hospital of National Reference of N’Djamena (Chad)

Introduction: Hyperuricemia is defined as a level of serum uric acid greater than or equal to 70 mg/l (420 μmol/l) in men and 60 mg/l (360 μmol/l) in women. Several studies have shown that it is a risk factor or a factor of progression of chronic kidney disease. Recent experimental and epidemiological data correlate the association of hyperuricemia with chronic kidney disease (CKD), arterial hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, thus raising the question of the usefulness of therapeutics in the prevention of renal diseases. The objective of this study is to seek a link between chronic kidney disease and hyperuricemia. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive and analytical study conducted at hemodialysis unit and cardiology service of General Hospital of National reference of N’Djamena (Chad) from 1th January to 1th October 2013 (10 months). We included all chronic kidney disease patients hospitalized in hemodialysis unit and cardiology service who presented associated hyperuricemia. Results: There were 712 CKD patients who were hospitalized. Among them, there were 108 patients who were included in the study and who had hyperuricemia as a prevalence of 15.20%. The average age of patients was 35.5 years and the sex ratio was 3/1. The age group between 40 to 60 years represented 54.6%. There were 41.7% of traders. Hypertensive patients accounted for 49.1%;association of diabetes and hypertension was noted in 12.90%. Renal insufficiency was moderate in 43.5% of patients. Hyperuricemia was present in more than 90% of patients. Profession, age, hematuria, proteinuria and hypertension were statistically positively related to hyperuricemia. Treatment consisted of prescribing allopurinol in 84% of patients. In more than 11% of patients the progression was unfavorable. Conclusion: The implication of hyperuricemia in chronic kidney disease has been proved in several recent studies. However, randomized studies at very long scales have to be carried out to conclude from its real impact on the prevention and treatment of chronic kidney disease.

Renal Cortical Necrosis: An Unusual Complication of <i>Plasmodium malariae</i>Malaria

Renal cortical necrosis (RCN) is anecdotal in malaria. To our knowledge, RCN secondary to Plasmodium malariae has not yet been published. We report a case of severe malaria complicated by RCN. A 29 year old Senegalese patient was transferred to our department for anuria in a context of severe malaria. The diagnosis was RCN secondary to a severe Plasmodium malariae malaria. Physical examination showed anuria, anaemic syndrome, haemorrhagic syndrome and a generally impaired condition. There was a normocytic normochromic anaemia aplastic, thrombocytopenia leukocytosis of 11.580/mm3, serum creatinine of 12.45 mg/dl and blood urea of 252 mg/dl. The Plasmodium malariae had been shown to thick blood film with high parasite density. The molecular study was able to confirm the infestation of this parasite. Treatment consisted of four haemodialysis sessions and antimalarial molecules. Initial evolution was favourable with a recovery through diuresis and a partial improvement in renal function. Given the persistence of impaired renal function, a renal biopsy was performed. This confirmed the RCN. At last consultation, he had no symptoms and his last glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was 30 mL/min/1.73 m2.

Quality of Life of Chronic Haemodialytic Patients at Cotonou Teaching Hospital (BENIN)

Introduction: The objectives of this work were to assess haemodialytic patients’ quality of life (QoL) and to identify factors affecting this QoL. Patients and Methods: It was a three (03) month monocentric and transversal study (from October 24, 2011 to January 27, 2012) conducted in the haemodialysis unit at Hubert Koutoukou Maga Teaching Hospital (CNHU-HKM) in Cotonou. Patients included were residents of Benin, aged 18 years and above, chronic haemodialysis in this unit for over 3 months, and willfully gave their consent. Quality of life was evaluated using questionnaire on Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short-Form French version 1.2 (KDQoL-SF 36). Epidemiological data, nephropathy etiologies and purification parametres were recorded in patients files. Data statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software 11.5. Results: In total 131 patients were involved in the study. The average age was 50.27 ± 12.17 years with a sex ratio of 1.69. Nephroangiosclerosis was the 1st cause. Most patients 128 (97.71 %) received two haemodialysis sessions on weekly basis. The Average Overall Score (AOS) based respectively on SF 36 and KDQoL was 48.55 and 58.55. The average of both SF 36 and KDQoL AOS was 53.55. Factors affecting hemodialytic patients quality of life were vitality, limitations related to mental health and physical condition, burden of kidney disease, effect of the disease on daily life and occupational status. The study revealed that: Patients education level was correlated with vitality

Non-Infectious Complications of Peritoneal Dialysis in Senegal

Introduction: Senegal has pioneered the implementation of peritoneal dialysis (PD) in West Africa, practicing it since 2004. Non-infectious complications are a significant cause of failure of this technique and the transfer of patients to haemodialysis. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and the different types of non-infectious complications in our context. Patients and Methods: This was a 5-year, descriptive, retrospective study of patients on chronic peritoneal dialysis for more than 3 months. Results: During the study period, 75 patients were included. The prevalence of non-infectious complications was 88%, including 45.3% mechanical complications and 76% metabolic complications. Catheter migration was the most common mechanical complication (55.9%), followed by catheter blockage (23.5%). Metabolic complications were dominated by hypoalbuminemia (76.3%). Dyslipidaemia and hypokalaemia affected more than 50% of patients, occurring in 59.3% and 56.9% of cases, respectively. Conclusion: In our study, non-infectious complications related to PD were frequent and varied. They remain a significant cause of technical failure. Mechanical complications are often the cause of permanent transfer to haemodialysis.

Management of Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2A (MEN 2A): Diagnostic and Therapeutic Concerns with the First Documented Senegalese Family

Introduction: Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type 2A is a multiglandular tumor condition inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. It is related to proto-oncogene RET mutation whose analysis is the best technique for family screening. It features in a variable way medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), primary hyperparathyroidism (HPT) and pheochromocytoma. The revealing manifestations of these tumors are often neglected for a long time and the screening should be systematic particularly in a known family context. Methods: After a family tree establishment of a MEN 2A index case, a family survey allowed to diagnose other cases in the family by means of biological, radiological and/or genetic examinations. Results: We report a family form of MEN 2A in a family of three households. In this family 13 people (index case included) were probed out of 34 members. The average age of our patients was 43.54. The sex ratio men/women was 0.85. The simultaneous diagnosis of a primary HPT and a MTC was carried out in our index case and constituted the circumstance of discovery of MEN 2A. The time limit of MEN 2A diagnosis on the other family members was on average 7.7 years. A MTC was recorded in 7 patients. It was asymptomatic in overall cases. A pheochromocytoma was present in only one patient. Primary HPT was found in four patients. Renal lithiasis with recurrent unilateral or bilateral nephritic colic attacks was the main manifestation. Besides the index case, 11 patients had a genetic testing. In 7 patients, a mutation on proto-oncogene RET located on the codon 634 was noted. A surgical care was carried out on 6 patients. We recorded three patients lost to follow-up. A patient died before surgery. In the index case, biological and radiological monitoring found a locoregional residual disease that indicated surgical revision and radiotherapy. Prophylactic thyroidectomy was not performed in any case driven by lack of compliance and/or low income. Conclusion: The discovery of a MEN 2A case imposes genetic survey allowing the screening of other cases in the family and the establishment of a preventive strategy.

Prevalence and the Risk Factors of Renal Insufficiency in the City of Saint Louis in Senegal

Background: The true scale of renal insufficiency (RI) in Sub-Saharan Africa remains unknown due to the lack of national registries. The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiological characteristics of renal insufficiency in urban areas in Saint Louis of Senegal. Materials and Methods: It is an observational, cross-sectional and descriptive study. The study was conducted during 27 days starting from 3 to 30 May 2010. All senegalese residents of Saint Louis (older than 15 years at the time of the study) in whom creatinine clearance was performed were included in the study. The sampling method used was a systematic random sampling, stratified cluster. The survey was designed by an expert comitee based on STEPS survey of the World Health Organization. RI was defined as a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) 2. Results: Among 1424 people initially selected a final selection of 1416 was made. The sex ratio was 0.45. The mean age was 43.4 ± 17.8 years. The overall prevalence of renal insufficiency according to MDRD (Modification of diet in renal disease) formula was 181 cases or 12.7%. The mean age of the people with renal insufficiency was 47.6 ± 17.4 years. Renal insufficiency was correlated to height blood pressure (p = 0.01) and Physical inactivity (p = 0.0001). The prevalence of renal insufficiency was higher in diabetics (71.4%) and obese people (66.6%) than in non-diabetics (64.9%) and non-obese people (56.5%), although the difference was not statistically significant. Dyslipidemia and smoking were not correlated to the risk of occurrence of IR. Conclusions: This study reports the increasing magnitude of RI and its risk factors in the city of Saint Louis in Senegal. It is imperative to establish à national prevention strategies to avoid the dizzying growth of this scourge.

Renal Disease among HIV Positive Patients in Senegal

Introduction: Renal disease (RD) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a decisive turning point in the development and prognosis of this disease. In Africa, the prevalence varies between 2.5% and 48.6%. In Senegal, little data are available in the literature. The objective of our study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical, therapeutic and progressional aspects in patients living with HIV (PLWHIV). Patients and methods: This was a retrospective, descriptive and analytical study carried out over a 10-year period in the Department of Internal Medicine and Nephrology at the Aristide Le Dantec Hospital in Dakar, Senegal. We included all 15-year old and above PLHIV with available CD4 count and viral load. Results: Out of 248 PLHIV, 32 had kidney disease (KD), which means a hospital prevalence of 12.9%. The mean age was 51.22 ± 10 years (extremes of 36 and 77 years) with a sex ratio (male/female) of 1.28. Renal signs were dominated by glomerular nephropathy syndrome. It was present at 80%. Tubulo-interstitial nephropathy syndrome and chronic uremic syndrome accounted for 6.25% and 3.1% of cases, respectively. Renal function Impairment was present in 21 patients with 18 cases of acute kidney injury (85.7%) and 3 cases of chronic renal failure (14.3%), including 2 in stage 5 of chronic kidney disease. Renal biopsy (RB) was indicated and performed in 20 (62.5%) patients with glomerular signs in 12 patients (60%). Glomerular lesions were dominated by focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in 6 cases, membraneous nephropathy (MN) in 4 cases and minimal change disease (MCD) in 2 cases. Tubulo-interstitial and vascular lesions were present in 45% and 12.5% of cases, respectively. In highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), 12 (37.5%) patients had total remission, 9 (28.12%) had partial remission. One (3.12%) death from severe metabolic acidosis on chronic renal failure was deplored. Conclusion: This study illustrates the high prevalence of RD in PLHIV in our exercise context.

Tuberculosis among Chronic Hemodialysis Patients: A Senegalese Single Center Experience

Summary: Tuberculosis is a common infectious disease in chronic hemodialysis due to alteration of the immune system associated with chronic kidney disease. The objectives of this study are to determine the prevalence of tuberculosis in chronic hemodialysis patients and to identify its diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties. Methods and patients: This was a descriptive retrospective study over a period of 20 years (1994-2014). It includes the records of periodic hemodialysis patients in the Nephrology Department of the Aristide Le Dantec University Teaching Hospital in Dakar which clinical symptoms and laboratory favor tuberculosis. Results: Of 258 chronic hemodialysis patients treated in Hospital Aristide Le Dantec hemodialysis center, 29 cases (11.4%) of tuberculosis disease are diagnosed. The mean age is 43.21 ± 12.48 years, and the sex-ratio is 0.8. The median time to onset of tuberculosis after initiation of hemodialysis is 22.86 ± 28.86 months. The diagnosis of tuberculosis is sure only in 17% of cases. Extra-pulmonary sites are found in 79% of cases. The average duration of treatment is 9.39 ± 1.64 months (6 - 13 months). Various treatment protocols are adopted. Mortality is 21%, 50% due to disseminated tuberculosis. Conclusion: The diagnosis of tuberculosis in the chronic hemodialysis patients is often difficult due to the atypical symptoms, the frequency of extra-pulmonary location and the lack of evidence of sure diagnosis.

Ankle-Brachial Index in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus:A Senegalese Case-Control Study

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with accelerated atherosclerosis and increasing cardiovascular risk which is recognized as a major cause of morbidity and death. Whether subclinical atherosclerosis has been evaluated by several methods, there are very limited data about Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. The aim of the present study was to compare this index, between SLE patients and controls. We conducted a case-control study in the Department of Internal Medicine of our institution during the period from August 1, 2017 to December 31, 2018. We included 100 subjects, including 50 SLE patients and 50 control cases. This included 44 women and 6 men in patients with an identical distribution in controls. The mean age was 33.5 ± 11.3 years for cases and 33.3 ± 11.3 years (p-value: 0.93) for controls subjects. There was higher frequency of cardiovascular risk factors such as dyslipidemia (p-value at 0.009), low level of serum HDL-cholesterol (p-value??0.001), hypertriglyceridemia (p-value at 0.000) and hyperuricemia (p-value at 0.000) in patients with SLE. Overweight/obesity was higher in controls subjects (p-value at 0.028). There was no statistically significant difference in the frequency of diabetes-mellitus, smoking and high blood pressure. The abnormally ABI was recorded in 19 patients with SLE (38%) and 8 controls (16%) with a p-value: 0.01 and odds ratio: 3.22. Eight patients (16%) and four controls (8%) had low ABI without significant difference (p-value: 0.11 but odds-ratio at 2.98). Eleven patients with SLE (22%) and five controls (10%) had high ABI (p-value: 0.05 and odds-ratio: 3.24). In patients with SLE only disease activity (cSLEDAI) at the inclusion of the study was correlated?to abnormal ABI.?Conclusion:?This study showed an increasing prevalence of abnormal ABI in black African patients with SLE compared to controls with a correlation between disease activity and abnormal ABI.