Profile of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis in Guinea

Introduction: Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is the most common rheumatoid disease in children. In Sub-Saharan Africa, little data is available on the prevalence of JIA. The objective of our study was to determine the frequency and describe the clinical profile of JIA in Guinean children seen at the Department of Neurology, Academic Hospital, University of Conakry (Guinea). Patients and Method: This was a retrospective study carried out at the Ignace Deen Academic Hospital, Conakry between January 2016 and December 2018. Patients were recruited through the Rheumatology and Paediatrics Department. Results: We collected forty (40) observations of JIA in 22 girls (55%) and 18 boys (45%). The median age at diagnosis was 14 years (range 7 - 18 years), compared to 7 years at onset (range 5 and 13 years). There were 3 cases of systemic arthritis (7.5%), 16 (40%) patients with persistent oligoarthritis, 3 patients (7.5%) that had extensive oligoarthritis, polyarthritis with positive RF in 8 cases (20%) and with negative RF in 4 cases (10%), psoriatic arthritis in 3 cases (7.5%), and enthesitis related arthritis in 2 cases (5%). There was one case of undifferentiated arthritis. A total of 23 (57.5%) received methotrexate, 9 (22.5%) were treated with salazopyrin. Conclusion: The profile of JIA in our study is different from that described in African studies with a predominance of oligoarticular JIA.

Spondyloarthritis Associated with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Study of 15 Observations in Guinea

Objective: Rheumatologic disorders of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and reactive arthritis with a digestive origin are part of the spondyloarthritis family. In black Africa, the prevalence of SpA associated with IBD is not clearly established. Thus the objective of our study was to describe the clinical and radiological characteristics of spondyloarthritis associated with IBD. Patients and Method: We carried out a prospective study in the rheumatology department of CHU Ignace Deen between January and December 2019. The diagnosis of SpA was based on clinical and biological arguments in accordance with the criteria of Amor and ASAS. Results: Fifteen observations of spondyloarthritis associated with IBD were collected in patients mean age 52 years with extremes of 32 and 65 years. 9 (53.33%) were female. Ten patients had Crohn’s disease (CD) and 5 had ulcerative colitis (UC). The mean number of pushes was 2.5 ± 1.2. The average diagnostic time was 46 months. Sacroiliitis was present in 73.3% of cases and the mean mSASSS score at diagnosis was 32.11/72. In total, corticosteroids were used in 9 (60%) of patients, NSAIDs in 26.6% while DMARDs salazopyrine and methotrexate in 33.3% and 20% of patients, respectively. Conclusion: The MICI and SpA association is undoubtedly underestimated in our regions. Better collaboration between rheumatologists and gastroenterologists could facilitate diagnosis and improve care.

Secondary Hypertrophic Osteoarthropathy or Pierre-Marie Syndrome Bamberger: Clinical Case and Literature Review

Secondary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy, or Pierre-Marie Bamberger syndrome, is characterized by the association of digital clubbing, polyarthritis and periostitis affecting the long bones. Most commonly it is a paraneoplastic syndrome associated with lung cancer in 80% of cases. We report the case of a 49-year-old female patient who is actively smoking, one pack per day for 20 years. Seen in consultation for pain and swelling of the hands, elbows, knees, ankles, and feet evolving for about 5 months, associated with a poorly differentiated pulmonary adenocarcinoma. On history, she told us about a weight loss of about 8 kg, no fever, no cough, no family history of inflammatory rheumatism or cancer. Bilateral digital clubbing was noted. The diagnosis was based on imaging and histology. Treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and chemo-radiotherapy was started.

Tuberculous Sacroiliitis with Secondary Psoas Abscess: A Case Report

Tuberculous sacroiliitis secondary to a psoas abscess is rare, only a few sporadic cases were reported in the literature. Tuberculous sacroiliitis is rare, usually unilateral, its symptomatology is misleading, its diagnosis is often delayed or even confused with damage to the hip or lumbosacral hinge, most often related to difficulties exploration of the sacroiliac joint. We report the case of a 66-year-old diabetic patient with low back pain, unilateral right with inflammatory appearance, insidious installation, evolving for about 8 months. The diagnosis of tuberculous sacroiliitis was made after biopsy of the sacroiliac joint. CT and MRI are necessary for lesion diagnosis. Tuberculosis treatment was started and the abscess was surgically drained. The aim of this work was to describe the diagnostic pathway of a patient with tuberculous sacroiliitis in a tropical environment. Conclusion: Tuberculous sacroiliitis, secondary to an abscess of the psoas muscle is an unusual cause of hip pain and is likely to be overlooked due to its atypical presentation.

Contribution of ARV Treatment in the Correction of Anemia in People Living with HIV during the First Semester in the Hematology Department of Conakry University Hospital

Introduction: Anemia is frequently associated with the natural course of people living with HIV (PLWHIV). The objective was to describe the evolution of anemia in PLWHIV during the first 6 months of ART and to identify the associated factors in the hematology service of the Ignace Deen national hospital of the Conakry University Hospital. Methods: This was a prospective, observational descriptive and analytical study lasting one year from August 1, 2019 to July 31, 2020. It focused on PLWHIV who were newly included in ART during the period of study in the Hematology Department of Ignace Deen Hospital. Results: Of 45 PLWHIV, 40 presented with anemia of 88.89%. The mean age was 40.16 years ± 12.29 years and extremes of 22 and 71 years. The female sex represented 65% of cases with a sex ratio of 0.54. Prolonged fever was the main reason for consultation, 97.5%. The HIV-1 serotype was represented in all anemic patients. At least one OI was found in 24 patients, 60%. MO anemia was severe (28.9%), moderate (44.4%) and mild (26.7%). At M6 it was moderate (5.9%) and light (94.1%). It was normochromic normocytic in 55%. At M0, statistical analysis was significant between anemia and OIs, WHO stage and CD4 count, but the link was not established at M6. Conclusion: Anemia is frequently associated with HIV infection linked to delayed treatment. Its development would be better with the establishment of good support. Specific actions should be taken to better identify the factors involved.