Profile of Infectious Spondylodiscitis in Rheumatology Consultation at University Teaching Hospital of Kara, Togo

Objectives: The objective is to determine the frequency and the semiological and evolutionary profiles of infectious spondylodiscitis in hospital practice in Kara. Patients and methods: This was a cross-sectional study of a case series of patients with infectious spondylodiscitis, who were admitted to the rheumatology department of Kara University Hospital in North Togo. Results: Among the 3972 examined patients, 86 (33 males and 53 females) patients (2.16%) had infectious spondylodiscitis. The average age of these patients at the onset of the disease was 47.20 years. The average duration of the disease was 11.41 months. Tuberculosis was suspected in 77 of 86 patients (89.53%). The infectious spondylodiscitis most often affected the lumbar (51.04%) and dorsal (21.87%) segments and was associated with a pulmonary location in 31 patients (36.04%). In addition to underdevelopment and poor hygiene (72 cases), alcoholism (15 cases) and human immunodeficiency virus infection (10 cases) were the main risk factors identified. The progress with the medical treatment was favorable in 65 patients (75.58%) and 16 patients were lost to follow-up. Conclusion: The frequency of infectious spondylodiscitis reflects the underdevelopment and poor hygiene levels in Black Africa. Its etiology is most commonly associated with tuberculosis and remains a concern despite the epidemiological transition of the different diseases.

Infectious Spondylodiscitis in the Elderly in a Rheumatological Setting in Togo

Infectious spondylodiscitis in the elderly is a diagnostic and therapeutic emergency. They are mainly a functional and sometimes vital prognosis issue, with long-term chronic disabling sequelae and significant social costs. Study aim: To describe the epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical, therapeutic and evolutionary aspects of infectious spondylodiscitis in the elderly in a rheumatological setting in Togo. Patients and methods: This was a multicenter, cross-sectional study conducted on the records of patients aged at least 65 years, suffering from infectious spondylodiscitis and hospitalized in four rheumatology units from their respective opening dates till December 31, 2020. Data collection lasted three months (December 1, 2020 to February 29, 2021). The diagnosis of infectious spondylodiscitis was radioclinical and laboratory-based. Results: 83 (49 women, 34 men) of the 1281 patients (6.48%) examined had infectious spondylodiscitis. The mean age at consultation was 70.59 ± 5.09 years, and the mean duration of the clinical course was 12 months. Spondylodiscitis was of tuberculous etiology (89.20%). It was most often found in the lumbar (56.62%) and dorsal (21.69%) segments. The location was multifocal in 12.05% of cases. It was associated with pulmonary involvement in 22.64% of cases. A neurological complication was identified in 48.19%. The main risk factors identified were promiscuity (48.82%), chronic alcoholism (18.07%), HIV infection (8.43%), diabetes (6.03%) and sickle cell disease (6.03%). The clinical course under medical treatment was favorable in 57 patients (68.68%). Conclusion: Infectious spondylodiscitis remains a frequent reason for hospitalization, tuberculosis being the most frequent etiology. Multifocal location, deterioration of general condition, gibbosity and neurological complications are exclusive to the elderly subject.

Lumbar Spondylolisthesis in Rheumatological Practice in Lome (Togo): Frequency and Semiological Profile

Objectives: To determine the frequency, the clinical and radiological features of lumbar spondylolisthesis in a rheumatological practice in Lomé. Patients and methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in the rheumatology department of the Sylvanus Olympio Teaching Hospital in Lomé between January 1997 and December 2019. Medical records of patients with symptomatic spondylolisthesis with radiographic confirmation were reviewed. The Meyerding classification system was used for grading. Results: Of the 350 patients contacted, 118 consented to participate in the study, making a response rate of 33.71%. Of the 118, 104 (88.1%) were females. 109 (92.4%) presented with radicular pain and 9 (7.6%) presented low back pain. The mean age of the patients was 54.24 ± 11.19 years. The average duration of the pain was 4.56 ± 1.32 years. The spondylolisthesis level most involved was the L4 - L5 (92/118), followed by L5 - S1 (23/118). 106 (89.8%) patients had anterolisthesis only, seven (5.9%) combination anterolisthesis and retrolisthesis. The spondylolisthesis was associated with spondylosis in 110 (93.2%) patients. Spondylosis was found at level L4 - L5 in 38.98% patients, followed by L5 - S1 (24.58%), L3 - L4 (18.64%). Grade I slip was found in 108 (91.53%) patients and Grade II slips 10 (8.47%). Isthmic lysis was found in 40 (33.9%) patients and it was located at L4 in 30 (75.0%). Conclusion: Lumbar spondylolisthesis appears to be expected in Lomé patients with nonspecific back pain and mainly affects females.

Chronic Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases in Rheumatological Practice in Lomé(Togo)

Chronic inflammatory rheumatism is a pathology of variable frequency and severity with a significant impact on the socio-economic, personal and family level. Study Aim: To describe the epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, radiological, therapeutic and evolutive features of chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases in rheumatological practice in Togo. Patients and Methods: This was a multicenter cross-sectional study conducted from January 2011 to December 2019 on patients examined in the three rheumatology departments in Lomé (Togo). Patients 18 years old and above who have presented joint pain with or without synovitis, and/or rachialgia (back pain) for at least three months were included. The diagnosis of chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases was made according to international consensus criteria. Results: Out of the 20333 patients whose files were collected during our study period, 290 (1.43%) suffered from chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases. There were 226 (77.93%) females and 64 (22.07%) males. The mean age of the patients was 42.79 ± 15.18 years. The mean duration of symptoms was 40.80 ± 54.09 months. Arthritis (67.24%) was the main reason for consultation, followed by joint pain (31.38%). rheumatoid arthritis (41.03%), unclassified chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases (38.62%), spondyloarthropathies (15.17%) and systemic lupus erythematosus (2.41%) were the major clinical forms. The immunological tests performed in 13.79% of cases were positive in 52.94% of cases. Carpitis (57.55%) and diffuse osteoporosis (45.28%) were the commonest radiographic features of the hands. 289 patients (99.66%) received symptomatic treatments such as NSAIDs (73.36%) and corticosteroids (51.90%) and 90 patients (31.03%) were treated with synthetic DMARDs such as methotrexate (88.89%). The outcome was favorable in 27.93% of cases. Conclusion: Chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases are common diseases in rheumatological practice in Togo that deserve special attention. The establishment of a specialized immunology laboratory could be very useful for the diagnosis and early management of these diseases.

Septic Arthritis of the Hip in Lome (Togo)

Objectives: To determine the epidemiological, clinical, and bacteriological characteristics of septic arthritis of the hip (SAH) among patients hospitalized in the departments of Rheumatology in Lomé. Patients and Methods: This was a multicentre, descriptive study, conducted over a 16-year period, from January 2004 to December 2020 on patients’ records at the three departments of Rheumatology in Lomé. We included in this study only patients with complete laboratory and radiological data. Patients who underwent hip replacement surgery and those with arthritis of the hip due to all inflammatory arthropathies were excluded. The diagnosis of SAH was based on clinical, radiological and bacteriological features. In the absence of bacteriological confirmation, the presumptive etiological diagnosis was based on epidemiological data, contacting with a person with tuberculosis, the presence of high-grade fever, the mode of presentation of the symptoms, the patient’s general appearance, and the result of the tuberculin skin test. The data was collected using Epi info 7.0 and statistical analysis was performed using STATA/IC 11.0. Results: Out of 3776 patients hospitalized in the three departments over the study period, 705 (18.67%) were diagnosed with septic arthritis of which 70 (9.92%) patients with SAH. The 70 patients with SAH were 44 (62.86%) females, and 26 (37.14%) males, with a sex ratio of 1.7 F/M. The mean age of the patients was 42.43 ± 19.37 years (range: 5 years and 80 years) and the mean duration of symptoms was 6.57 ± 8.85 months (range: 2 days and 48 months). The pain was inflammatory in nature in 46 (65.71%) and mechanical in nature in 24 (34.29%) patients. The onset of the disease was progressive in 50 (71.43%) patients and sudden in 20 (28.57%) patients. The locations of the pain were: groin only 25 (35.71%), greater trochanter only 15 (21.43%), groin and lower back 14 (20%), and groin and greater trochanter 9 (12.86%). Sixty-four patients (91.43%) were limping and only six (08.57%) were crippled. Weight loss was noted in 38 (54.29%) patients. A risk factor was identified in 63 (90.00%) patients;they were chronic alcohol abuse 24 (34.29%), poor hygiene 17 (24.29%), sickle cell disease 13 (18.57%), HIV infection five (7.14%), and diabetes four (05.71%). Radiologic features suggestive of SAH were seen on plain radiograph and computed tomography in 55 (78.57%) and 15 (21.43%) patients, respectively. The SAH was unilateral (48 right hip and 20 left hip) in 68 (97.14%) patients and bilateral in two (02.86%) patients. The diagnosis of SAH was probable tuberculosis in 46 (65.71%) patients and probable pyogenic bacteria in 24 (34.29%) patients. The outcome was favourable in 68 (97.14%) patients and two (02.86%) patients died. Conclusion: The hip remains a relatively rare localization of infectious pathologies. Most cases of SAH are due to tuberculosis.

Bone Metastases Indicative of Post Viral Hepatitis C Hepatocarcinoma: About Two Observations

Background: Hepatocarcinoma is the most common primary malignant tumor of the liver with rare bone metastases, electively residing in the vertebrae, ribs and sternum. They remain exceptionally revealing. Cases reports: We report two cases of bone metastases indicative of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with viral hepatitis C. Through these two observations, we describe the various clinical, paraclinical and therapeutic aspects of this condition whose prognosis is poor. Conclusion: Although unusual, osteolytic bone metastases may be indicative of hepatocellular carcinoma, the diagnosis must be made in the event of any tumor bone involvement in a patient with chronic liver disease, particularly viral.