[Coronary artery aneurysms probably due to Kawasaki's disease]

We report the case of a young adult admitted to the Abidjan Heart Institute for coronary angiography to explore unstable angina. Coronary angiography showed multiple aneurysms which suggested sequelae of misdiagnosed Kawasaki disease.

[Self-medication among black African hypertensive patients: Factors and consequences]

INTRODUCTION

Self-medication practice is under-evaluated among black African hypertensive patients.

AIM

To assess the level of self-medication among black African hypertensive patients and to determine the factors favoring this practice and their consequences.

METHODS

Prospective study during a 3-month period including 612 hypertensive patients followed in Abidjan cardiology institute.

RESULTS

Mean age was 55.1. The patients had a self-medication use in 60.1% of cases. Medicinal plants and derived products were commonly involved. Self-medication use reasons were: influence of relatives (89.8%) and the fear of antihypertensive drugs adverses effects (54.9%). Multivariate analysis shows that factors of self-medication were age (56.6 years vs. 50.3 years, P<0.001), income less than 762 euros/month (88% vs. 75.4%; OR=2.73; 95% CI: 1.62-4.6; P<0,0001), obesity (70.4% vs. 35.6%; OR=1.24; 95% CI: 0.75-1.15; P=0.037), dyslipidemia (40.8% vs. 27.9%; OR=6.72; 95% CI: 0.57-2.13; P=0.043), antihypertensive association therapy (61.7% vs. 51.4%; OR=2.27; 95% CI: 0.25-0.97; P=0.037). Poor control of high blood pressure (HBP) was a consequence of self-medication (6.5% vs. 47.1%; OR=10.27; 95% CI: 4.65-56.4; P=0.034), repercussions of HBP on major organ (75% vs. 17.2%; OR=12.9; 95% CI: 8.5-19.6; P=0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Self-medication is a common practice in African hypertensive patients. It has many consequences.

[Presumption of sleep apnea in a black African hypertensive population: Importance of the Epworth sleepiness scale in the diagnostic approach]

INTRODUCTION

Sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) is very little described in the hypertensive black African.

PURPOSE

To screen sleep apnea syndrome using the rating scale of Epworth daytime sleepiness, and to investigate the determinant factors and to infer therapeutic consequences.

METHOD

This is a retrospective and prospective study with descriptive and analytical purpose that focused on 200 hypertensive outpatients of the Cardiology Institute of Abidjan. The primary endpoint studied was the SAS. The diagnostic approach of SAS was performed using the rating scale of Epworth daytime sleepiness.

RESULTS

The prevalence of sleep apnea was 45%. The average age of sleep apnea carriers was 56.1 years, with a male predominance (60%). The determinant factors of sleep apnea syndrome were male gender (60% versus 40%, P=0.021), obesity (77.8% versus 62.7%, P<0.0001), diabetes (26.7% versus 15.5%, P=0.5) and dyslipidemia (54.4% versus 27.3%, P=0.0009). Life in urban areas, occupation and smoking were not correlated with SAS in our series. The control of hypertension was better in non-apneic patients compared to apneic patients (63.6% versus 38.9%, P=0.04). The visceral impact of hypertension in apneic patients was highly significant (77.8% versus 41.7%, P=0.014). Therapeutically, it was noted the preferential prescription of combination therapy in apneic patients compared to non-apneic patients (82.3% versus 74.4%).

[Peripheral arterial disease of the lower limbs in African diabetic patients: ultrasonography and determining factors]

INTRODUCTION

Diabetic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) of the lower limbs is underdiagnosed.

METHODOLOGY

This was a prospective study conducted over a six-month period from November 2012 to April 2013. A total of 308 diabetic patients were included from three diabetes centers in Abidjan (Ivory Coast).

AIM

To screen for PAD of the lower limbs in a diabetic population and to identify the determining factors.

RESULTS

Among the 308 patients, the ankle-brachial index (ABI) was<0.9 in 68 (22.07%) patients considered to have PAD; the ABI was>1.3 in 56 (18.2%) patients who had suspected mediacalcosis. The average age of the PAD patients was 60.2 years. Female gender predominated (55.9%). The mean duration of diabetes was 9.6 years: 97.1% type 2 diabetes. The other cardiovascular risk factors in this population were hypertension (58.8%) and dyslipidemia (40.9%). Smoking was present in 29.4% of patients and obesity in 23.9%. PAD of the lower limbs was mild in 46 patients (67.6%), moderate in 16 (23.5%) and severe in 6 (8.8%). Duplex Doppler commonly showed lesions of the tibial arteries. Determining factors of diabetic PAD of the lower limbs were hypertension (58.8% vs 36.6%; OR=2.46; 95% CI: 1.13-5.36; P=0.034) and dyslipidemia (40.9% vs 8.3%; OR=7.6; 95% CI: 2.31-25.08; P=0.0009). For mediacalcosis, male gender (71.5% vs 39.7; OR=0.26 95% CI/0.10-0.64. P=0.004) was the only factor identified.

CONCLUSION

Hypertension and dyslipidemia were predictive factors for diabetic PAD of the lower limbs in our African population.

[Bacteriologic aspects of Haemophilus influenzae meningitis in children at the Central University Hospital of Treichville]

The object of our study was to contribute to the knowledge of the epidemiology and bacteriology of Haemophilus influenzae so as to ensure better treatment of patients consulting the Treichville Teaching Hospital. In the bacteriology laboratory of that hospital, between January 1996 and December 1999, we diagnosed by culture and/or soluble antigen, 203 cases of Haemophilus influenzae in children. We observed that biovar IV was dominant (49.7) amongst the 163 (80.3%) positive cultures. Serovar b was the most frequent capsular type found 189/203 (93%). Of the 203 specimens, the frequency of other capsular forms was e 9/203 (4.5%), f 3/203 (1.5%), c 2/203 (1%). Resistance to ampicillin is currently estimated at 39.9%, whereas resistance to chloramphenicol is estimated at 5.5%.