Santé (Montrouge, France)
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Santé (Montrouge, France) · Oct 2004
Review[Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF): from diagnosis to treatment].
Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF), also known as paroxysmal polyserositis, is an autosomal recessive disease affecting mainly Mediterranean populations (Jews, Armenians, Arabs, Turks). It is characterised by recurrent crises of fever and serosal inflammation, leading to abdominal, thoracic or articular pain. Erysipela-like erythema affecting mainly feet and legs and effort-induced myalgia are less frequently encountered symptoms. ⋯ The alpha/alpha genotype of the serum amyloid A or SAA1 gene is associated with an increased risk of amyloidosis in FMF patients, especially in patients homozygous for M694V, whereas the MICA (Major Histocompatibility Complex, MHC class-I-chain-related type A) gene seems to have an effect on disease course but not its clinical manifestations. The most effective treatment for FMF patients is colchicine, which should be taken regularly on a life-long basis. It decreases the frequency and severity of crises and prevents renal amyloidosis.
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Santé (Montrouge, France) · Oct 2004
Comparative Study[Epidemiology of eye injuries in Abidjanian children].
Eye injuries, most of them preventable, are particularly severe in Africa, because of the risks of infection and delay in treatment. We report a 16-month (March 1997-June 1998) prospective observational survey of eye injuries in children up to the age of 15 years at Treichville-Abidjan University Hospital. During this period, 62 children were treated for these injuries. ⋯ Eyeball phthysis (14.5%) was secondary to 8 open wounds of the eyeball and one postcontusion retinal detachment. Eye injuries remain a major cause of monocular blindness in children in Cote d'Ivoire. Most of them can be prevented by relatively simple measures including supervision of children and rapid hospitalisation when injury occurs.