title: [Primary retroperitoneal fibrosis: a report of 7 cases].
abstract: Retroperitoneal fibrosis is a rare fibrosing disease of the retroperitoneal tissue characterized by a significant clinico-biological polymorphism. No codified treatment exists, particularly for the primary type which is the most frequent. We retrospectively report on 7 cases of primary retroperitoneal fibrosis seen over a period of 10 years. There were 4 men and 3 women (mean age: 58 years).The most common presenting symptom was lumbar pain. A biological inflammatory syndrome and a renal insufficiency were found in 4 cases. The diagnosis was confirmed by abdominal CT scan and/or histology. Etiological investigations remained negative. The evolution was generally favourable under corticosteroids. Retroperitoneal fibrosis requires a careful etiological investigation before it is considered primary. Prognosis is good in spite of the absence of a well codified treatment.
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine Interne, Hôpital Sahloul, Sousse, Tunisie. bfi.fatma@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: F Ben Fredj
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tilouche
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ben Abdallah
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hasni
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mrad
authors.forename: C Laouani
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Kechrid
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012185:Retroperitoneal Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011241:Prednisone