Multiple Autoimmune Syndrome: A Study of 25 Senegalese Cases

Abstract

Introduction: Multiple autoimmune syndrome is rarely described in the African literature. We report 25 cases. Patients and Method: A Retrospective, descriptive study was carried out in the Rheumatology Department of Aristide Le Dantec University Hospital in Dakar from 2013 to September 2019. Patients with at least 3 distinct autoimmune diseases were included. Results: Twenty-five cases of multiple autoimmune syndrome were collected in 23 women and 2 men, with a mean age of 42.4 years (extremes: 24 and 67 years). The mode of discovery of the disease was a connective tissue disease in 19 cases (76%) and an organ-specific autoimmune disease in 6 cases. According to Humbert and Dupond’s classification, 18 patients (72%) had both type 2 and type 3 criteria. An isolated type 2 was noted in 5 cases (20%) and an isolated type 3 in 1 case (4%). One case (4%) was unclassifiable. The evolution under treatment was marked by remission in 84% of cases. Conclusion: Multiple autoimmune syndromes account for 5.66% of the autoimmune diseases in our study. They predominate in young women with a mean age of 42.4 years. Not all entities were classifiable by the Humbert and Dupond’s classification. The evolution under treatment was marked by remission in 84% of cases.