Annales Academiae Medicae Stetinensis
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Ann Acad Med Stetin · Jan 2012
Case Reports[Macrophage activation syndrome: report on three cases].
The macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is a rare and potentially fatal disease. This syndrome is founded on congenital or acquired dysfunction of NK cells resulting in secondary activation and proliferation of macrophages with excessive cytokine production and organ infiltration. Causes of acquired MAS include viral infections (chiefly EBV and CMV), malignancies, and autoimmune diseases. ⋯ Treatment also includes elimination of the triggering infection and high-dose glucocorticosteroids. Second-line therapy is based on cyclosporin, intravenous immunoglobulins, and etoposide. The present work focuses on diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties in three patients with the macrophage activation syndrome.
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Ann Acad Med Stetin · Jan 2012
Case Reports[Heart involvement in systemic sclerosis: analysis of four cases].
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by multisystem involvement. Heart involvement occurs in 80-100% of cases and represents one of the more common risk factors of death. Myocardial fibrosis and vascular microangiopathy lead to arrhythmias and impaired contractility with secondary left and right heart failure. Pulmonary arterial hypertension in some patients with systemic sclerosis results in right heart failure and low output syndrome during the end-stage of the disease. The aim of the present study was to analyze four cases of systemic sclerosis with severe cardiovascular complications and a fatal outcome. ⋯ Lung and heart involvement is the most common reason for poor prognosis in systemic sclerosis. Arrhythmias, usually latent clinically, and right heart failure associated with cardiomyopathy or pulmonary hypertension are the main reasons of cardiac death in SSc patients. Severe and fatal cardiovascular complications occur more often in dcSSc, particularly during the first few years after diagnosis. Early detection of cardiovascular manifestations should be a priority in systemic sclerosis.
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Ann Acad Med Stetin · Jan 2012
Historical Article[57th Congress of the Polish Association of Surgeons in September 6-9, 1995. A contribution to the history of the West Pomeranian Branch of the Polish Association of Surgeons].
The scientific and educational activity of the West Pomeranian Branch of the Polish Association of Surgeons during its 60 years of existence is presented on occasion of the 120 anniversary of the Polish Association of Surgeons. We present the profile of Professor Seweryn Wiechowski, the first head of the Department of Cardiosurgery in Szczecin, as well as his educational and research contributions and role he played in the development of general surgery and cardiosurgery in West Pomeranian. Professor Seweryn Wiechowski, acting as president of the Polish Association of Surgeons in 1993-1995 organized the 57th Congress of the Polish Association of Surgeons in September 6-9, 1995 held for the first time in Szczecin.