[LGM inferior vena cava filters--observation of 79 patients].

The aim of the study was to assess effectiveness and safety of the LGM inferior vena cava (IVC) filters in patients with venous thromboembolic disease. In the Department of Internal Medicine of Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases in Warsaw 79 LGM IVC filters have been inserted since 1993. Indications for filters placement were as follows: recurrent pulmonary embolism (pe) despite anticoagulation--17 patients (pts), severe bleeding complications of thrombolytic or anticoagulant therapy--11 pts, contraindications for thrombolytic and/or anticoagulant treatment--5 pts, massive pe--14 pts, chronic thromboembolic-major vessel pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH)--30 pts, extensive deep vein thrombosis of lower limbs or vena cava inferior in patients with urgent indications for surgery--24 pts.

Neuron-specific enolase in non-neoplastic lung diseases, a marker of hypoxemia?

Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is a glycolytic enzyme localized within neuronal and neuroendocrine tissues. Serum NSE is widely used as a marker of neuroendocrine tumors. Moderate serum NSE elevation has been reported in some patients with benign lung diseases.

Low molecular weight heparin versus acenocoumarol in the secondary prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis.

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous weight-adjusted dose low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) compared with oral anticoagulant (OA) in the prevention of recurrent venous thromboembolism. In a prospective multicenter trial, 202 patients with symptomatic proximal deep vein thrombosis (DVT) were included. As soon as the diagnosis of DVT was confirmed by phlebography, 101 were randomly assigned to receive LMWH (nadroparin) for secondary prophylaxis and 101 to receive OA (acenocoumarol).

[Secondary ambulatory prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism: outcome of patients who were lost to follow-up].

We have attempted to determine the outcome of 87 out-patients who were lost from follow-up. Several factors have been assessed: causes of lost from follow-up duration of oral anticoagulation, recurrent venous thromboembolic events, cause of death (if applicable).

[Secondary prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism: analysis of 49 fatal cases].

The analysis of 49 fatal cases of venous thromboembolism--VTE (15% of total ambulatory patients number during long observation was performed. The advanced age of patients, multiple risk factors, underlying circulatory and respiratory tract diseases, malignancies, previous episodes of VTE especially with secondary pulmonary hypertension were the most important factors determining fatal prognoses in those patients.

[The evaluation of carcinoembryonic antigen determination in the pericardial fluid in the diagnosis of the cause of pericarditis].

Pericardial fluid CEA level was measured with radioimmunoassay in 19 patients with large pericardial effusion of unknown origin. In 11 patients malignancy was diagnosed. In all of these patients pericardial fluid CEA levels were above 7 ng/ml (mean value 52.

Pulmonary thromboembolism.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a serious complication of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Retrospective studies on patients with COPD treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) were performed to determine: 1) the frequency of PE; 2) the clinical course of PE in cases of COPD in the ICU; and 3) the frequency of PE as a cause of death in the studied group. The frequency of PE was 10.

The role of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) evaluation in pericardial fluid for the recognition of malignant pericarditis.

This study was designed to assess the value of tumor marker evaluation in pericardial fluid for the recognition of malignant pericarditis. Thirty-six patients with signs and symptoms of large pericardial effusion entered the study. Pericardiocentesis with pericardial fluid drainage was performed in all of them.

Intrapericardial administration of cisplatin in treatment of metastatic pericardial involvement in adenocarcinoma of the lung.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and side-effects of intrapericardial administration of cisplatin (IAC), in cases of abundant malignant pericardial effusion (MPE) and/or cardiac tamponade occurring in the course of adenocarcinoma of the lung (AL). Fifteen consecutive patients with abundant MPE and AL (4 females and 11 males; mean age 54 yrs) entered this prospective study. Following pericardiocentesis and insertion of a polyurethane catheter, the pericardial fluid was drained.

Intrapericardial cisplatin for the management of patients with large malignant pericardial effusion in the course of the lung cancer.

Patients with cardiac tamponade or large malignant pericardial effusion, who survived longer than 30 days after withdrawal of catheter from the pericardial space, entered the study. Main goal of investigations was: evaluation of the effectiveness and side-effects of intrapericardial administration of cisplatin in cases with malignant pericardial effusion (MPE) and cardiac tamponade or large pericardial effusion in a course of the lung cancer. Sixteen patients (four women and 12 men), mean age 53 years, median age 57 years, range 27-70 years, entered this retrospective study.

[Still's disease as an example of fever of unknown origin: diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties].

A case of systemic form of juvenile chronic arthritis (Still's disease) is presented. Difficulties in confirmation of diagnosis are described. After nonsteroidal-antiinflammatory drugs and cytostatics administration very good therapeutical effect was achieved.

New approaches to the management and treatment of malignant pericardial effusion.

The purpose of this study was the evaluation of the effectiveness of intrapericardial administration of tetracycline, 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin in patients with recurrent malignant pericardial effusion. In 33 cases with malignant pericardial effusion 46 pericardiocenteses under two-dimensional echo-cardiography were performed. No complications were observed after this procedure.

[Coronary artery vasospasm as a cause of chest pain in a patient with small cell lung cancer].

Case of 67 years old man with small cell lung cancer and coronary artery spasm has been presented. After administration calcium channel blockers and nitroglycerin very good therapeutical effect was achieved.

[Massive pulmonary artery embolism complicated by acute pulmonary heart disease].

43-year old woman, with considerable overweight had been admitted to Intensive Medical Care Unit with suspicion of pulmonary embolism (PE). The patient had the limb immobilized in gypsum for last several weeks. This episode was tangled with recurrent thrombosis of deep veins in the left limb, treated with heparin and oral anticoagulants irregularly without sufficient control.

[Very low doses of tissue plasminogen activator in treatment of acute massive pulmonary embolism].

57 years old woman with clinically acute massive pulmonary embolism confirmed by CT enhanced by contrast administration was treated with very low dose of rtPA (0.33 mg/kg) simultaneously with constant infusion of heparin (with therapeutic prolongation of aPTT). Excellent clinical effect and decrease of SPAP were achieved.

[Euthyroid sick syndrome in patients with respiratory failure].

There have been report concerning decrease of thyroid gland hormones concentrations in respiratory diseases. The aim of this study was to estimate the influence of severe respiratory failure (RF) of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients on blood serum thyroid hormone concentration. The tests were carried out in 22 ICU- patients with partial or total RF in whom the relationship between PO2, pH, PCO2 and TT3, TT4, FT3, rT3, FT4 was tested.

[Echocardiographic analysis of cardiac size and function in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea].

The purpose of this study was to determine usefulness of non invasive echocardiographic measurements in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Diagnosis of OSA was established by polysomnography. We investigated 18 patients (16M, 2F), mean age 45 +/- 10 years, mean weight 114 +/- 16 kg and mean apnea/hypopnea index 69 +/- 23.

[Evaluation of intrapericardial cisplatin administration in cases of recurrent malignant pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade].

30 consecutive patients with large malignant pericardial effusion (MPE) entered this prospective study. After pericardiocentesis and insertion of a polyurethane catheter, pericardial fluid was drained. Malignant etiology of pericardial fluid was confirmed by cytological examination.

[The value of measuring adenosine deaminase activity in pericardial effusion fluid for diagnosing the etiology of pericardial effusion].

The diagnosis of tuberculous pericarditis is difficult. The cultures of the pericardial fluid for M.tuberculosis are often negative.

[Pericardial syndrome in the course of pulmonary embolism in personal material].

Unlabelled: Dressler-like syndrome has been described in about 3-4% of patients after pulmonary embolism (PE). Out of 207 patients admitted to our hospital in whom the clinical diagnosis of PE was confirmed by scintigraphy, spiral computer tomography and angiography, in 19 patients (9.2%) pericardial fluid was detected and pericardial syndrome (PS) after PE was diagnosed.

[Clinically silent pulmonary embolism in patients with proximal deep venous thrombosis].

In 18 patients with proximal deep venous thrombosis (PDVT) confirmed by phlebography, no symptoms and signs of pulmonary embolism (PE) were observed. All patients were treated with nadroparin. During first 6 days of treatment in all patients perfusion lung scans were performed.

[Low doses of rtPA administered as a bolus in treatment of clinically acute massive pulmonary embolism].

12 patients (7 male and 5 female) with confirmed pulmonary embolism (PE) with: angiography-5 cases, conventional contrast-enhanced CT-2 cases, echocardiography-2 cases, autopsy-3 cases were diagnosed as clinically acute PE. Criteria of clinically acute PE were: cardiac arrest-1 case-2 cases, shock-1 case, acute cor pulmonale-9 cases and acute cor pulmonale with shock. All patients were treated with heparin, administered with therapeutic prolongation of aPTT.

[Implantation of LGM inferior vena cava filters in patients with chronic pulmonary hypertension during a course of major vessel thromboembolism--observation of 18 patients].

CTEPH have not been widely recognised until recently. Introduction of the new, sophisticated, non-invasive diagnostic tools accounts for rapid progress in that field. Patients with high pulmonary hypertension have a very poor prognosis.