Recurrent pericarditis: infectious or autoimmune?

The etiology and pathogenesis of idiopathic recurrent acute pericarditis (IRAP) remain controversial standing like a bridge that crosses infectious, autoimmune and autoinflammatory pathways. Anything may cause acute pericarditis; Echo-virus, and Coxsackie are the most frequently involved viruses, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Coxiella burnetii the most common bacteria, but in 85% of cases it remains "idiopathic". Recurrences occur in up to 20-50% of patients.

Chorea as a symptom of neuroborreliosis: a case study.

Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) can cause a large number of neurological symptoms. Although extrapyramidal disturbances are rare (representing less than 2% of all neurological complications), diffuse choreic dyskinesias have been described during the course of mild encephalitis. The data published in the literature suggest that there are clinical and neurological analogies between neuroborreliosis and multiple sclerosis (MS).

Sporadic choreas: analysis of a general hospital series.

The incidence of sporadic chorea among general hospital admissions is unknown, and the relation of clinical manifestations and etiological factors to neuroimaging findings has been little investigated in this condition. We reviewed the 7,829 cases admitted to the neurology departments of two general hospitals over 3.25 years and identified 23 (8 male and 15 female) cases of apparently sporadic chorea.

Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic coma in Waldenström's macroglobulinemia associated with type II diabetes and complicated by pulmonary tuberculosis.

In this paper we describe a successfully treated case of hyperosmolar hyperglycemic non ketotic coma (HHNC). The HHNC was observed in a patient affected by Waldenström's macroglobulinemia, associated with type II diabetes and complicated by pulmonary tuberculosis. Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic coma is a clinical condition with a high mortality rate associated with a severe increase in blood viscosity.