[Adult form of Pompe disease].

Pompe disease (glycogen-storage disease type II) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by a deficiency of lysosomal acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA), leading to the accumulation of glycogen in the lysosomes primarily in muscle cells. In the adult form of the disease, proximal muscle weakness is noted and muscle volume is decreased. The infantile form is usually fatal.

Acute respiratory failure in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome and myasthenic crisis treated with plasmapheresis in the intensive care unit.

We present the cases of two patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome and one with myasthenic crisis who developed acute respiratory failure and needed mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit. All the patients were treated with plasmapheresis, resulting in weaning from mechanical ventilation, and eventually complete functional recovery. Early treatment with plasma exchange shortens the treatment duration, whereas early intubation can prevent life-threatening complications.

Stroke attack rates and case fatality in the Krakow Stroke Registry.

Background And Purpose: Previous epidemiological studies of stroke in Poland completed more than 10 years ago reported moderate incidence rates but very high case fatality rates due to stroke. We used the data of the Krakow Stroke Registry to calculate the attack rates as well as short- and long-term case fatality rates from stroke in hospitalized inhabitants of Krakow, Poland.

Material And Methods: We prospectively recorded all cases of stroke (defined according to the ICD-10) in adult permanent residents of Krakow, who were admitted to hospitals in that city.

[Hemostatic markers of endothelial injury in ischaemic stroke caused by large or small vessel disease].

The Aim: of the study was to compare hemostatic markers of endothelial injury in patients with ischaemic stroke caused by large vessel disease (LVD) or small vessel disease (SVD).

Material And Methods: We studied 30 patients with LVD and 41 patients with SVD (recruited out of 585 patients with ischaemic stroke) as well as 30 control subjects. Etiology of ischaemic stroke was established according to the TOAST criteria.