A single pulmonary rheumatoid nodule masquerading as malignancy.

We present a 54-year-old man, a heavy smoker, with clinical and laboratory evidence of familial hypercholesterolemia and an asymptomatic solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) increasing in size on follow-up chest X-ray. Laboratory work-up revealed high titers of rheumatoid factor and the presence of acute phase reactants. Because of the patient's age and history of smoking, open lung biopsy was performed to rule out malignancy.

Sjögren's syndrome in patients with the CREST variant of progressive systemic scleroderma.

Twenty-three patients with the CREST (calcinosis, Raynaud's phenomenon, esophageal dysmotility, sclerodactyly, telangiectasia) variant of progressive systemic sclerosis, were clinically, histopathologically and serologically examined for the presence of Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Fourteen were found to be positive. No significant difference could be demonstrated between them and the remaining 9.

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Greece: clinical and laboratory characteristics.

The clinical and laboratory characteristics of a severe form of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Greece are presented. Twenty-seven patients with serologically confirmed HFRS were studied; 10 required renal dialysis, six had hemorrhagic manifestations, and four died. In patients with hemorrhagic manifestations, the platelet counts were generally less than 100,000 cells/microL.

Pulmonary function of nonsmoking patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

The pulmonary function of 70 nonsmoking patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was evaluated, and the results were compared with those of 70 age- and sex-matched, nonsmoking healthy individuals. Isolated reduction of carbon monoxide diffusing lung capacity (DCO), usually subclinical, was the most commonly detected functional abnormality in the SLE population, whereas it was absent in the comparison group. Isolated small airways disease (SAD) was observed in a relatively high percentage of patients, but not significantly different from that in the healthy people.

Pulmonary function of nonsmoking patients with giant cell arteritis and/or polymyalgia rheumatica; a controlled study.

The pulmonary function of 26 nonsmoking patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) and/or polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) was evaluated and the results were compared with those of 28 age and sex matched nonsmoking controls. Normal function was observed in 30.8% of the patients and 50% of the controls (p = non significant).