[Syphilitic aortitis: about a case in South Colombia].

The case of a 73-year-old female patient obtained and resident of Florencia, Caquetá (Colombia), with a history of hypertension who is admitted to a highly complex hospital due to a 3-month clinical picture of constant evolution in pain is presented. Thoracic oppressive type in the anterior region of the left thorax, non-irradiated, of intensity 8/10. The echocardiogram shows calcified aortic valve disease with severe aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, left ventricular hypertrophy, and mild grade mitral regurgitation.

Life-threatening Misdiagnosis of Bulbar Type Onset Myasthenia Gravis as a Subacute Thyroiditis.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease that can mimic a variety of symptoms leading to a delay in diagnosis and treatment. We report the case of 48 year-old woman, in whom initial presentation of MG with predominance of bulbar symptoms was mistaken for thyroid disease complications. Subsequently, correct diagnosis and optimal management resulted on significant improvement of her functional state.

[Some considerations about the possible pathological mechanisms at work in antiphospholipid syndrome and stroke].

Introduction And Development: Over the last two decades antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) has started to be recognized from the association of apparently anionic phospholipid-specific antibodies with thrombosis, thrombocytopenia and recurrent foetal losses. This syndrome affects patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and is considered to be an important cause of thromboembolic disease. Antiphospholipid antibodies are serum immunoglobulins that react with negatively charged phospholipids, albeit directly or by means of a cofactor, affect the coagulation system, and promote thrombosis.

[Activation of T cells in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and multiple sclerosis].

Aims: In this study we describe the main findings from research into the autoreactive process triggered by activated T lymphocytes, which are generated in the peripheral compartment and then migrate towards the central nervous system (CNS) in multiple sclerosis (MS) and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) its animal model.

Method: The different strategies that have been developed to date for the immunological treatment of MS have been designed to intervene in the pathogenic process of the disease by blocking the activation of T cells and B cells with specific antigens, interfering with immunological effector mechanisms and inhibiting the migration of lymphocytes towards the CNS. The cause of the inflammatory response in MS has still not been defined, but the findings from EAE studies and in patients with MS suggest that the disease has an autoimmune aetiology involving autoreactive T cells which are specific for antigens in the myelin membrane.

[The importance of antiphospholipid antibodies in strokes].

Introduction And Method: The study of antiphospholipid antibodies has aroused a great deal of interest among researchers, as some of them are related to neurological diseases and in particular with cerebral ischemia. Cases of strokes in which the aetiology is unknown have been reported in young patients. Until now anticardiolipin antibodies and lupus anticoagulant have received the most attention in studies, but recently descriptions have been published of anticardiolipin antibodies with other particularities that can act as more specific immunity markers for strokes of undetermined origin in young adults.