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Biomedical subjects

L Pawlicka

Publications and source records attributed to L Pawlicka.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Tuberculosis in the autopsy material: analysis of 1500 autopsies performed between 1972 and 1991 in the Institute of Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases, Warsaw, Poland.

SETTING: The present study is based on 1500 autopsies done in the Institute of Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases Warsaw, Poland during the years 1972-81 and 1982-91. OBJECTIVE: To assess the correctness of tuberculosis diagnosis before death in the above mentioned time periods. DESIGN: The autopsy reports were examined for the diagnosis of active tuberculosis proved by microscopy. The form and localisation of tuberculosis was assessed. The postmortem diagnosis was compared with clinical diagnosis. In those cases in which tuberculosis was not recognised before death the possible causes of this failure were analyzed. RESULTS: Active tuberculosis was found in 119 cases, 7.9% of all autopsies. It was localised in the lungs exclusively in 72 cases, in lungs and in extrapulmonary sites in 45 and in extrapulmonary sites only in 2. The frequency of active tuberculosis was the same for the two periods under evaluation. Tuberculosis was however not recognised before death in a much higher proportion of cases in 1982-92 (54%) than in 1972-81 (24%). The main cause of diagnostic failure was connected with atypical localisation of lesions on chest X-ray and with dissemination outside the lungs. Previous tuberculosis was a factor which facilitated the diagnosis of tuberculosis. CONCLUSIONS: In parallel with the decline of tuberculosis incidence in Poland, many doctors lack experience in diagnosing this disease, especially in cases with atypical X-ray presentation and with extrapulmonary localisation. This may lead to late or even very late diagnosis and have a significant impact on the epidemiological situation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[Indications for prophylactic vena cava filters introduced subcutaneously in patients with thromboembolic disease--preliminary report].

In 10 patients with thromboembolic disease 1 Gunther filter and 9 LGM filters were inserted. Indications for filter placement were: pulmonary hypertension caused by recurrent pulmonary embolism in 3 cases; planned surgery in 2 patients with pulmonary embolism and deep venous thrombosis; recurrent pulmonary embolism despite of anticoagulant treatment in 2 cases, previously performed thrombo-endarterectomy in 1 case; contraindications for anticoagulant treatment in 1 case and complications of anticoagulant therapy also in 1 case. No serious complications after filter placement were observed.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Neoplastic metastasis in lungs simulating primary tumor of the respiratory system].

16 patients with clinical and radiological symptoms suggesting lung disease were described. Metastatic character of process was documented in 7 of them during life and in 9 after death. The pulmonary symptoms without any signs of primary tumor lasted from few months to 3 years. Two patients revealed primary tumor in ovary, 1-in uterus, 4-in thyroid gland, 2-in prostata, 2-in breast, 2-in pancreas, 1-in bone, one in testicle, and 2-in kidney.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Inhaled budesonide vs prednisone in the maintenance treatment of pulmonary sarcoidosis.

The aim of this investigation was to compare inhaled budesonide with oral prednisone in maintenance treatment of pulmonary sarcoidosis. A double-blind controlled study was performed in 40 patients with stage II or III pulmonary sarcoidosis. After initial systemic 6 weeks treatment with prednisone (40 reduced to 20 mg daily) patients were allocated either to the systematically (S) or topically (T) treated group. S patients continued with 10 mg prednisone daily, T patients were given inhaled budesonide 1.6 mg daily. The progress of treatment was assessed by serial radiography, spirometry, serum Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) activity and plasma cortisol levels. All patients completed the 12 months treatment. Using the numerical score to assess changes on the chest radiograms S patients improved by 1.7 +/- 0.66 points; T patients improved by 1.15 +/- 0.81 points. Spirometric changes were not statistically significant. Serum ACE fell from 107 +/- 51 U/L in the S group and 92 +/- 40 U/L in the T group to 46 +/- 11 U/L and 38 +/- 21 U/L respectively during the initial phase of treatment. In the maintenance phase ACE levels remained lower than the initial ones in both groups. Morning plasma cortisol levels studied in 10 patients (5 in each group) decreased significantly during the initial phase. Thereafter cortisol levels remained low in the S patients returning to the lower limit of normal values in the T patients. We conclude that inhaled budesonide may be a safe and effective alternative to oral steroids in the maintenance treatment of pulmonary sarcoidosis especially in the early stage of the disease.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1993

[Tuberculosis as a cause of death in patients treated in the institute of tuberculosis in 1976-1991].

This study aimed at assessing the reasons why tuberculosis-which can be successfully treated today-is still the cause of death in some patients treated at the Institute of Tuberculosis in the last 15 years. The material consisted of clinical documentation and the results of autopsy of 30 patients who died of tuberculosis between 1976-1991. It was found that 19 out of 30 patients were not treated with antituberculous drugs or were treated only during few days because tuberculosis was diagnosed too late (in 15 patients after death). In 6 patients the treatment failed due to side effects of drugs and in 5 immunosuppressed patients, disease progressed despite the treatment. Difficulties in tuberculosis diagnosis were caused by atypical appearance of the disease in the chest X-ray (localization in the middle and lower lobes in 15 cases, absence of cavities in 22 cases) and in the extrapulmonary regions (11 cases). The main obstacle was the failure to cultivate tubercle bacilli from numerous specimens of the sputum in 10 out of 23 patients in whom the cultures were done.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Comparison of the effectiveness of budesonide and prednisone in the maintenance treatment of pulmonary sarcoidosis].

The aim of this investigation was to compare inhaled budesonide vs oral prednisone in the maintenance phase treatment of pulmonary sarcoidosis. Double-blind controlled study was performed in 40 patients with stage II or III pulmonary sarcoidosis. After initial systemic 6 weeks treatment with prednisone (40 reduced to 20 mg daily) patients were allocated either to systematically (P) or topically (B) treated group. P patients continued with 10 mg prednisone daily, B patients were given inhaled budesonide 1.6 mg daily. The progress of treatment was assessed by serial radiography, spirometry, serum ACE activity and plasma cortisol levels. All patients completed the 12 months treatment. Using a numerical score to assess changes on the chest radiograms P patients improved by 1.7 +/- 0.66 points; B patients improved by 1.15 +/- 0.81 points. Spirometric changes were insignificant. Serum ACE fell from 107 +/- 51 U/L in the P group and 92 +/- 40 U/L in the B group to 46 +/- 11 U/L and 38 +/- 21 U/L respectively during the initial phase of treatment. In the maintenance phase ACE levels remained lower than initial ones in both groups. Morning cortisol plasma levels studied in 10 patients (5 in each group) decreased significantly during the initial phase. Thereafter cortisol levels remained low in the P patients returning to the lower limit of normal values in the B patients. We conclude that inhaled budesonide may be a safe and effective alternative to oral steroids in the maintenance treatment of pulmonary sarcoidosis especially in the early, stage II, disease.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1989

[The frequency and course of fibrotic changes in patients with sarcoidosis].

Basing on observations of 960 patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis the authors found fibrotic changes of pulmonary parenchyma in only a few, the incidence being 3.2. Improvement in radiological examination following steroid therapy was seen in 50%, of respiratory function in 30%. Although both examinations do not fully correlate with each other, they are however supplementary with each other, and should be regarded as important criteria of functional involvement and therapy outcome.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Sarcoidosis of the lung. Natural history and effects of treatment.

An analysis on the natural course of pulmonary sarcoidosis and effects of corticotherapy was carried out in 960 patients observed during 25 years (1959-1985). There were 434 males and 526 females in the studied group aged from 14 to 69 years, when entering the study. The time of follow-up ranged from 2 to 20 years. In 20% of subjects disease had an acute course, in the remaining 80% the process was symptomless, often of chronic nature. Majority of patients presented with stage I or stage II of the disease (respectively 48.2% and 48.6%). Histological confirmation was obtained in 70% of subjects. Spontaneous remission or improvement was observed in 62.2%. Remission or improvement following treatment was seen in another 18.7% (a beneficial effect being observed in 84.1% of treated patients). Altogether remission or improvement, spontaneous or after treatment, was seen in 80.9% of studied group. In the remaining 19.1%, 2.8% of whom were treated and 16.3% not treated, a progression of the pulmonary changes was observed-the disease evolved into chronic stage. In acute pulmonary sarcoidosis the evolution of the disease was more favorable. Remission or improvement, spontaneous or after treatment, was observed in 89.3% of patients, versus 76.3% of patients with symptomless course of the disease. Recurrence of the disease was observed in 21 cases. It was seen only in treated patients shortly after completion of treatment.

Adolescent↗