The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India
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Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare type of cardiomyopathy of unknown aetiology associated with significant mortality and morbidity and characterized by heart failure in late pregnancy or puerperium. Recently PPCM workshop committee has recommended inclusion of echocardiographic features of LV dysfunction to redefine PPCM. ⋯ Women with PPCM continue to have significant mortality despite the use of conventional drugs for managing heart failure. Use of newer drugs such as immunoglobulin, pentoxifylline, bromocriptine, and cabergoline along with newer interventions such as plasmapheresis, immunoadsorption, ventricular assist devices and last but not the least the heart transplantation hold promise for future.
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Arial myxoma can present as stroke and should be considered as a differential diagnosis of stroke in young individuals. We present here a 42 years female who presented with sudden loss of conciousness. After extensive work up for young stroke, left atrial myxoma was detected and tumor was removed surgically and histopathological report was consistent with the atrial myxoma.
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Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can be a severe and potentially life-threatening disease that often represents a therapeutic challenge because of its heterogeneous organ manifestations. Only glucocorticoids, hydroxychloroquine, mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, and very recently belimumab have been approved for SLE therapy. Dependence on glucocorticoids and resistance to the approved therapeutic agents, as well as substantial toxicity, are frequent. ⋯ In this review we will focus on biological drugs whose potential efficacy have been evaluated in open-label and randomized clinical trials. Biologics provide encouraging results that represent a possible option in the treatment of refractory lupus. Thus we review recent clinical trials in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with emphasis on outcomes and on mechanisms by which the biological agents suppress autoimmunity.
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J Assoc Physicians India · Apr 2013
Biography Historical ArticleMedical philately. Ferdinand Sauerbruch: pioneer thoracic surgeon.