Mayo Clinic proceedings
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Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous process of unknown cause. Pathologically, it is characterized by noncaseous granuloma, and in more than 90% of patients, the lung or intrathoracic lymph nodes are affected. ⋯ When indicated, treatment with alternate-day regimens of prednisone is highly effective. Serial chest roentgenography, pulmonary function studies, and the serum angiotensin-converting enzyme level are useful for monitoring the course of the disease.
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Mayo Clinic proceedings · Oct 1994
Case ReportsThe clinical spectrum of critical illness polyneuropathy.
To describe the entity of critical illness polyneuropathy and review our experience with six cases. ⋯ Polyneuropathy in critically ill patients may be a cause of severe generalized limb weakness and occurs in the setting of a sepsis syndrome. The long-term outcome is good in patients who recover from the underlying critical illness. Compression neuropathies may be a cause of permanent sequelae.
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Mayo Clinic proceedings · Aug 1994
Case ReportsSevere asthma complicated by bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis attributed to Parsonage-Turner syndrome.
Progressive dyspnea that developed in a 52-year-old woman with a lifelong history of asthma did not respond to high-dose orally administered glucocorticoids. Initially, a diagnosis of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis or hypersensitivity pneumonia was suggested as the cause of the worsening dyspnea. Pulmonary function tests demonstrated severe airway obstruction; substantial improvement was noted after bronchodilator therapy. ⋯ Parsonage-Turner syndrome was diagnosed. The dose of glucocorticoids was tapered. Follow-up of the patient by telephone contact in March 1994 (9 months after her initial examination at our clinic) revealed that the dyspnea was still severe.
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Mayo Clinic proceedings · Jul 1994
Review Comparative StudyCell surface markers in multiple myeloma.
To describe the immunophenotype of normal and myelomatous plasma cells (PCs) and the changes in immunoregulatory nonmyelomatous cells in multiple myeloma (MM). ⋯ The presence of cell surface markers on PCs and their prognostic significance in patients with MM warrant further investigation.
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Mayo Clinic proceedings · Jun 1994
ReviewPerioperative interventions to decrease transfusion of allogeneic blood products.
To discuss some of the many options available for decreasing perioperative transfusion of allogeneic blood products. ⋯ Physicians now have considerable appreciation of the risks and benefits of blood product transfusion. This knowledge has resulted in conservative and scientific approaches to therapy for perioperative bleeding and coagulopathy.