ABSTRACT
Eighty-four patients with different stages of respiratory sarcoidosis (RS) were examined. Plasmapheresis was performed during pathogenetic and symptomatic therapy. A comparative analysis was made in the patients from a control group who had no plasmapheresis sessions. The findings have indicated that it is expedient to use plasmapheresis at all stages of active respiratory sarcoidosis. The best results were obtained in young patients with sarcoidosis of intrathoracic lymph nodes and the lung (Stage II). Plasmapheresis promoted a decreased process activity as improved health status in the patients, normalized laboratory parameters, a rapid involution of changes in the bronchopulmonary apparatus, which allowed the doses of corticosteroids to be substantially reduced in the basic therapy.
Subject(s)
Plasmapheresis , Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary/therapy , Adrenal Cortex Hormones/administration & dosage , Adrenal Cortex Hormones/therapeutic use , Adult , Antioxidants/administration & dosage , Antioxidants/therapeutic use , Combined Modality Therapy , Female , Humans , Male , Radiography, Thoracic , Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary/diagnostic imaging , Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary/drug therapy , Thiosulfates/administration & dosage , Thiosulfates/therapeutic use , Time Factors , Treatment Outcome , Vitamin E/administration & dosage , Vitamin E/therapeutic useABSTRACT
The results of examination of 224 patients with newly detected disseminated processes in the lungs who were admitted for differential diagnosis are presented. Immunologic studies which include determination of the natural killer activity, neutrophil phagocytosis, a total number of T- and B-lymphocytes and synthesis of antituberculosis antibodies in the indirect hemagglutination reaction with three basic M. tuberculosis antigens (phosphatide, polysaccharide and tuberculin) proved to be of high diagnostic value. Immunologic tests used along with clinical studies allowed timely diagnosis of disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis in 62 patients, the disseminated forms of lung sarcoidosis in 115 and nonspecific diseases (microfocal pneumonias of a protracted character, pneumoconioses carcinomatoses, etc.) in 57 patients.
Subject(s)
Lung Diseases/diagnosis , Sarcoidosis/diagnosis , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/diagnosis , Adult , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Lung Diseases/immunology , Male , Middle Aged , Sarcoidosis/immunology , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/immunologyABSTRACT
Activity of natural killer cells in blood of 47 new cases of limited tuberculosis of the lung was studied during their complex examination. There was a significant decrease in the activity of the natural killer cells in tuberculous patients which could be used as an additional criterion of the specific process activity.
