The case of a young man, whose respiratory problems, though quite typical and increasing in the course of several years in relation to a specific exposition, did not result in the diagnosis of asthma or its cause. Why?

Key words: asthma, diagnosis, pulmonary function testing, allergy to crustaceans

The authors describe the case of a patient suffering from pulmonary arterial hypertension who was not a suitable candidate for pharmacotherapy. The patient went through the percutanous ball atrial septotomy. In the course of escalated ball dilatation in the originally intact atrial septum right-left shunt was achieved with the expected acceptable system desaturation and increased cardiac output.

Key words: pulmonary arterial hypertension, percutaneous atrial septotomy

The authors present a case of a young woman with grave precapilary pulmonary hypertension. Examinations of the patient did not demonstrate a clear cause of the pulmonary hypertension and thus an idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension was considered. 
Yet, since the ENA-SS-A (Ro) and ANA auto-antibodies test was positive, she most probably suffered from pulmonary arterial hypertension due to system disease.

Key words: precapilary pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary arterial hypertension

The authors present the case of a 32 year old female smoker, a glass blower with the history of sudden problems since December 2002. The simple thorax x-ray demonstrates dissemination of deep micronodular shadows. Specific etiology has been suggested. Antituberculotic treatment had no effect. Referred for pulmonary biopsy. The finding has has led to the assessment of pulmonary silicosis with secondary mycosis. Mycosis has been confirmed neither serologically nor in cultivation. The hygiene officer's examination of the work place ruled out the possibility of prominent exposition to SiO2 dust. Reassessment of pulmonary biopsy resulted in final diagnosis and subsequent treatment.

Key words: disseminated pulmonary process, dignostics, pulmonary biopsy, computer tomography

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disease of unknown cause which demonstrates conspicuous racial heterogeneity of presentation. Only rarely it is manifested through haemoptysis and unilateral predominance of mediastinal nodes involvement that is typical for tumorous disease. The case study describes a black patient, who has been repeatedly referred to a surgical verification of the nodes process in mediastinum.

Key words: sarcoidosis, haemoptysis

The authors present a case study of a patient suffering a number of years from a chronic renal insufficiency that lead to not a very usual picture of pumice lungs. Pumice lungs are a result of metastatic calcifications cause by a dysfunction of calcium phosphate metabolism which occurs also during chronic uremia. Besides the pulmonary instersticium, the metastatic calcifications occur also in the gastric membrane, kidneys and in the inner elastic layer of arterial wall.

Key words: chronic uremia, calcium phosphate metabolism, metastatic calcifications

The paper describes the case of the patient with tracheobronchial amyloidosis during her long-term follow up at our facility. Invasive and noninvasive therapeutic procedures performed are documented and possibilities of further treatment are discussed. We point to the problems and side effects of different therapeutic modalities in this particular case.

Key words: tracheobronchial amyloidosis