ObjectiveTo compare the clinical characteristics,high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) manifestations,pulmonary function results,serum autoantibodies and treatment modality of connective tissue diseases related interstitial lung diseases (CTD-ILDs) and idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (ⅡPs). MethodsPatients explicitly diagnosed with CTD-ILDs and ⅡPs were retrospectively selected from Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital between January 2004 and December 2012.The clinical features were abstracted,including age,gender,symptoms,signs,serum autoantibody results,HRCT findings,and treatment.Patient characteristics were compared between CTD-ILDs and ⅡPs using a Pearson's χ2 test for categorical variables,and a Student's t test for continuous variables. ResultsA total of 692 patients with complete data were included in this study,with 240 CTD-ILDs cases and 452 ⅡP cases.CTD-ILDs could exist in different types of CTDs,which were mainly shown in Sjogren's syndrome,rheumatoid arthritis,and dermatomyositis/polymyositis.Age,gender,connective tissue diseases related characteristics such as dry eyes,dry mouth,and arthralgia,and several autoantibodies such as ANA,SSA,SSB all showed significantly difference between CTD-ILDs and ⅡPs (P<0.05).However there were no significant differences in cough,dyspnea after exertion,velcro crackles on auscultation,or finger clubbing between two groups (P>0.05). The HRCT manifestations of CTD-ILDs were reticular opacities,patchy consolidation,band-like shadows,and pleural thickening.Pulmonary function tests commonly showed restrictive lung function and decreased diffusing capacity.The histopathologic findings of lung biopsies of CTD-ILDs were mostly chronic inflammatory cell infiltration,as well as hyperplasia of fibrous tissue and septal thickness.The finding of chronic inflammatory cell infiltration showed significant difference between CTD-ILDs and ⅡPs (P<0.05),while the HRCT manifestations,pulmonary function results or other histopathologic findings did not(P>0.05).The current treatment modality was corticosteroids plus immunosuppressants. ConclusionDespite the similarities,CTD-ILDs show distinct clinical,laboratory and imaging features from from ⅡPs in clinical practice.
Objective To investigate the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome ( OSAHS) in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis ( IPF) and its clinical significance. Methods Sleep quality and breathing disorders were measured by polysomnography and the relationship with lung function was analyzed in 20 IPF patients. Results Thirteen of 20 subjects ( 65% ) had OSAHS as defined by an AHI ≥5 events per hour. Three subjects ( 15% ) had mild OSAHS ( AHI,5 to 20 events per hour) , and 10 subjects ( 50% ) had moderate-to-severe OSAHS ( AHI≥20 events per hour) . The sleep architecture in these patients showed a reduction in sleep efficiency, rapid eye movement ( REM) sleep and slow wave sleep, and a marked sleep fragmentation due to an increased arousal index. The AHI was negatively correlated with FVC% pred ( r =-0.672, P=0.001) and FEV1% pred ( r =-0.659, P=0.002) , and positively correlated with body mass index ( BMI) ( r=0.791, Plt;0.0001) . Conclusions OSAHS is a common comorbidity in IPF. Early treatment of OSAHS may improve quality of life and the prognosis of patients with IPF.
ObjectiveTo explore the differential diagnosis value of airspace consolidation in thoracic CT between organizing pneumonia (OP) and acquired community pneumonia (CAP).MethodsA retrospective study was taken by retrieving the patients CT database from October 2010 to August 2016. Fifty-six consecutive patients with OP and 99 consecutive patients with CAP whose CT showed airspace consolidation were enrolled and their clinical characteristics and radiological characteristics were analyzed.ResultsThe percentage of patients whose CT image showed various amount of air bronchogram (ABG) with different shapes is higher in OP group than that in CAP group (87.5% and 72.7% respectively, χ2=4.558, P=0.033). The median and interquartile range amount of ABG in the OP patients were significantly higher than those in CAP group [4 (ranged from 2 to 8) and 2 (ranged from 0 to 4) respectively, z=3.640, P=0.000]. Morphologically, 58.9% of the OP patients showed entire air bronchogram (EABG) on the thoracic CT, significantly higher than that in CAP group (21.2%) (χ2=22.413, P=0.000). Interrupted ABG was found in 26.3% of CAP patients, while 16.1% of OP patients shared same features and the difference was not statistically significant (χ2=2.125, P=0.148). Traction bronchiectasis and ground glass opacity (GGO) were more likely to be found in the OP patients rather than CAP patients with 26.8% and 39.3% respectively, while they were found in 1.0% and 11.1% in the CAP patients (P<0.05). Reversed halo sign was found only 1.0% of the CAP patients, significantly lower than that in OP group, 26.8% (χ2=25.671, P=0.000). Pleural effusion and bronchial wall thickening were more commonly found in the CAP group with 56.6% and 35.4% respectively. By multivariate logistic analysis, EABG (OR=5.526, P=0.000), traction bronchiectasis (OR=21.564, P=0.010), GGO (OR=4.657, P=0.007) and reversed halo sign (OR=13.304, P=0.023) were significantly associated with OP, while pleural effusion (OR=0.380, P=0.049) and bronchial wall thickening (OR=0.073, P=0.008) were significantly associated with CAP. Other features in thoracic CT coexisting with ABG all reach significance statistically between the OP and CAP group (all P<0.05).ConclusionsAirspace consolidation in thoracic CT may be valuable for the differential diagnosis between OP and CAP. EABG is more commonly found in OP patients than in CAP patients. When EABG exists or ABG coexists with traction bronchiectasis, GGO and reversed halo sign, a diagnose of OP should be considered.
Objective To investigate the clinical features of interstitial lung disease (ILD) complicated with severe Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP). Methods The patients with interstitial lung disease complicated with severe Pneumocystis pneumonia who were admitted to the Respiratory Intensive Care Unit (RICU) of the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from September 2017 to June 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Laboratory examinations, imaging features, complications and mortality data were used to analyze the clinical characteristics and prognosis of these patients. Results A total of 17 patients admitted to the RICU were finally enrolled in this study. 16 of the 17 patients had a history of corticoids therapy, and none of the 17 patients had received prophylaxis before the onset of PCP; 58.8% (10/17) of them were ILD secondary to connective tissue disease, and 41.2% (7/17) were idiopathic ILD; all patients were tested positive for P. jirovecii with polymerase chain reaction and/or next-generation metagenomic sequencing in sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid or serum; all patients developed respiratory failure (oxygenation index: 146.8±66.4 mm Hg) after onset; within 24 hours of admission, the pneumonia severity index score was 91.9±20.1 and the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Ⅱ score was 16.1±3.0; imaging findings showed diffuse ground-glass opacity in both lungs on the basis of the original ILD; all patients were treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) and corticoids, 52.9% (9/17) patients were treated with TMP-SMX + caspofungin + clindamycin; 70.6% (12/17) patients were treated with mechanical ventilation; 76.5% (13/17) patients during hospitalization complicated bacterial infection, 9 cases (52.9%) had viral infection. The 28-day mortality was 64.7% (11/17), and the 90-day mortality was 82.4% (14/17), as of telephone follow-up (July 2022) the overall mortality was 88.2% (15/17). Conclusions ILD patients with severe PCP are progressing rapidly. The clinical manifestations are severe which are the same as acute exacerbation of ILD, with poor prognosis.