Objective To summarize the clinical characteristics of pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) secondary to interstitial lung disease (ILD) to improve the prophylaxis and management level of clinicians. Methods The clinical data of 50 patients with PCP secondary to ILD in the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from January 2015 to December 2022 were collected. SPSS 26.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results A total of 50 patients with PCP secondary to ILD were screened. Among the 50 patients, there were 23 males and 27 females, with a median age of 64 years old. Forty-eight cases (96%) had a history of glucocorticoid therapy with the median duration of 3 months; 31 (77.5%, 31/40) cases developed PCP in the first 6 months after glucocorticoid therapy; 34 cases had a history of glucocorticoid and immunosuppressants at the same time. None of the 50 ILD patients used drugs for PCP prophylaxis before developing PCP. The major clinical manifestations of PCP secondary to ILD were worse cough and shortness of breath or fever. Laboratory results showed 38 cases (76.0%) had peripheral blood total lymphocyte count <200/µL, 27 cases (54.0%) had CD4+ T cell count <200/µL, 34 cases (68.0%) had CD4+ T cell count <300/µL, 37 cases (74.0%) had CD3+ T cell count <750/µL, 34 cases (68.0%) had β-D-glucan test >200 pg/mL, 35 cases (70.0%) had lactic dehydrogenase > 350 U/L and 41 cases (82.0%) had type Ⅰ respiratory failure. High resolution computed tomography showed added ground-glass opacity and consolidation on the basis of the original ILD. Thirty-six cases were detected the Pneumocystis jirovecii by metagenomic next-generation sequencing with broncho-alveolar lavage fluid as the main source, and 2 cases by smear microscopy. All patients were treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. After treatment, 29 cases were discharged with a better health condition, 10 cased died, and 11 cases left hospital voluntarily because of treatment failure or disease deterioration. Conclusions After the use of glucocorticoid and immunosuppressants, ILD patients are susceptible to life-threatening PCP. It is particularly important to make an early diagnosis. Attention should be paid to integrate the symptoms, levels of peripheral blood lymphocyte count, β-D-glucan test, lactic dehydrogenase and imaging findings to make an overall consideration. It is suggested to perform next-generation sequencing with broncho-alveolar lavage fluid at an early stage when patients can tolerate fiberoptic bronchoscopy to avoid misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis. ILD patients often develop PCP in the first 6 months after using glucocorticoid and immunosuppressants. During follow-up, peripheral blood CD4+ and CD3+ T cell count should regularly be monitored so as to timely prevent PCP.
ObjectiveTo analyze the incidence of heart disease, its clinical manifestations and risk factors in patients with polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM). MethodWe collected the clinical data of 138 PM (n=78) and DM (n=60) patients treated between January 2008 and March 2014, among whom there were 64 males and 74 females with an average age of (48.5±19.6) years old, and an average disease course of (84.5±6.9) months. We analyzed their incidence of heart disease, its clinical manifestations and the risk factors. Subsequently, we adopted single-factor analysis to analyze such factors as age, gender, disease course, kinds of disease, creatine kinase (CK), CK-MB, CK-MB/CK, troponin T, antinuclear antibodies, anti-SSA antibody, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, disease activity score, muscle force, pulmonary interstitial lesions and pulmonary artery hypertension. ResultsThere were 59 (42.7%) patients with heart disease, 48 (34.8%) with abnormal electrocardiogram, and 52 (37.7%) with abnormal color Doppler ultrasound results. Logistics multiple factors regression analysis found that the course of the disease (OR=1.669, P=0.010), myositis disease activity score (OR=7.456, P<0.001), pulmonary interstitial lesions (OR=4.568, P=0.014) were risk factor for heart disease in PM/DM patients. ConclusionsLong disease course duration, high myositis activity score and pulmonary interstitial lesions are strong predictors for heart damage in PM/DM patients.
Objective To describe the clinical characteristics of polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM) with anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (ARS) antibody positive. Methods The clinical, laboratory and radiographic results of PM/DM patients hospitalized in our department from September 2014 to November 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Results A total of 39 patients were diagnosed (14 cases positive for anti-Jo-1 antibody, 10 cases positive for non-anti-Jo-1 ARS antibodies, and 15 negative for ARS antibodies). The frequency of ARS antibodies positive patients who had interstitial lung disease was higher than those patients without ARS antibodies (P<0.05). Amyosthenia and mechanic's hand were more common in the patients with anti-Jo-1 positive (P<0.05) and the frequency of clinical amyopathic dermatomyositis in non-anti-Jo-1 positive patients was significantly higher (P<0.05). Conclusions The clinical characteristics are similar between anti-Jo-1-positive and non-Jo-1 ARS antibodies positive patients. Most PM/DM patients carrying anti-Jo-1 antibodies with interstitial lung disease own typical imaging characteristics of nonspecific interstitial pneumonia overlap organizing pneumonia (NSIP/OP). It can be diagnosed of non-anti-Jo-1 antibody syndrome although there is no clinical manifestation of myositis and anti-jo-1 antibody is negative.
ObjectiveTo analyze the benefits of lung transplantation in the treatment of interstitial lung disease (ILD) and investigate its prognostic factors.MethodsThe clinical data of patients diagnosed with ILD and meet the lung transplantation criteria were retrospectively analyzed from January 2012 to December 2017 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University. A total of 111 patients, 88 males and 23 females, aged (58.3±11.4) years old, were divided into lung transplantation group and non-lung transplantation group. Clinical data and prognosis of the two groups were compared and the factors affecting the prognosis of lung transplantation were analyzed with relevant literatures. Results There were 56 patients in lung transplantation group and 55 patients in non-lung transplantation group. The mainly underlying disease of both groups were idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). There was no significant difference in age, body mass index, arterial partial pressure of oxygen, percentage of forced vital capacity in the estimated value, percentage of diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide in the estimated value, six-minute walk distance between the two groups (P>0.05). The pulmonary arterial hypertension and arterial partial pressure of carbondioxide were higher in lung transplantation group than non-transplantation group (P<0.05). The 1-year survival rate in the lung transplantation group was significantly higher than that in the non-lung transplantation group: 77.4% vs. 32.7% (P<0.01). COX regression analysis showed that preoperative ventilator dependence, serum creatinine, bilirubin, pulmonary artery pressure, and procedures (single lung vs. double lung) had no significant effect on the prognosis of lung transplantation; age and preoperative diabetes mellitus were risk factors for the prognosis of lung transplantation.ConclusionsLung transplantation can significantly improve the prognosis of patients with ILD who are refractory to medicine therapy. IPF patients should be advised to consider lung transplantation as soon as possible. Age and preoperative diabetes mellitus are risk factors for the prognosis of lung transplantation.
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical, radiological and pathological characteristics of acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia (AFOP). MethodsA case pathologically diagnosed with AFOP in September 2013 in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University was reported, and the related literature was reviewed. ResultsA 50-year-old woman with fever, chills, cough with sputum and chest pain was admitted to this hospital. The chest CT showed the nodules and patching infiltrates of the right middle lung. The pathological examination revealed the focally exudation of fibrin, lymphocyte infiltration and the presence of foam cells within the alveolar spaces, which is different from other well-known acute lung injures such as diffuse alveolar damage, cryptogenic organizing pneumonitis, and acute eosinophilic pneumonia. Coticosteroid therapy was induced and the patient showed significantly clinical and radiological improvement. ConclusionAFOP has no specific clinical, laboratory tests and radiology features, and it's diagnosis depends on pathological examination. Treatment with coticosteroids is proved to be effective.
ObjectiveTo analyze the clinical radiographic features and treatment of interstitial lung disease (ILD) inpatients infected with influenza virus. MethodsThe clinical data of ILD patients with influenza in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from October 2023 to January 2024 were collected. According to each patient results of influenza nucleic acid detection, they were divided into an influenza infection group and a non-infection group. ResultsA total of 73 patients received influenza nucleic acid detection were enrolled, 23 cases including 5 males and 18 females were positive. Twenty-one cases were infected with influenza A virus, 2 cases were infected with influenza B virus. The median age of influenza positive patients was 64.7±7.8 years. Cough (23 cases, 100.0%), sputum (23 cases, 100.0%), wheezing (20 cases, 87.0%) and fever (17 cases, 73.9%) were the most common symptoms of the patients infected with influenza. Compared with the non-infection patients, fever was more common in the influenza infection group (P<0.05). Laboratory examination indicated that lymphocytopenia were detected in the influenza infection patients. There was no statistical difference in the level of white blood cell count, neutrophil count, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, calcitonin, interleukin-6 and oxygenation index. Ground glass opacity in the influenza virus infection group was more common than that in the non-infection group (P<0.05). Ten ILD patients infected with influenza virus (43.5%) were co-infected with Aspergillus. The chest CT type of ILD patients with Aspergillus infection was usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP). Honeycombing was more common than those without Aspergillus infection group (P<0.05). Twenty-two patients (95.7%) received antiviral treatment, of which 20 patients (87.0%) were treated with oseltamivir, 5 patients (21.7%) were treated with mabaloxavir, and 4 patients (17.4%) were treated combined with paramivir. Seventeen patients (73.9%) were previously treated with glucocorticoids, and 16 patients did not adjust the glucocorticoids dosage; 9 patients (39.1%) were previously treated with immunosuppressants, and 2 patients stopped immunosuppressants. Four patients (17.4%) infected with influenza virus developed acute exacerbation of ILD. There was no statistically significant difference in acute exacerbation between the two groups (P>0.05). ConclusionsCompared with ILD patients not infected with influenza, fever, lymphocytopenia and ground-glass opacity are the common clinical and chest CT features of ILD patients infected with influenza. Patients with UIP type combined with honeycomb were prone to be co-infected with Aspergillus infection.
Objective To explore the effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells ( BMMSCs) on pulmonary fibroblasts of patients with nonspecific interstitial pneumonitis ( NSIP) , and investigate the therapeutic mechanism of BMMSCs for interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. Methods Human BMMSCs, human pulmonry fibroblasts ( HPFs) from NSIP patients, and normal HPFs were primary cultured in vitro. Then HPFs fromNSIP patients were co-cultured with BMMSCs or normal HPFs using Transwell co-culture system. After 24 hours, levels of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and interferon inducible protein 10 ( IP-10) in culture supernatants were detected by ELISA method. Meanwhile, interleukin-6 ( IL-6) , IL-8, and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 ( MCP-1) in co-culture supernatants were detected by liquid chip. After co-cultured for 48 hours, total protein of HPFs was extracted and the expression level of alpha smooth muscle actin ( α-SMA) secreted by HPFs were detected by Western blot.Results HPFs from NSIP patients secreted higher level of IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 than normal HPFs, and secreted high level of α-SMA. In the Transwell co-culture system, human BMMSCs significantly reduced the levels of IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 secreted from HPFs of NSIP patients, and reduced the high expression of α-SMA in HPFs of NSIP patients. Conclusion Human BMMSCs can significantly reduce the secretion of IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, and the expression of α-SMA in HPFs from NSIP patients.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the prevalence of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA),and explore the association of ILD with RA. MethodsPatients who were diagnosed as RA were recruited in the study,and were categorized into a RA-ILD group and a non-ILD group according to high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT).The data of clinical characteristics,serum biomarkers measurement,and pulmonary function test were collected. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the factors associated with the incidence of ILD in RA. ResultsA total of 59 patients with RA were enrolled. The incidence of ILD in RA was 42.3%. The rheumatoid factor (RF),carbohydrate antigen 15-3 (CA15-3),carbohydrate antigen12-5 (CA125),inspiratory capacity (IC) and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide of the lung (DLCO) were significantly different between two groups (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the increased CA15-3 and decreased DLCO were independent risk factors for ILD in the patients with RA. ConclusionsThe occurrence of ILD with RA seems very high. CA15-3 and DLCO may be important risk factors for the incidence of ILD in patients with RA.
Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies are a group of connective tissue diseases characterized by nonsuppurative inflammation of the striated muscle. At present, the diagnostic criteria for polymyositis/dermatomyositis classification proposed by Bohan and Peter in 1976 is mainly used clinically. In clinical observations, it is found that myopathy involves not only skin and muscle but also affects many systems of the body. Interstitial lung disease occupies an important part, and it is an important cause of death of patients with inflammatory myopathy. Patients with idiopathic myositis should be examined as early as possible by high-resolution CT to improve the detection rate of myositis-associated interstitial lung disease and start treatment as soon as possible. At the same time, the patients with myositis have different clinical manifestations due to specific antibodies in the serum; some specific antibodies may indicate poor prognosis and poor treatment response. Timely screening of patients with positive myositis-specific antibodies in patients with the pulmonary interstitial disease can help the patient’s diagnosis and treatment process.
Objective To analyze the clinical symptoms, imaging, laboratory tests, efficacy and other indicators of patients diagnosed as diffuse parenchymal lung disease ( DPLD) , in order to provide a reference for differential diagnosis of secondary DPLD and idiopathic interstitial pneumonia ( IIP) .Methods Sixtytwo patients diagnosed as DPLD were retrospectively analyzed. Results In 62 patients with DPLD, 19 patients ( 30. 6% ) were diagnosed as secondary DPLD, 42 cases ( 67. 7% ) as IIP, 1 case ( 1. 6% ) as Langerhans cell histiocytosis. The smoking rate of the DPLD patient was 33. 8% , which was higher than general population ( 29. 7% ) . 94. 7% of the secondary DPLD patients had cough, which was higher than the IIP patients ( 71. 4%) . The average age of onset of the secondary DPLD and IIP was ( 45. 9 ±16. 8) years and ( 60. 5 ±7. 7) years respectively, without significant difference ( P gt; 0. 05) . Etiological factors of secondary DPLD were dust, pets, drugs, pesticides, decoration material, etc. The secondary DPLD patients had higher response rate to steroid therapy, but had no statistical difference compared with the IIP patients ( 46. 2% vs. 37. 5% , P gt;0. 05) . Conclusions As a group of diseases of known causes, history taking is very important for DPLD diagnosis and differential diagnosis. Clinical symptoms, imaging, and laboratory tests may provide reference for differential diagnosis of secondary DPLD and IIP.