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.
Objective To summarize the clinical characteristics of interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF). Methods The interstitial lung disease (ILD) patients diagnosed in our department between January 2010 and August 2013 were retrospectively analyzed to screen out the patients with IPAF.The clinical manifestations, laboratory examination, imaging, pulmonary function and treatment were summarized. Results In 254 ILD patients, 25 patients met the diagnosis criteria of IPAF, and 26 patients were diagnosed with definite connective tissue diseases associated ILD (DCTD-ILD). There were differences in arthralgia, sicca symptoms, mechanic’s hand, positive antinuclear antibodies, anti-CCP antibodies and residual lung volume between the IPAF patients and the DCTD-ILD patients (all P < 0. 05). Five IPAF patients were revealed hug or “pancake” the diaphragm in their chest high resolution CT radiographs. The microscopic performance showed that diffuse thickened with collagen fiber, alveolar wall thickening with marked interstitial lymphocyte inflammatory cells infiltration, and granulation tissue that filled bronchiolar lumina. The patients were pathologically diagnosed with nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) overlap organized pneumonia (OP). During following-up, the progression-free survival time of the IPAF patients was significant longer and that of the DCTD-ILD patients [(14.32±5.74)months vs. (10. 31± 3. 70) months, P < 0. 05]. Conclusions If an ILD patient has mechanic’s hand, positive antinuclear antibodies or NISP overlap OP in image, the diagnosis of IPAF should be considered. IPAF have slower disease progression and better prognosis than DCTD-ILD.
Objective To investigate the effect of prone position ventilation (PPV) on hemodynamics in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) concurrent with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or not. Methods Severe ARDS patients received PPV treatment in intensive care unit from 2013 to 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Pulse index continuous cardiac output (PiCCO) monitoring indices were compared 2h before PPV (PPV-2), in-PPV (PPVmean) and 2h after turn back to supine position (PPV+2), including mean arterial pressure (MAP), cardiac index (CI), intrathoracic blood volume index (ITBVI), etc. Heart function, liver function, renal function, coagulative function were compared before and after all the PPV treatment. Results Thirty-six severe pulmonary ARDS patients were recruited. Norepinephrine (NE) dose was (0.14±0.10) μg·kg-1·min-1 and lactate concentration was (1.70±0.57) mmol/L before PPV. CI in all the patients was increased [(4.06±0.95) L·min-1·m-2 vs. (3.98±1.05) L·min-1·m-2, P > 0.05) and central venous oxygen saturation, ITBVI [(76.94±8.94)% vs. (70.67±8.23)%, (982.17±245.87) mL/m2 vs. (912.97±177.65) mL/m2, P < 0.05)] were significantly increased compared with PPV-2, while heart rate (HR), MAP, urine volume were decreased (P > 0.05). The patients were divided into an ILD group (n=17) andanon-ILD group (n=19),and no significant differences were found in baseline data between two groups. Compared with PPV-2, MAP was significant decreased at PPV+2 [(85.44±10.84) mm Hg vs. (89.21±10.92) mm Hg, P < 0.05) in the ILD group. Compared with PPVmean, CI was obviously declined at PPV+2 in the ILD group. Activated partial thromboplastin time was increased [(67.04±97.52)s vs. (41.24±8.72) s, P < 0.05] and BUN was higher [(10.64±4.95) μmol/L vs. (8.18±3.88) μmol/L, P < 0.05] in the ILD group, while no significant difference was found in the non-ILD group. Conclusion PPV will not affect cardiac output in severe ARDS patients with ILD. It can increase venous return and improve tissue perfusion, but the perfusion of the abdomen organ need to be monitored cautiously.
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of glucocorticoids (GC) monotherapy and GC combined with tacrolimus (TAC) therapy in patients with anti-synthetase syndrome-associated interstitial lung disease (ASS-ILD). Methods Through retrospective analysis and propensity score matching (PSM) analysis, the 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) and related side effects of ASS-ILD patients in TAC+GC group and GC monotherapy group were compared. Predictors associated with PFS were analyzed with COX. Results The 2-year PFS rate of TAC+GC group was better than that of GC group [P=0.0163; hazard ratio (HR) 0.347]; Univariate and multivariate analysis of the COX regression model for 2-year PFS in the two groups suggested that creatine kinase level (P=0.0019, HR 1.002) and initial treatment selection [(TAC+GC) vs. GC, P=0.0197, HR 0.207] were independent predictors of PFS; PSM analysis showed that the 2-year PFS rate of TAC+GC group (54.5%) was higher than that of GC group (18.2%) (P=0.0157, HR 0.275). In terms of adverse effect, there was no significant increase in GC+TAC group compared with GC group. Conclusion Compared with GC monotherapy, initial TAC+GC treatment significantly prolonged PFS in ASS-ILD patients and did not increase the incidence of drug-related complications.
Melanoma differentiation associated gene 5 (MDA5) antibody is a kind of myositis-specific autoantibodies, which can be used as a biological marker for dermatomyositis (DM) patients. It has been shown that this antibody is closely related to the occurrence of interstilung disease (ILD) in DM patients, which may lead to rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease in DM patients with MDA5 antibody positive, leading to a higher mortality rate. Therefore, the early detection, diagnosis and treatment of this disease have attracted the attention of clinical workers. In this paper, the progress of diagnosis and treatment of MDA5 antibody-positive DM with ILD is reviewed.
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.
Objective This study aims to analyze the clinical characteristics of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) with positive anti melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) antibody. Methods The clinical data of 91 patients with IIM in Shanxi Bethune Hospital from Jan 2019 to Mar 2022 were collected. Then various comparisons and analyzed retrospectively in the clinical symptoms, laboratory indicators and imaging characteristics between the negative MDA5-IIM and the positive anti-MDA5-IIM. ResultsCompared with the negative anti-MDA5-IIM patients, the significantly higher incidences of Gottron sign (71.0% vs. 38.3%), ulcerative rash (45.2% vs.16.7%), dyspnea (64.5% vs. 36.7%), and ILD (71.0% vs. 43.3%), in the positive anti-MDA5-IIM patients (P<0.05). Compared with the negative anti-MDA5-IIM patients, the more ground-glass opacification (GGO) in the positive anti-MDA5-IIM patients on high resolution computed tomography (81.8% vs.53.8%, P<0.05). Compared with the positive anti-MDA5-IIM patients without ILD, the positive anti-MDA5-IIM patients with ILD had significantly higher incidence of Gottron sign (77.3% vs. 33.3%), the increased levels of lactate dehydrogenase [(525.20±203.09) IU/L vs. (321.73±188.88) IU/L], Krebs von den Lungen-6 [(1399.55±869.64) U/mL vs. (371.56±128.92) U/mL], and D-dimer [(1226.65±902.31) U/L vs. (703.73±160.11) U/L], as well as higher positive rate of anti-Ro-52 antibody (68.2% vs. 22.2%) and the higher case fatality rate (54.5% vs. 0.0%), with all P<0.05. The triple treatment of high-dose glucocorticoid (GC) combined with intravenous cyclophosphamide (IVCY) and another immunosuppressive agent (tacrolimus or tofacitinib) was found to be effective in the MDA5-IIM associated ILD group, with a lower case fatality rate (28.6%) than high-dose GC combined with IVCY group (47.1%). Conclusions The positive anti-MDA5-IIM with ILD of patients have the higher incidence of rash and dyspnea, with GGO as the most common imaging manifestation. When rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RPILD) is combined, the case fatality rate higher. Meanwhile, early intensive immunosuppressive therapy may improve the survival rate of RPILD patients with positive anti-MDA5 antibody.
Objective To evaluate the clinical relationship between serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and mortality of anti-melanoma differentiation associated gene 5 (MDA5) antibody positive dermatomyositis with interstitial lung disease (ILD). MethodsThe consecutive clinical data of 214 patients with anti MDA5 antibody positive dermatomyositis from West China Hospital of Sichuan University from February 2017 to September 2019 were collected retrospectively, including demographic, laboratory examination and imaging examination data. Patients were divided into CEA elevated group (CEA≥4.63 ng/mL) and CEA normal group (CEA<4.63 ng/mL) according to CEA level. R4.1.2 software was used for statistical analysis of all data, and Kaplan Meier method was used to draw the survival curve. Cox proportional hazard model was used to analyze the survival of patients with ILD, and to explore the risk factors associated with the survival of patients with anti-MDA5 antibody positive dermatomyositis with ILD. Results There were 180 patients with ILD who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 57 patients with rapidly progressive pulmonary interstitial fibrosis (RPILD), and 123 patients without RPILD; 121 women and 59 men, with an average age of 50.2±10.7 years; The average follow-up was 23.5 months, and 52 patients died. Univariable analysis suggested that CEA≥4.63 ng/mL, smoking, RPILD, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) ≥321 IU/L, albumin<30 g/L and dyspnea were risk factors associated with death in patients with anti MDA5 dermatomyositis combined with ILD. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that CEA≥4.63 ng/mL [hazard ratio (HR) =3.01, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.23 - 7.32, P=0.015], RPILD (HR=3.87, 95%CI 2.09 - 7.19, P<0.001), smoking (HR=2.37, 95%CI 1.25 - 4.47, P=0.008), LDH≥321 IU/L (HR=2.47, 95%CI 1.23 - 4.96, P=0.011), albumin<30 g/L (HR=2.57, 95%CI 1.38 - 4.78, P=0.003) were independent predictors for mortality. ConclusionsSerum CEA level can be used as a clinical prognostic predictor in patients with anti-MDA5 positive dermatomyositis and ILD. RPILD, smoking, LDH≥321 IU/L, and albumin<30 g/L are independent predictors for mortality.