RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Lung biopsies from patients with hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) have demonstrated small airway (SA) involvement, but there is no information concerning SA function in HP, and it is unknown whether pharmacological treatment could modify its function. SA function in patients with chronic HP using ultrasonic pneumography (UPG) and impulse oscillometry (IOS) was explored. We also compared initial results with those obtained after 4 weeks of standardized treatment with azathioprine and prednisone. METHODS: The study group consisted of adults with recent diagnoses of HP. All patients completed UPG, IOS, spirometry, body plethysmography, single-breath carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO ) and the 6-min walk test (6MWT). The fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FENO ) was obtained to assess eosinophilic airway inflammation. Measurements were taken at diagnosis and after 4 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: A total of 20 consecutive patients (16 women) with chronic HP participated in the study. Median age was 50 years (interquartile range (IQR): 42-54). At diagnosis, the UPG phase 3 slope was abnormally high, consistent with maldistribution of ventilation. For IOS, all patients had low reactance at 5 Hz (X5) and elevated reactance area (AX) reflecting low compliance, and only eight (40%) patients had elevated R5 (resistance at 5 Hz (total)) and R5-20 (resistance at 5 Hz-resistance at 20 Hz (peripheral)) attributed to SA resistance. In contrast, FENO parameters were within normal limits. After treatment, forced vital capacity (FVC), the 6-min walk distance and the distribution of ventilation showed significant improvement, although DLCO did not. CONCLUSION: Patients with chronic HP have SA abnormalities that are partially revealed by the UPG and IOS tests. Lung volumes, but not gas exchange, improved after treatment with azathioprine and prednisone.
Assuntos
Alveolite Alérgica Extrínseca , Azatioprina/farmacocinética , Pulmão , Prednisolona/farmacocinética , Resistência das Vias Respiratórias/fisiologia , Alveolite Alérgica Extrínseca/diagnóstico , Alveolite Alérgica Extrínseca/tratamento farmacológico , Alveolite Alérgica Extrínseca/fisiopatologia , Anti-Inflamatórios/farmacocinética , Disponibilidade Biológica , Testes Respiratórios/métodos , Feminino , Humanos , Pulmão/diagnóstico por imagem , Pulmão/fisiopatologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Oscilometria/métodos , Pletismografia/métodos , Testes de Função Respiratória/métodos , Espirometria/métodos , Volume de Ventilação Pulmonar/efeitos dos fármacos , Teste de Caminhada/métodosRESUMO
Relatamos o caso de um paciente de 84 anos que foi hospitalizado devido a tosse persistente e dispneia. A radiografia de tórax inicial revelou infiltrados pulmonares. Nocardia asteroides foi detectada no escarro, e o paciente foi tratado com antibióticos; entretanto, seus sintomas não melhoraram por completo. O paciente foi hospitalizado várias vezes, e os sintomas reapareceram após cada alta. Houve a suspeita de pneumonite de hipersensibilidade, sendo o paciente diagnosticado com pulmão dos criadores de aves. É provável que a nocardiose pulmonar se desenvolva em pacientes com doenças pulmonares crônicas, como DPOC, e em hospedeiros imunossuprimidos. Até onde sabemos, este é o primeiro relato de um caso de pulmão dos criadores de aves complicado por nocardiose pulmonar.
We report the case of an 84-year-old male who was admitted to the hospital with persistent cough and dyspnea. An initial chest X-ray revealed pulmonary infiltrates. Nocardia asteroides was detected in sputum, and the patient was treated with antibiotics. However, his symptoms did not completely resolve. He was admitted multiple times, and his symptoms relapsed after every discharge. He was finally suspected of having hypersensitivity pneumonitis and was diagnosed with bird fancier's lung. Pulmonary nocardiosis is likely to develop in patients with chronic pulmonary disorders, such as COPD, as well as in immunosuppressed hosts. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a case of bird fancier's lung complicated by pulmonary nocardiosis.
Assuntos
Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Animais , Humanos , Masculino , Pulmão do Criador de Aves/complicações , Nocardiose/complicações , Pulmão do Criador de Aves/imunologia , Columbidae , Imunoglobulina A/imunologia , Nocardiose/microbiologiaRESUMO
Pneumonite de hipersensibilidade (PH) ou alveolite alérgica extrínseca é uma reação inflamatória imune que ocorre em indivíduos suscetíveis, devido à inalação de antígenos orgânicos e/ou inorgânicos. Esta patologia deve ser suspeitada quando houver relato de exposição a poeiras orgânicas. Relata-se um caso de PH em paciente masculino de 33 anos, com história de dispnéia, tosse, emagrecimento e febre, apresentando regressão da doença após interrupção da exposição a antígenos de aves. O diagnóstico geralmente é baseado na história e no exame clínico, confirmado pelo aparecimento de lesões típicas nos exames de imagem e pela biópsia pulmonar. O tratamento adequado resulta em melhora dos sintomas, do quadro imagético e do padrão espirométrico. O afastamento do agente causador usualmente regride a doença e a corticoterapia pode ser eficaz em reprimir a resposta inflamatória (AU)
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), or extrinsic allergic alveolitis, is an immune inflammatory reaction affecting susceptible individuals due to inhalation of organic and/or inorganic antigens. This pathology must be suspected if there is report of exposure to organic dusts. In this article a case of PH is reported in a 33-year-old male with history of dyspnea, coughing, weight loss, and fever, with regression of the disease after discontinuation of exposure to bird antigens. The diagnosis is usually based on history and clinical examination, confirmed by the appearance of typical lesions in imaging and pulmonary biopsy. Proper treatment results in improvement of symptoms, imaging picture, and spirometric pattern. The removal of the causal agent usually determines regression of the disease, and corticoid therapy may be effective in repressing the inflammatory response (AU)