ABSTRACT
Different types of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) develop in collagen vascular diseases (CVDs) such as scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatopolymyositis, Sjogren's syndrome, and mixed connective tissue disease. These CVDs represent various histological patterns, including usual interstitial pneumonia, desquamative interstitial pneumonia, nonspecific interstitial pneumonia, bronchiolitis obliterance organizing pneumonia, diffuse alveolar damage, and bronchiolitis. The clinical presentations, prognosis, and response to treatment vary depending on the underlying CVDs, as well as histological patterns of ILDs. In general, the prognosis and survival rate of ILDs in CVDs are better than idiopathic ILDs. Optimal treatment also varies depending on the type of CVDs and the presence of interstitial lung disease, although in many cases, a combination of corticosteroids and cytotoxic drugs are given.
Subject(s)
Adrenal Cortex Hormones , Arthritis, Rheumatoid , Bronchiolitis , Collagen , Dermatomyositis , Fibrosis , Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis , Lung Diseases, Interstitial , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic , Mixed Connective Tissue Disease , Pneumonia , Prognosis , Sjogren's Syndrome , Survival Rate , Vascular DiseasesABSTRACT
As manifestações intratorácicas das doenças do colágeno são bastante comuns. O padrão e a freqüência de comprometimento dependem do tipo específico de doença do colágeno, que pode envolver um ou vários compartimentos simultaneamente, tais como parênquima, vias aéreas, artérias pulmonares, pleura, e pericárdio. As manifestações mais importantes incluem as pneumonias intersticiais difusas e a hipertensão pulmonar, que em conjunto representam as principais causas de mortalidade e morbidade nesses pacientes. O acometimento pulmonar, pleural e de via aérea pode ser também secundário a terapêutica instituída ou ser decorrente de processos infecciosos bacterianos ou por germes oportunistas, por causa da imunossupressão. Nesta revisão os autores sumarizam as manifestações intratorácicas e o diagnóstico diferencial das principais doenças do colágeno na tomografia computadorizada de alta resolução do tórax.
Intrathoracic manifestations of collagen vascular diseases are very common. The frequency of intrathoracic manifestations and the pattern of abnormality are variable depending on the type of collagen vascular disease and may simultaneously involve one or more of the following: lung parenchyma, airways, pulmonary vessels, pericardium, and pleura. Most significant manifestations include diffuse interstitial pneumonia and pulmonary hypertension which together represent the main causes of morbidity and mortality of these patients. Pulmonary, airway and pleural involvement may also be secondary to the therapy adopted for management of the disease, or result from bacterial pneumonia or opportunistic infection. In the present review, the authors summarize the main intrathoracic manifestations of collagen vascular diseases and the differential diagnosis on high-resolution chest computed tomography.
Subject(s)
Lung Diseases, Interstitial/diagnosis , Lung Diseases, Interstitial/etiology , Collagen Diseases/complications , Hypertension, Pulmonary , Hypertension, Pulmonary/physiopathology , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is rare but often fatal. To determine the clinical manifestations of DAH, its etiology, clinical course and prognosis were studied. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed in 21 patients that were diagnosed as DAH. Diagnosis of DAH was based on the presence of the "classical triad" of hemoptysis, anemia, and rapidly progressive infiltrates on chest X-ray and a finding of bronchoalveloar lavage or lung biopsy. RESULTS: Thirteen patients (61.9%) had collagen vascular diseases (CVDs) as underlying disease and 10 patients had systemic lupus erythematosus. Females were more prevalent in CVD than in non-collagen vascular disease (NCVD). Otherwise, there were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of clinical manifestations. Dyspnea (95.2%), cough (76.2%), hemoptysis (61.9%), and fever (33.0%) were frequent symptoms. The initial creatinine level was higher in CVD than in NCVD (3.27±3.15 mg/dl vs. 1.19±0.94 md/dl, p=0.030). The corresponding drop in hemoglobin level was 2.69±1.26 g/dl. Maximal drop in hemoglobin preceded the progression of infiltrates on the chest radiograph by 1.38±4.22 days. The mortality rate was higher in the patients with NCVD than in those with CVD (50.0% vs. 23.1%). CONCLUSION: The DAH can occur not only in patients with CVD but also in those with NCVD. Higher creatinine level CVD in patients is associated with renal involvement in conjunction with DAH. The maximal drop in hemoglobin preceeding the progression of infiltrates on the chest radiograph suggests that the drop in hemoglobin is important for diagnosing DAH.