Analysis of the sputum and inflammatory alterations of the airways in patients with common variable immunodeficiency and bronchiectasis

INTRODUCTION: Common variable immunodeficiency is characterized by defective antibody production and recurrent pulmonary infections. Intravenous immunoglobulin is the treatment of choice, but the effects of Intravenous immunoglobulin on pulmonary defense mechanisms are poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to verify the impact of intravenous immunoglobulin on the physical properties of the sputum and on inflammatory alterations in the airways of patients with Common variable immunodeficiency associated with bronchiectasis. METHOD: The present study analyzed sputum physical properties, exhaled NO, inflammatory cells in the sputum, and IG titers in 7 patients with Common variable immunodeficiency and bronchiectasis with secretion, immediately before and 15 days after Intravenous immunoglobulin. A group of 6 patients with Common variable immunodeficiency and bronchiectasis but no sputum was also studied for comparison of the basal IgG level and blood count. The 13 patients were young (age=36±17 years) and comprised predominantly of females (n=11). RESULTS: Patients with secretion presented significantly decreased IgG and IgM levels. Intravenous immunoglobulin was associated with a significant decrease in exhaled NO (54.7 vs. 40.1 ppb, p<0.05), sputum inflammatory cell counts (28.7 vs. 14.6 cells/mm³, p<0.05), and a significant increase in respiratory mucus transportability by cough (42.5 vs. 65.0 mm, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: We concluded that immunoglobulin administration in Common variable immunodeficiency patients results in significant improvement in indexes of inflammation of the airways with improvement in the transportability of the respiratory mucus by cough.

Efeito da umidificação dos gases anestésicos nas propriedades físicas e transportabilidade do muco respiratório durante anestesia geral / Effects of inspired gases humidity on respiratory mucus in patients under general anesthesia

Introdução: Em pacientes sob intubação endotraqueal os mecanismos fisiológicos de climatização do ar inspirado são anulados. Durante anestesia geral, quando os gases inspiratórios são ofertados secos e frios, a manutenção da umidade das vias aéreas é condição importante para prevenção de lesões da mucosa respiratória e ressecamento das secreções. Os sistemas de anestesia possuem propriedades de umidicação inerentes, decorrentes do sistema respiratório circular e a presença do absorvedor de CO2. Entretanto, os níveis de umidificação, durante a anestesia, dependem de vários fatores incluindo o tipo de ventilador anestésico, montagem do sistema respiratório e o fluxo de gás fresco utilizado. Porém não há dados na literatura que tenham investigado o efeito nos níveis de umidade do gás inspirado nas propriedades físicas e de transportabilidade do muco respiratório. Objetivo: Avaliar os níveis de Temperatura (T), umidade absoluta (UA) e umidade relativa (UR) do ar inspirado durante anestesia geral oferecidos pelo sistema circular valvular com absorção de CO2 e com a adição do HME em dois tipos de ventiladores (Drãger e Takaoka). Avaliar os efeitos do HME sobre os níveis de Temperatura e Umidade dos gases inspirados ofertados pelos dois equipamentos. Avaliar o impacto da umidade sobre as propriedades físicas e de transportabilidade do muco respiratório. Método: Foram selecionados 44 pacientes da Clínica Cirúrgica II do Departamento de Gastroenterologia do HCFMUSP com indicação de cirurgia abdominal eletiva e anestesia geral com duração superior a 4 horas. Os pacientes foram alocados em 4 grupos conforme o tipo do ventilador utilizado (Drãger ou Takaoka) e a presença ou ausência do HME. O muco respiratório e os dados de temperatura, UR e UA do gás ofertado foram coletados logo após a intubação endotraqueal, e a cada duas horas até o final da cirurgia. A análise do muco respiratório foi realizada através dos seguintes métodos: Transportabilidade mucociliar (MCT)...

Background: In patients who are intubated, the natural mechanism of gas climatization by the nose and the upper airway is bypassed. During anesthesia, when the inspiratory gases are cold and dry, humidification of gases is recommended to prevent drying of the mucosal epithelium and respiratory secretions. The anesthesia systems have inherent humidifying properties as a result of the valvular rebreathing of some of the expired humidity and of the production of water in the CO2 absorber. However, the level of moisture in anesthetic ventilation is critically dependent on several factors that include the equipment, the arrangement of the circle breathing system and the fresh gas flow. To date the effect of humidity on respiratory mucus properties and transportability was not investigated. Objectives: The objective of this study was to measure the humidity and temperature of the inspired gas from a circle absorber system in two different ventilators (Drãger and Takaoka) and the effect of a heat and moisture exchanger (HME) on the inspired gas. Furthermore, we also evaluated the impact of humidity on in vitro mucus transportability and physical properties. Methods: We studied 44 patients with no pulmonary disease scheduled for elective surgery that were randomly allocated in four groups according to the anesthetic equipment (Drãger or Takaoka) and the absence or presence of HME. Respiratory mucus was collected and Temperature (T), absolute humidity (AH), relative humidity (RH) of inspired gases were recorded immediately after intubation (T0) and every 2 hours. In vitro respiratory mucus was studied by mucociliary transportability (MCT) by the frog palate method; cough clearance (CC) by the cough equipment, and contact angle (CA) by direct observation. Results: Drãger equipment delivered significantly higher levels of RH and AH when compared to Takaoka. The addition of HME increased AH and T in both equipments. RH was improved only in the Takaoka equipment...