Plasmapheresis in the treatment of steroid-dependent bronchial asthma.

BACKGROUND: Can plasmapheresis improve disease severity and lung function and reduce steroid doses in severe asthma patients dependent on oral corticosteroids? METHODS: A pilot study with four asthma patients was undertaken using PEF (peak expiratory flow) symptom score, number of puffs of beta2-agonist, and dose of systemic steroids as disease variables. After at least an 8-week run-in, the patients were randomized to a crossover treatment regimen consisting of either 10 days of plasmapheresis or placebo treatment. Each treatment was succeeded by an 8-26-week follow-up period. RESULTS: No patients achieved a significant effect of plasmapheresis treatment according to the established criteria, nor did anyone experience deterioration. CONCLUSIONS: Removing humoral factors extensively over a 10-day period did not significantly influence the clinical condition of the four steroid-dependent asthma patients studied. Circulating humoral factors seem to be of little importance for the maintenance of the established chronic allergic inflammation in these patients. Plasmapheresis does not seem to be a treatment option for this patient category.

[Pulmonary changes as primary manifestations in Waldenström macroglobulinemia]. / Lungeforandringer som primaer manifestasjon av Waldenströms makroglobulinemi.

We describe a patient with a 19-year history of lymphocytic lung infiltrations. A diagnosis of lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis was made in 1982 after an open lung biopsy, but in 1995 a comprehensive re-evaluation led to the diagnosis of Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia with primary bronchopulmonary involvement. It could also be demonstrated by polymerase chain reaction and immunological techniques that this disease had been present since before 1982. In 1995 it was still difficult to demonstrate bone marrow involvement, even with new and sensitive methods. We discuss some diagnostic problems of organ manifestations of uncommon systemic diseases. Pulmonary manifestations of Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia or other diseases of the immune system should be considered in patients with atypical lung disorders.

Pneumonia, myocarditis and reactive arthritis due to Chlamydia pneumoniae.

A 37 year old HLA B27 negative man developed erythema nodosum, pneumonia, myocarditis and oligoarthritis due to Chlamydia pneumoniae. He recovered completely over a four month period. This is the first clinical description of reactive arthritis caused by C. pneumoniae.