Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum as a Potential Predictor of Mortality in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (PM) is a rare event in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) with unknown prognostic implications. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the incidence and prognostic impact of PM in a cohort of patients with IPF. METHODS: PM diagnosed by computed tomography was identified retrospectively in the clinical and radiological records of 182 patients with IPF who were admitted to our center between August 2006 and July 2013. PM patients were compared to matched IPF patients not affected by PM and analyzed for survival. RESULTS: PM occurred in 9/182 IPF patients [5%; 6 males; median age: 63 years; median percent predicted of vital capacity (VC%) at baseline: 53%]. The median time between IPF diagnosis and PM occurrence was 3 months (interquartile range: 0-33). The control group included 36 IPF patients (28 males; median age: 69 years; VC% at baseline: 57%). In a multivariate Cox regression analysis, PM was a significant predictor of mortality [hazard ratio (HR): 3.0; p = 0.032]. Considering only patients experiencing PM at the time of IPF diagnosis (n = 4), PM was a strongly significant predictor of mortality in multivariate analysis (HR: 6.4; p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous PM is a rare but serious complication in patients with IPF and may be considered as a potential predictor of mortality.

Impact of Comorbidities on Mortality in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

INTRODUCTION: Comorbidities significantly influence the clinical course of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, their prognostic impact is not fully understood. We therefore aimed to determine the impact of comorbidities, as individual and as whole, on survival in IPF. METHODS: The database of a tertiary referral centre for interstitial lung diseases was reviewed for comorbidities, their treatments, their frequency and survival in IPF patients. RESULTS: 272 patients were identified of which 12% had no, 58% 1-3 and 30% 4-7 comorbidities, mainly cardiovascular, pulmonary and oncologic comorbidities. Median survival according to the frequency of comorbidities differed significantly with 66 months for patients without comorbidities, 48 months when 1-3 comorbidities were reported and 35 months when 4-7 comorbidities were prevalent (p = 0.004). A multivariate Cox proportional hazard analyses identified other cardiac diseases and lung cancer as significant predictors of death, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and diastolic dysfunction had a significant positive impact on survival. A significant impact of comorbidities associated therapies on survival was not discovered. This included the use of proton pump inhibitors at baseline, which was not associated with a survival benefit (p = 0.718). We also established a predictive tool for highly prevalent comorbidities, termed IPF comorbidome which demonstrates a new relationship of IPF and comorbidities. CONCLUSION: Comorbidities are frequent in IPF patients. Some comorbidities, especially lung cancer, mainly influence survival in IPF, while others such as GERD may inherit a more favourable effect. Moreover, their cumulative incidence impacts survival.

Screening for Helicobacter pylori in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Lung Biopsies.

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence suggests a role of gastro-oesophageal reflux (GER) in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) pathogenesis. Recently, an association between serum Helicobacter pylori (HP) antibody positivity and more severe disease was described, but HP has not been directly analysed in lung tissue so far. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the presence of HP in the lung tissue of IPF patients. METHODS: Two tertiary interstitial lung disease care centre databases were screened for available lung biopsy material from IPF patients. Clinical and radiological data, including presence of GER and antiacid medication, were evaluated. HP-specific PCR was carried out on the IPF lung biopsy specimens. RESULTS: A total of 39 IPF patients were included, of whom 85% were male. The patients' median age was 66 years, their vital capacity was 79% predicted, and their diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide was 53% predicted. In all, 82% of the lung biopsies were surgical and 18% transbronchial. Comorbidities were GER disease in 23% (n = 9), sleep apnoea in 13% (n = 5) and hiatal hernia in 38% of the cases (n = 15). Proton pump inhibitors were prescribed at the time of biopsy in 21% of the cases (n = 9). After a median follow-up of 25 months (range 6-69), there were 1 death, 1 lung transplantation and 8 acute exacerbations without relevant differences between the GER and non-GER subgroups. HP DNA was not detected in any of the lung tissue samples. CONCLUSION: The fact that no HP DNA was detected in the lung tissues calls into question the proposed relevance of HP to the direct pathogenesis of IPF.

Treatment and outcome of lung cancer in idiopathic interstitial pneumonias.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIP) are associated with an increased lung cancer (LC) risk. However, data on the prognostic and therapeutic impact are limited. We therefore aimed to analyze the outcome of IIP patients with LC under different treatment modalities. METHODS: Patients with IIPs diagnosed in a tertiary interstitial lung diseases (ILD) center were reviewed for LC diagnosis. RESULTS: Of 265 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), 142 with non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP), and 71 with cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP), 16%, 4%, and 6% were affected byLC, respectively. Patient characteristics were: IPF: 93% male, median age 67 years, forced vital capacity (FVC) 82%, diffusion capacity for Carbon monoxide (DLCO) 41%, mean survival 20 months. NSIP: 67% male, median age 70 years, FVC 72%, DLCO 43%, mean survival 35 months. COP: 50% male, median age 66 years, FVC 93%, DLCO 77%, mean survival 88 months. Significant treatment-related toxicities occurred in 55% IPF, 20% NSIP und 0% COP patients. 30-days postoperative mortality was 25% in IPF, and 0% in NSIP/COP while rate of radiation pneumonitis was 24% in IPF. CONCLUSIONS: LC is a frequent comorbidity in IIP, with a higher incidence and reduced survival in IPF compared to other IIPs. LC treatment is associated with significant toxicity, specifically in IPF. Interdisciplinary evaluation of therapeutic options in IIP patients diagnosed with LC is therefore mandatory.

Pirfenidone in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: real-life experience from a German tertiary referral center for interstitial lung diseases.

BACKGROUND: Pirfenidone is a novel antifibrotic drug for the treatment of mild-to-moderate idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, adverse events may offset treatment benefits and compliance. OBJECTIVES: To assess recent course of disease, adverse events and compliance in patients who started pirfenidone. METHODS: In an observational cohort study, 63 patients with mild-to-moderate IPF who started pirfenidone between May 2011 and June 2013 were reviewed. Pulmonary function, adverse events and treatment compliance were recorded at each clinic visit. Disease progression was defined as a reduction of vital capacity ≥10% and/or diffusion capacity (DLCO) ≥15%. RESULTS: Follow-up time on pirfenidone treatment was 11 (±7) months. Sixty-six percent of the patients continued with pirfenidone monotherapy and 34% of the patients received pirfenidone combined with corticosteroids (CCS) and/or N-acetylcysteine (NAC). There was a nonsignificant reduction in mean decline of percent predicted forced vital capacity after treatment start (0.7 ± 10.9%) compared to the pretreatment period (6.6 ± 6.7%, p = 0.098). Sixty-two percent of the patients had stable disease on pirfenidone treatment. Adverse events affected 85% of the patients, leading to discontinuation of pirfenidone in 20%. Adverse events and treatment discontinuation were seen more frequently in patients with concomitant CCS and/or NAC treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Adverse events affect the majority of patients treated with pirfenidone, but are mostly manageable with supportive measures. In this heterogeneous patient group, a nonsignificant effect of pirfenidone treatment on pulmonary function was seen, underlining the need for more data on patient selection criteria and efficacy of pirfenidone, particularly in patients with coexistent emphysema and concomitant NAC/CCS treatment.