ABSTRACT
Organizing pneumonia (OP) is a clinicopathological entity that occurs idiopathically or in association with several conditions such as connective tissue diseases. Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis (MRH) is a systemic disease characterized by polyarthritis and mucocutaneous lesions, but lung involvement is uncommon. We report a patient with MRH associated with OP. This case may be of interest when considering the pathophysiological mechanisms of both diseases.
ABSTRACT
A 76-year-old male was admitted to our hospital because of fever and erythema on the face and extremity. Skin biopsy of the erythematous lesions showed dense neutrophilic infiltrations and diagnosis of Sweet's syndrome was made. Chest computed tomography on admission revealed ground glass opacities in the right upper and lower lung fields. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) showed increased lymphocytes and neutrophils. A search for bacteria, mycobacteia and fungi in BAL fluid was negative. Trans-bronchial lung biopsy revealed intraluminal organization and fibrinous exudates. Neutrophilic infiltrations were scant. These pathological findings were compatible with organizing pneumonia. Bone marrow aspiration was performed because of slight anemia and thrombocytopenia, and a diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome was made. Oral prednisone (PSL) of 30 mg/day induced rapid resolution of radiologic and cutaneous lesions and was tapered to 10 mg/day, then radiologic lesions worsened. Steroid pulse therapy followed by PSL 45 mg and immunosuppressive agent resulted in a resolution of his conditions. This case was rare in that organizing pneumonia was associated with Sweet's syndrome.
Subject(s)
Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia/diagnosis , Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia/etiology , Sweet Syndrome/diagnosis , Sweet Syndrome/etiology , Aged , Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia/drug therapy , Cyclosporine/administration & dosage , Drug Administration Schedule , Drug Therapy, Combination , Humans , Immunosuppressive Agents/administration & dosage , Male , Methylprednisolone/administration & dosage , Myelodysplastic Syndromes/complications , Myelodysplastic Syndromes/diagnosis , Neutrophils/pathology , Prednisolone/administration & dosage , Pulse Therapy, Drug , Skin/pathology , Sweet Syndrome/drug therapy , Sweet Syndrome/pathology , Tacrolimus/administration & dosage , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
A study of therapeutic drug monitoring indicated that cyclosporin administered before meals produces higher blood concentrations than an equivalent dose administered after meals. Our objective was to compare the efficacy of cyclosporin administered before and after meals, respectively, in psoriasis vulgaris patients. We performed an open trial study. Patients were randomly assigned to receive cyclosporin before (group B, n = 20) or after meals (group A, n = 17), and were followed up in 10 dermatology clinics. The difference between groups was evaluated in severity. The percent reduction in psoriasis area and severity index score from baseline was 29.8% in group A and 75.4% in group B (A vs B, P = 0.00005). Two patients in each group withdrew due to abnormality of laboratory data. Short-term, low-dose treatment with cyclosporin before rather than after meals is suggested as a new effective treatment regimen for psoriasis, with the added advantage of lowering costs.
