Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis and Pregnancy: A Review of the Literature and Case Presentation.

Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis (PAP) is a rare, usually autoimmune, disease, where surfactant accumulates within alveoli due to decreased clearance, causing dyspnea and hypoxemia. The disease is even more rare in pregnancy; nevertheless, it has been reported in pregnant women and can even appear for the first time during pregnancy as an asthma-like illness. Therefore, awareness is important. Similarly to many autoimmune diseases, it can worsen during pregnancy and postpartum, causing maternal and fetal/neonatal complications. This paper offers a narrative literature review of PAP and pregnancy, while illustrating a case of a pregnant patient with known PAP who developed preeclampsia in the third trimester but had an overall fortunate maternal and neonatal outcome.

Post-Pneumonectomy ARDS and Ogilvie Syndrome - A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: The Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a severe hypoxemic acute lung injury that may complicate lung resections. Reported mortality is very high, up to 50%. This report covers an ARDS case occurring post left pneumonectomy, with a favorable outcome, despite association with an acute colonic pseudo-obstruction syndrome (Ogilvie syndrome) that required abdominal surgery for decompression. CASE REPORT: A 60-year old Caucasian male, diagnosed with a stage IIIA left lung tumor underwent a left pneumonectomy. On the second postoperative day, the patient developed ARDS, requiring ventilatory support. Two days later, as the multiple organ dysfunction worsened, a bowel obstruction occurred. With an acute colonic pseudo-obstruction diagnosis, the decision was to perform laparotomy and a temporary cecostomy. A subsequent improvement in the respiratory parameters and vital functions resulted in weaning from ventilator 8 days after the onset of the ARDS and transfer to the surgery ward 14 days after pneumonectomy.

Hepatopulmonary syndrome: an unusual cause of dyspnea in the pulmonology ward - case presentation.

Hepatopulmonary syndrome is one of the possible complications of chronic liver disease, defined clinically by impaired oxygenation. The underlying cause of the respiratory failure is the presence of intrapulmonary shunting, as a result of abnormal vascular dilatations in the lungs. We report the case of 52-year-old male, exsmoker, with a history of pulmonary TB and also of heavy drinking, who was admitted to the pulmonology ward for dyspnea at rest and limb cyanosis. His clinical exam was suggestive of liver cirrhosis, with signs of pneumonia, but also chronic lung disease. Variations in SaO2 with posture were noted: platypnea and orthodeoxia. Arterial gas assessment revealed severe hypoxemia, only partially corrected by high-flow oxygen therapy, while plethysmography showed only a mild obstructive syndrome, but with severely impaired alveolar-capillary diffusion. The suspicion of a hepatopulmonary syndrome was raised and a contrast echocardiography confirmed the diagnosis by revealing the presence of an intrapulmonary shunt. Although it is believed to be a fairly common complication of chronic liver disease, it is possible for a case of hepatopulmonary syndrome to be admitted solely for respiratory symptoms. The patient's poor socio-economic status is the main reason for both the lack of proper followup for his liver disease and the limited therapeutic options. Keywords: Hepatopulmonary syndrome, liver cirrhosis, respiratory failure, contrast echocardiography

Nodular pulmonary amyloidosis--rare cause of calcified pulmonary nodules.

The article presents the case of a 60-year-old asymptomatic woman whose chest X-ray screening showed bilateral pulmonary nodules of uncertain etiology. Initially, the main suspicion concerned multiple pulmonary metastases, but the anatomical pathology examination of two of the surgically removed lung nodules revealed a benign pattern--foreign body granulomatous reaction to cholesterol crystals. Patient follow-up with a repeat computed tomography one year later showed that some pulmonary nodules had slightly increased in number and size, so the diagnosis required re-evaluation. Congo red staining revealed a positive reaction in the amorphous material, pointing to a nodular form of pulmonary amyloidosis. This case attests to the wide range of investigations needed to examine multiple pulmonary nodules and to the great variety of possible diagnoses. Surgical biopsy, alongside histopathological examination and immunohistochemical tests of the lung are critical in establishing a positive diagnosis. Pulmonary amyloidosis requires additional investigations and long-term follow-up of the patient, as this condition is frequently associated with MALT (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue) lymphoma or multiple myeloma.

[Delayed diagnosis in a case of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's) with initial predominance of joint involvement]. / Diagnostic tardiv într-un caz de granulomatoza cu poliangeita (Wegener) cu manifestari initiale articulare.

The authors present the case of a 53-year-old female, initially admitted in a rheumatology department for fever and diffuse arthritis--being diagnosed with sero-positive rheumathoid arthritis. Although the chest X-ray and CT scan of thorax showed several abnormal features (medium lobe atelectasis, pseudo-cyst in the posterior segment of the right upper lobe with satellite milliary nodules, mediastinal lymph node enlargement), the investigations performed in our pneumology department couldn't establish the etiology of radiological abnormalities. With non-steroidal antiinflamatory treatment, the patient got worse, being readmitted in our hospital after 3 months for high fever, diffuse arthralgia with functional impairment, small hemoptysis, loss of hearing and left ear ache and on chest X-ray with bilateral macronodules, some of these with cavitation. The investigations showed a slight alveolar hemorrhagic syndrome, positive cANCA antibodies, negative antiCCP antibodies--the diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis with lung and ENT involvement being established. Puls-therapy with Solumedrol and i.v. Cyclophosphamide was thereafter initiated with a favorable evolution. This case is special because of the initial misdiagnosis due to the atypical pulmonary manifestations and the non-specific paraclinical findings, in the context of diffuse arthritis with positive rheumatoid factor.

[Coexistence of mediastinal adenopathies of different etiologies -- case report]. / Coexistenta de adenopatii mediastinale de etiologii diferite -- caz clinic.

The paper presents the case of a 52-year-old Caucasian female with several comorbidities (diabetes mellitus II, transitory ischemic stroke, sarcoma of uterus -operated, chemotherapy), which was addressed to the pneumology department for the diagnosis of sarcoidosis, established through mediastinoscopy followed by histopathological examination of lymph node biopsies. Further investigations performed in our department sustained the diagnosis of stage I sarcoidosis and expectative without systemic corticotherapy was the clinicians' decision. The follow-up during several months showed spontaneous remission of the mediastinal adenopathies except one, in the medium lobe, which was supposed to have other ethiology than sarcoidosis. Surgical excision of this tumor and several lymph-node biopsies was performed through right thoracotomy; the histopathological exam sustained the diagnosis of "ganglionar metastasis from endometrial sarcoma' but immunohistochemical tests showed that it was a "sclerosing hemangioma of the lung" - tumor with benign evolution. The coexistence of adenopathies of different and rare etiologies make this case interesting, the different evolution of these adenopathies suggested the different morphological pattern of them.

[Sedation of patients with respiratory failure in ICU]. / Sedarea pacientilor cu insuficienta respiratorie în Terapia Intensiva.

Sedation in patients with acute or chronic respiratory disease needing ventilatory support is provocative. Agitation, anxiety and pain interfere with the measures to alleviate respiratory failure and to improve gas exchanges (invasive or non-invasive ventilation), while most sedatives and analgetics are respiratory depressants. Benzodiazepines, propofol and opioids are widely used, but it does not exist a consensus in medication selection, sedation and pain score scales recommended, implementation of protocols of sedation and recovery from the drugs administrated. The use of old and new sedative/analgesic medication, frequently combined, generates the need for understanding pharmacological interferences and for a strategy in preventing oversedation. Creating a specific protocol and guidelines in each respiratory ICU for sedation/analgesia in mechanically ventilated patients can improve outcome and reduce the ICU and hospital stay.

[Endobronchial changes in sarcoidosis]. / Afectarea endobronsica în sarcoidoza.

The first case of endobronchial sarcoidosis was described by Benedict and Castelman in 1941. The endoscopic aspects in sarcoidosis can reveal: erythema, edema, network of capillary ectases, granularity, irregular mucosa thickening, macro and micro nodules in mucosa, bronchial and tracheal stenosis, distortions, tractions (including at the large and medium airways), sometimes bronchial ectases secondary to these modifications. The doctors must be aware of the possibility of affecting the great airways in sarcoidosis, such situation, although rare, could make for a difficult diagnosis, especially in the case of the tusigen syndrome or persistent and unexplained wheezing. The more the parenchimal disease progresses, the greater is the frequency of the airways being affected.

[Rare case of multiple pulmonary nodules--a case report]. / Cauza rara de noduli pulmonari multipli--caz clinic.

The article presents the case of a 44 years old female patient admitted in the hospital for a solitary pulmonary nodule discovered through a chest X-ray performed for left thoracic pain. Despite the young age, a lot of comorbidities were present: severe dyslipidemia, ischemic right cerebellar lesion, degenerative periventricular lesions, chronic autoimmune thyroiditis, uterine fibroma, fibrocystic mastitis, polyglobulia of uncertain etiology and Rendu-Osler disease. The investigation which showed the nature of the pulmonary nodule was the CT scan with intravenous contrast, which demonstrated that the nodules were in fact arterial-venous malformations as part of the Rendu-Osler disease. This case offers the opportunity to discuss about etiopathogeny, morphopathology, criteria of diagnosis and treatment principles in Rendu-Osler disease.

[Tuberculosis in Romania. Problems and solutions]. / Tuberculoza in România. Probleme si solutii.

UNLABELLED: The analysis of the Management Unit of the National TB Programme (NTP) database, together with the reports of the TB county managers, allowed to the authors to identify some weaknesses of TB control in Romania in the recent years and to propose the appropriate measures. PROBLEMS: The marked decrease in the reduction of TB cases reported annually from 2,761 in 2005-2006, to 145 in 2007-2008 and the stagnation of mortality rate: 7.5 per ten thousand in 2007 and 7.6 per ten thousand in 2008. Deficiencies in data recording and reporting through informatic system of the NTP. Lack of financial resources for system maintenance and upgrade. Deficiencies in monitoring and control of mycobacterium resistance to antituberculous drugs phenomenon at national level. Sensitivity testing only for a small percentage of culture confirmed new TB cases (21%). Higher percentage of MDR in new TB cases compared to the results of national survey of mycobacterium drug resistance 2003-2004. Lack of personnel: 16 TB dispensaries without any pulmonologist, vacancies for 259 doctors, 436 nurses and 433 auxiliary personnel. Important deficiencies in the NTP network's infrastructure and logistics countrywide. Discontinuities in the supply with first and second line antituberculous drugs resulting in interruption of treatments. Lack of an officially endorsed protocol for the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of cases with TB/HIV co-infection. Solutions: Revitalization of monitoring-supervision activities of the NTP running countrywide, provision with necessary financial resources to perform the scheduled visits in counties. Providing maintenance and upgrade of the informatic system for data collection. Implementation of the necessary measures in order to attract and maintain the personnel in the NTP network. Conduct the national survey of mycobacterium susceptibility to first and second line antituberculous drugs and drug susceptibility testing of the most culture confirmed TB cases. Restore the centralized procurement of TB drugs. Finalization and official endorsement of the protocol for TB/HIV co-infection initiated in 2004.

Romanian anti-TB drugs resistance surveillance 2003-2004.

UNLABELLED: Romania decided and initiated a DRS for anti-TB drugs at national level using the standardized methodology proposed by WHO and IUATLD. The DRS protocol was designed with technical assistance from WHO; the surveillance started in June 2003 and ended in June 2004. It was tested the susceptibility to the 4 first line anti-TB drugs: Isoniazide (H), Rifampicin (R), Streptomycin (S), Ethambutol (E). Drug susceptibility testing used: indirect absolute concentration method. There were included in the survey 1251 TB patients from the 60 clusters: 869 new cases and 382 previously treated. From the penitentiary system were included 85 TB patients, 47 new cases and 38 previously treated. RESULTS: [table: see text]. Estimations of the trend of anti-TB drug resistance in Romania for the next period was proposed.

[Preoperative evaluation for pulmonary resections in COPD patients]. / Evaluarea preoperatorie a pacientilor cu BPOC în vederea interventiilor chirurgicale toracice de rezectie pulmonara.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - COPD, being one of the most frequent chronic pathologies in the world, an important number of such patients can necessitate, at a certain moment, a thoracic surgical intervention, especially pulmonary resections for pulmonary carcinoma. In these cases, the removing of a certain volume of pulmonary tissue from a patient who already has a respiratory malfunction necessitates a judicious preoperative evaluation to establish the correct indication, risk factors and postoperative prognosis (at least regarding the pulmonary function). Although the preoperative evaluation for pulmonary resections has been studied for many years, a parameter has not been found yet, simple or combined, to accurately predict the outcome. The majority of the candidates for pulmonary resections can be operated without previous complicated tests like CPET (cardio-pulmonary exercise testing) and regional pulmonary function, which are expensive and sometimes non accessible. In the past years, CPET gained more and more field in the appreciation of the surgical risk; combined with the split measurement of the function of the two lungs, it can even predict the postoperative effort capacity. In the complex preoperative evaluation of the chronic pulmonary patients we must not forget other, not so obvious aspects, so that the patient could benefit by the optimum moment and health status for his or her operation, for the purpose of a better prognosis.

[Wegener granulomatosis with severe alveolar hemorrhagic syndrome]. / Granulomatoza Wegener cu sindrom de hemoragie alveolara severa.

The article presents the case of a female admitted for the suspicion of pulmonary TB (clinical and radiological pattern compatible with this diagnosis), in which the lack of bacteriological confirmation together with a rapid and dramatic deterioration of clinical, radiological and functional status excluded tuberculosis and oriented the diagnosis towards a severe alveolar hemorrhage; further tests confirmed a Wegener granulomatosis with pulmonary, renal and ORL manifestations. The evolution was rapidly favorable using pulse-therapy with cyclophosphamide and methylprednisolone i.v. The particularities of this case were: the use of helmet device for correction of the extremely severe hypoxemia for 3 weeks (no other studies reported such a long continuous duration of use of this device) and the lag between the pulmonary and the renal impairment.

[New diagnostic tests in tuberculosis; value and limits of nucleic acid amplification tests]. / Noi tehnici de diagnostic în tuberculoza; valoarea si limitele testelor de amplificare genica.

The classic bacteriological investigation represents the gold-standard in the diagnosis of tuberculosis. Its disadvantages (the long time until the culture's results, low specificity and sensitivity) imposed certain other rapid and accurate investigations in this field; on the other hand, these tests are much more expensive and demand high technology and dedicated laboratory staff The review presents these new modalities in the diagnosis of tuberculosis (emphasizing the nucleic acid amplification tests) with actual international recommendations for their use.

[First experiences of non-invasive positive-pressure ventilation at home in chronic respiratory failure in Romania]. / Primele experimente de asistenta ventilatorie la domiciliu în insuficienta respiratorie cronica (IRC) din România.

The authors are describing the first two cases of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation at home from our country, applied for chronic respiratory failure, demonstrating the advantages and modalities of approach to tackle this new concept of treatment.