ABSTRACT
Introduction: Regardless corticosteroids are recommended for the treatment of organizing pneumonia there is limited evidence supporting this practice. Thus, we performed a systematic review of the literature on systemic corticosteroid treatment for organizing pneumonia. Methods: A search was implemented in the PubMed database (Medline) for articles published in the last 20 years. Those studies with incomplete or insufficient data and case reports were excluded. We collected data including: demographics, clinical data, diagnostic procedures, aetiology, treatment regimen (drug, posology, duration, response) and evolution. Results: A total of 135 publications were selected and finally 13 studies with 849 patients were included in the review: 12 retrospective observational studies and a single prospective observational study. Most of the patients were started on treatment with systemic corticosteroids - a total of 627 (30-100% depending on the series), but there was a great heterogeneity regarding drug, doses and duration. On those that started treatment, 226 (36%) presented a relapse of the disease during follow-up. Only one study provided information regarding treatment side-effects. Conclusion: The findings of this systematic review show the low quality data supporting the use of corticosteroids for the treatment of organizing pneumonia. This highlights a need to undertake appropriately designed studies to investigate which is the most appropriate treatment regimen that trades off benefits and risks of prolonged corticosteroid administration.
Introducción: Aunque los corticosteroides están recomendados para tratar la neumonía organizada, hay pocos datos que respalden esta práctica, por lo cual efectuamos una revisión sistemática de la bibliografía sobre el tratamiento con corticosteroides sistémicos para la neumonía organizada. Métodos: Se hizo una búsqueda en la base de datos PubMed (Medline) de artículos publicados en los últimos 20 años. Se descartaron los estudios con datos y casos clínicos incompletos o insuficientes. Los datos que recabamos abarcaron: datos demográficos, datos clínicos, técnicas diagnósticas, etiología, pauta terapéutica (fármaco, posología, duración, respuesta) y evolución. Resultados: Se eligieron 135 publicaciones en total y se incorporaron finalmente a la revisión 13 estudios con 849 pacientes: 12 estudios observacionales retrospectivos y un solo estudio observacional prospectivo. La mayor parte de los pacientes habían comenzado el tratamiento con corticosteroides sistémicos, un total de 627 (30%-100% en función de la serie), pero la duración, las dosis y el fármaco manifestaron una gran heterogeneidad. Entre los que habían empezado el tratamiento, 226 (36%) presentaron una recidiva de la enfermedad durante el seguimiento. Solo en un estudio se ofreció información sobre los efectos adversos del tratamiento. Conclusión: Los resultados de esta revisión ponen de manifiesto la escasa calidad de los datos sobre el tratamiento de la neumonía organizada con corticosteroides. Este hecho destaca la necesidad de emprender estudios diseñados correctamente para investigar la pauta terapéutica más adecuada que compense los riesgos y beneficios de la administración prolongada de corticosteroides.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The role of bronchoscopy in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a matter of debate. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This observational multicentre study aimed to analyse the prognostic impact of bronchoscopic findings in a consecutive cohort of patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. Patients were enrolled at 17 hospitals from February to June 2020. Predictors of in-hospital mortality were assessed by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 1027 bronchoscopies were performed in 515 patients (age 61.5±11.2 years; 73% men), stratified into a clinical suspicion cohort (n=30) and a COVID-19 confirmed cohort (n=485). In the clinical suspicion cohort, the diagnostic yield was 36.7%. In the COVID-19 confirmed cohort, bronchoscopies were predominantly performed in the intensive care unit (n=961; 96.4%) and major indications were: difficult mechanical ventilation (43.7%), mucus plugs (39%) and persistence of radiological infiltrates (23.4%). 147 bronchoscopies were performed to rule out superinfection, and diagnostic yield was 42.9%. There were abnormalities in 91.6% of bronchoscopies, the most frequent being mucus secretions (82.4%), haematic secretions (17.7%), mucus plugs (17.6%), and diffuse mucosal hyperaemia (11.4%). The independent predictors of in-hospital mortality were: older age (OR 1.06; p<0.001), mucus plugs as indication for bronchoscopy (OR 1.60; p=0.041), absence of mucosal hyperaemia (OR 0.49; p=0.041) and the presence of haematic secretions (OR 1.79; p=0.032). CONCLUSION: Bronchoscopy may be indicated in carefully selected patients with COVID-19 to rule out superinfection and solve complications related to mechanical ventilation. The presence of haematic secretions in the distal bronchial tract may be considered a poor prognostic feature in COVID-19.
