Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Middle Aged , Respiratory Function Tests , Asthma/physiopathology , Lung/physiopathology , Biomarkers , Inflammation , Severity of Illness Index , Retrospective Studies , SpirometryABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is an interstitial lung disease caused by the inhalation of specific organic antigens or low-molecular weight substances in genetically susceptible individuals. Although small airway involvement is prominent in patients with chronic HP, conventional pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are relatively insensitive to identify it. Thus, the authors aimed to evaluate resistance (R5) and reactance (X5) values at 5Hz on inspiration, expiration, and whole breath, as well as small airway resistance (R5-19) values using a forced oscillation technique (FOT) in patients with chronic HP, and their responses after bronchodilator. In addition, R5 and X5 values according to the presence or absence of mosaic attenuation on computed tomography (CT) were compared. METHODS: PFTs with plethysmography, diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO) and FOT measurements were performed pre-bronchodilator and post-bronchodilator. High-resolution CT was performed at the same visit, and classified according to the presence or absence of mosaic attenuation. R5 and X5 values were then compared according to the presence or absence of mosaic attenuation on CT. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients with chronic HP (57.1% female; mean age, 56±11.5 years; mean forced vital capacity 57±17% predicted) were evaluated. All patients had low X5 values, reflecting lower lung compliance, and only three (8%) demonstrated elevated R5 (whole-breath) values. No patients exhibited bronchodilator response in R5, X5 and R5-19 values. In patients who exhibited greater extension of mosaic attenuation (n=11), R5 and X5 values could not discriminate those with a greater presence of these areas on CT. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that FOT does not help to additionally characterise concomitant small airway involvement in patients with chronic fibrotic HP who demonstrate restrictive ventilatory pattern in conventional PFTs. Nevertheless, FOT appeared to better characterise decreased lung compliance due to fibrosis through X5. Bronchodilator therapy did not appear to induce an acute response in chronic HP patients with restrictive disease. The precise role of FOT in subacute HP and obstructive chronic HP, therefore, must be evaluated.
Subject(s)
Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic/physiopathology , Respiratory Function Tests/methods , Aged , Airway Resistance , Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic/complications , Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic/diagnosis , Chronic Disease , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
La tomografía computada de alta resolución representa una herramienta fundamental en la evaluación de los pacientes con diagnostico de Fibrosis Quística, siendo en la actualidad la modalidad de imagen de elección. Revisamos las anomalías más frecuentes y su aspecto tomográfico reportando los hallazgos en pacientes de nuestra institución.
High Resolution Computed Tomography represents an important tool in the evaluation of patients with Cystic Fibrosis, being the imaging choice method. We review and report the tomographic findings of the most important anomalies in patients of our institution.
