Pulmonary Manifestation of Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis: A Challenging Case Presentation.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), formerly known as Wegener's granulomatosis, is a rare and potentially life-threatening autoimmune disease characterized by antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculature inflammation. It presents as a systemic autoimmune disease with necrotizing granulomatous inflammation and pauci-immune small vessel vasculitis. This case initially posed a diagnostic challenge due to its atypical presentation and was misdiagnosed as hypersensitivity pneumonitis. The avian precipitin screening assay was positive in our patient, which may be consistent with bird breeder's lung disease or a non-specific reactivity of the chicken antigen test. However, the presence of positive c-ANCA was pivotal for the GPA diagnosis. Here, we describe in detail the clinical manifestations, diagnostic approach, and treatment of GPA in a 54-year-old female who presented with alveolar hemorrhage, but no renal involvement. Treatment involved the use of high-dose corticosteroids to suppress the autoimmune response. Finally, we discuss the striking response of this unique form of granulomatosis with polyangiitis to corticosteroid treatment and emphasize the importance of early initiation of treatment.

Pneumothorax Revealing the Rupture of a Primary Pleural Hydatid Cyst.

Primary pleural hydatid cysts are exceptionally uncommon, even in areas where this parasitic infection is prevalent. The occurrence of pneumothorax can serve as an indicator of this condition, presenting a challenge in both diagnosis and treatment when compared to more common causes of pneumothorax. Moreover, hydatid serology often yields negative results, further complicating the diagnosis. Our case study involves a 15-year-old male who experienced a pneumothorax, subsequently revealing a primary pleural hydatid cyst. This report focuses on elucidating its genesis mechanism and outlining its indicative clinical, radiological, and biological characteristics.

E-cigarette and Vaping-Induced Lung Injury (EVALI) Long Taken for Miliary Tuberculosis: A Rare Cause of Interstitial Lung Disease.

Electronic cigarettes, a recent and burgeoning product, are gaining traction among the general population. However, despite their growing popularity, there is a lack of comprehensive research on their potential health risks. A prominent concern is EVALI (electronic cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury), a newly recognized condition currently under intense investigation. Here, we report the case of a 24-year-old male with a history of chronic smoking e-cigarettes and vaping products heavily over the past year. He sought urgent care at the emergency room due to symptoms that had been present for seven days before seeking medical attention. These symptoms included a sudden onset of difficulty breathing at rest, an intermittent dry cough producing a small amount of greenish sputum, and occasional episodes of mild hemoptysis. Chest radiograph showed bilateral diffuse infiltrates including almost innumerable tiny interstitial nodules. Multiple lobes of the lungs were affected by consolidations and patches of ground-glass opacities in the chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) image. Throughout the following week, the patient's health showed gradual improvement with the aid of supportive measures and corticosteroid treatment. As part of the recovery plan, the patient was released with a gradually reducing regimen of oral corticosteroids and was scheduled for regular outpatient monitoring. The progression of the recovery was notable through enhancements in clinical symptoms, biological markers, and radiological findings.

Diagnostic Approach to Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis: A Report of Two Cases.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is a bronchopulmonary granulomatosis of immunological mechanism, caused by an aberrant response to an inhaled exposure, which results in mostly T cell-mediated inflammation, granuloma formation, and fibrosis in some cases. The most common forms are bird breeder's disease and farmer's lung disease. The diagnosis of HP is based on the presence of compatible symptoms, the notion of exposure to antigens known to be pathogenic, and the existence of interstitial and bronchiolar images on the thoracic scan, lymphocytosis in the alveolar lavage, and precipitins. Chronic forms, in case of insidious exposure, especially in poultry, may evolve into pulmonary fibrosis with a poor prognosis. Through this work, we want to underline the frequency of this disease in our country, its heterogeneity as well as the difficult early diagnosis. Finally, we will investigate the therapeutic effect of corticosteroids in the early stages and the antifibrotic treatment in fibrotic forms.