Eosinophilic Pneumonia Induced by Daptomycin.

Daptomycin-induced eosinophilic pneumonia (DIEP) is a rare but serious complication associated with the use of this broad-spectrum antibiotic. We present the case of a teenager with a history of nasopharyngeal cancer who developed DIEP while receiving daptomycin to treat an infection associated with an implanted chamber catheter. Symptoms included recurrent dyspnea and peripheral eosinophilia, with radiological findings consistent with DIEP. The pathophysiology involves an immune response triggered by daptomycin, resulting in eosinophilic pulmonary inflammation. Diagnosis requires a thorough evaluation of medical history, clinical laboratory tests, and radiological findings. The main treatment involves discontinuation of daptomycin and, in severe cases, the use of steroids. It is essential to consider DIEP in patients with respiratory failure and bilateral pulmonary opacities who have used daptomycin and to suspect it in those with blood eosinophilia or in bronchoalveolar lavage.

Monoclonal antibodies in idiopathic chronic eosinophilic pneumonia: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (ICEP) is a rare disease characterized by pulmonary radiological alterations, peripheral eosinophilia, and demonstrated pulmonary eosinophilia. Oral steroids (OSs) are the standard management, but relapses occur in up to 50% of patients during the decrease or suspension of steroids, usually requiring reinitiation of treatment, exposing patients to secondary events derived from the management. Management with monoclonal antibodies has been proposed in these cases to control the disease and limit the secondary effects. The objective is to describe the extent and type of evidence regarding the use of monoclonal antibodies for ICEP. METHODS: A panoramic review of the literature was performed. Observational and experimental studies of pediatric and adult populations that managed recurrent ICEP with monoclonal antibodies were included. Data search, selection, and extraction were performed by two independent reviewers. RESULTS: 937 studies were found. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 37 titles remained for the final analysis: a retrospective, observational, real-life study, two case series publications, and 34 case reports published in academic poster sessions and letters to the editor. In general, the use of monoclonal antibodies approved for severe asthma could be useful for the control of ICEP, since most of the results show a good response for clinical and radiological outcomes. Biological drugs seem to be a safer option for controlling relapses in ICEP, allowing lowering/suspension of OSs, and sometimes replacing them in patients intolerant to them, patients with significant comorbidities, and patients who have already developed adverse events. CONCLUSION: The extent of the evidence supporting management of ICEP with monoclonal antibodies against IL-5 and IgE (omalizumab) is limited, but it could be promising in patients who present frequent relapses, in cortico-dependent individuals, or in patients in whom the use of steroids is contraindicated. The extent of the evidence for management with dupilumab is more limited. Studies with better design and structure are needed to evaluate quality of life and outcomes during a clear follow-up period. To our knowledge, this is the first scoping review of the literature showing the extent of the evidence for the management of ICEP with monoclonal antibodies.

Immunophenotypic and Functional Characterization of Eosinophil and Migratory Dendritic Cell Subsets during Filarial Manifestation of Tropical Pulmonary Eosinophilia.

The role of eosinophil and migratory dendritic cell (migDC) subsets during tropical pulmonary eosinophilia (TPE), a potentially fatal complication of lymphatic filariasis, has not been explored. We show that the onset of TPE is characterized by the accumulation of ROS and anaphylatoxins and a rapid influx of morphologically distinct Siglec-Fint resident eosinophils (rEos) and Siglec-Fhi inflammatory eosinophils (iEos) in the lungs, BAL fluid, and blood of TPE mice. While rEos display regulatory behavior, iEos are highly inflammatory cells, as evident in upregulated expression of activation markers CD69 and CD101, anaphylatoxin receptor C5AR1, alarmins s100a8 and s100a9, components of NADPH oxidase, and copious secretion of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-1ß, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12, and TGF-ß. Importantly, iEos exhibited heightened ROS generation, higher phagocytic and increased antigen presentation capacity, elevated Ca2+ influx, and increased F-actin polymerization but downregulated negative regulators of the immune response, i.e., Cd300a, Anaxa1, Runx3, Lilrb3, and Serpinb1a, underlining their essential role in promoting lung damage during TPE. Interestingly, TPE mice also showed significant expansion of CD24+CD11b+ migDCs, which showed upregulated expression of maturation and costimulatory markers CD40, CD80, CD83, CD86, and MHCII, increased antigen presentation capacity, and higher migratory potential as evidenced by increased expression of cytokine receptors CCR4, CCR5, CXCR4, and CXCR5. CD24+CD11b+ migDCs also upregulated the expression of immunoregulators PD-L1 and PD-L2 and secreted proinflammatory cytokines, suggesting their significant involvement during TPE. Taken together, we document important morphological, immunophenotypic, and functional characteristics of eosinophil and migDC subsets in the lungs of TPE mice and suggest that they contribute to worsening lung histopathological conditions during TPE.

Effect of obesity on airway and systemic inflammation in adults with asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is associated with more severe asthma, however, the mechanisms responsible are poorly understood. Obesity is also associated with low-grade systemic inflammation; it is possible that this inflammation extends to the airways of adults with asthma, contributing to worse asthma outcomes. Accordingly, the aim of this review was to examine whether obesity is associated with increased airway and systemic inflammation and adipokines, in adults with asthma. METHODS: Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus and Current Contents were searched till 11 August 2021. Studies reporting measures of airway inflammation, systemic inflammation and/or adipokines in obese versus non-obese adults with asthma were assessed. We conducted random effects meta-analyses. We assessed heterogeneity using the I2 statistic and publication bias using funnel plots. RESULTS: We included 40 studies in the meta-analysis. Sputum neutrophils were 5% higher in obese versus non-obese asthmatics (mean difference (MD)=5.0%, 95% CI: 1.2 to 8.9, n=2297, p=0.01, I2=42%). Blood neutrophil count was also higher in obesity. There was no difference in sputum %eosinophils; however, bronchial submucosal eosinophil count (standardised mean difference (SMD)=0.58, 95% CI=0.25 to 0.91, p<0.001, n=181, I2=0%) and sputum interleukin 5 (IL-5) (SMD=0.46, 95% CI=0.17 to 0.75, p<0.002, n=198, I2=0%) were higher in obesity. Conversely, fractional exhaled nitric oxide was 4.5 ppb lower in obesity (MD=-4.5 ppb, 95% CI=-7.1 ppb to -1.8 ppb, p<0.001, n=2601, I2=40%). Blood C reactive protein, IL-6 and leptin were also higher in obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Obese asthmatics have a different pattern of inflammation to non-obese asthmatics. Mechanistic studies examining the pattern of inflammation in obese asthmatics are warranted. Studies should also investigate the clinical relevance of this altered inflammatory response. PROSPERO REGISTERATION NUMBER: CRD42021254525.

A Case of Tropical Pulmonary Eosinophilia With Incomplete Response to Diethylcarbamazine Therapy.

Tropical pulmonary eosinophilia (TPE) is a specific pulmonary manifestation of lymphatic filariasis. There is overwhelming infiltration of eosinophils in the lung parenchyma in response to microfilaria. The characteristic features include paroxysmal respiratory symptoms, strikingly high blood eosinophil count, elevated level of immunoglobulin (Ig) E along with high titer of anti-filarial antibody. Treatment with diethylcarbamazine (DEC) has an excellent favorable response. However, recovery may often be incomplete. We present a case of a 36-year-old man with TPE who had complete symptomatic improvement after a three-week course of DEC, but only a partial response in radiological and pulmonary function abnormalities.

A Rare Geriatric Diagnosis of Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis: A Case Report.

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a rare form of systemic disease characterized by inflammation and necrotizing effects of the small and medium blood vessels. It is a vasculitis found in all age groups and both genders, although its etiology is unknown. The mean age at diagnosis is 40 years, consisting of an uncommon cause of vasculitis in people older than 65 years. It is the least common of the three antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (EGPA, granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), and microscopic polyangiitis). The characteristic features of EGPA include extravascular eosinophilic granulomas, peripheral eosinophilia, and asthma, usually responsive to steroid treatment. In this article, we discuss a case of an 83-year-old male with a history of undetermined etiology of chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and severe chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis. First hospitalized with the suspicion of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), based on worsening blood eosinophilia and unresolving respiratory symptoms, a suspicion for EGPA was raised. The development of an eosinophilic pleural effusion, later upon admission, was a predominant factor for its confirmation, as it constitutes a rare finding, only present in about 30% of patients. Laboratory tests showed elevated IgE, the presence of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies directed against myeloperoxidase with a perinuclear staining pattern (ANCA-MPO), and the absence of antiproteinase 3 (anti-PR3) ANCA, which were consistent with the diagnosis. A pleural biopsy was then made, revealing fibrosis with the presence of eosinophils, although with no evidence of granulomas. According to the most recent and accepted classification criteria, the "2022 American College of Rheumatology and European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (ACR/EULAR) for EGPA," this patient presented with a score of 13 (a score greater than or equal to 6 is needed for the classification of EGPA). Hence, a diagnosis of EGPA was assumed, and the patient was initiated on corticosteroid therapy, with a favorable response. The aim of this article is to present a rare case of EGPA diagnosis made at the age of 83 years old, although there was evidence that could point to this disease years before the diagnosis was made. In the present case, it is important to point out the long diagnostic delay in a geriatric patient, much older than the median age of diagnosis for EGPA, culminating in a curious case of uncommon pleuroparenchymal involvement.

Acute eosinophilic pneumonia in twins.

The pathogenesis of eosinophilic pneumonia is currently poorly understood, and this disease has not been reported in twins since 1983. Herein, we report a case of acute eosinophilic pneumonia in twins, which appeared to be triggered by initial smoking at different times by both patients. One patient resumed smoking after recovering from eosinophilic pneumonia, with no observed recurrence. This study discussed the possibility of an association between susceptibility to eosinophilic pneumonia and genetic factors in twins.

Diagnostic value of fractional exhaled nitric oxide combined with small airway function test for chronic cough / 中国基层医药

Objective:To investigate the value of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) combined with small airway function test to replace bronchial provocation test and induced sputum test in differentiating cough variant asthma (CVA) from eosinophilic bronchitis (EB).Methods:The clinical data of 105 patients with chronic cough admitted to The Third People's Hospital of Hubei, Jianghan University from January 2018 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. These patients consisted of 40 patients with CVA (CVA group), 25 patients with EB (EB group), and 40 patients with other chronic coughs (other chronic cough group). FeNO and lung function were compared between groups. The value of FeNO, small airway function, and their combination in differentiating CVA from EB were analyzed using the receiver operating characteristic curves.Results:FeNO level was the highest in the CVA group [33.0 (30.0, 37.8) ppb], followed by the EB group [28.0 (25.5, 32.0) ppb], and the lowest in other chronic cough group [13.0 (11.0, 15.0) ppb]. There was significant difference in FeNO level between groups ( H value = 79.00, P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV 1), FEV 1/FVC, peak expiratory flow (PEF) between groups (all P > 0.05). Maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF) [74 (66.0, 77.4) in the CVA group, 80 (79.0, 83.3) in the EB group, 88.0 (86.4, 90.0) in other chronic coughs group], FEF25 (%) [70.0 (60.3, 75.1) in the CVA group, 78.0 (74.1, 85.0) in the EB group, 81.7 (78.9, 86.3) in other chronic coughs group], FEF50 (%) [75.2 (67.1, 80.8) in the CVA group, 80.6 (75.7, 85.9) in the EB group, 89.4 (87.0, 90.5) in other chronic coughs group], FEF75 (%) [76.4 (68.7, 85.8) in the CVA group, 80.9 (77.4, 89.7) in the EB group, 90.8 (87.2, 94.2) in other chronic coughs group] were significantly lower in the CVA group than those in other chronic coughs group. With the exception of FEF25 (%), MMEF (%), FEF50 (%), and FEF75 (%) were significantly lower in the EB group compared with other chronic coughs group. MMEF (%) and FEF25 (%) in the CVA group were significantly lower compared with the EB group. There were significant differences in MMEF (%), FEF50 (%), and FEF75 (%) between groups ( H = 62.82, 47.04, 47.41, 49.11, all P < 0.01). There were significant differences in FEF50 (%) and FEF75 (%) between CVA and EB groups (both P > 0.05). In binary logistic regression equation, FeNO and MMEF (%) were important indexes to distinguish CVA from EB ( P < 0.05). Bronchial provocation test and induced sputum test were used as the gold standard to distinguish CVA from EB. When FeNO and MMEF (%) were used separately to distinguish CVA from EB, the optimal threshold value was 30.0 ppb and 77.7 respectively, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.77 and 0.82 respectively, the diagnostic sensitivity was 70% and 77.5% respectively, and the diagnostic specificity was 72% and 88% respectively. When FeNO and MMEF (%) were used in combination to distinguish CVA from EB, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.89, and the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity was 75% and 96% respectively. Conclusion:FeNO and MMEF (%) can be used to distinguish CVA from EB. FeNO combined with MMEF (%) has a higher value in distinguishing CVA from EB than FeNO and MMEF alone.

Clinical utility of anti-interleukin 5 monoclonal therapy in asthma using a national, centralised, outcome-based system of drug access.

INTRODUCTION: Interleukin 5 (IL-5) inhibitors are an important therapeutic advance in the management of severe, refractory, eosinophilic asthma. However, their utilisation should be targeted to maximise their benefits. This study used multisite, centralised, national data collected over 18 months to perform an observational integrated, retrospective, cohort study of selection criteria for initiation and continuation of IL-5 inhibitor treatment in Ireland. MATERIALS/PATIENTS AND METHODS: We used data from 230 patients who were given anti-IL-5 monoclonal therapy (reslizumab, mepolizumab or benralizumab) in Ireland between 2018 and 2020. Reimbursement of these drugs in Ireland requires fulfilling eligibility criteria defined by the Acute Hospitals Drugs Management Programme with continued reimbursement requiring ongoing submission of clinical data demonstrating clinical effectiveness. RESULTS: IL-5 inhibitor use for 18 months was associated with a total reduction in asthma-associated hospital admissions of 108 (p=0.036) and in non-hospital exacerbations of 85 in 18 months (p=0.014). Respiratory-associated GP visits were reduced from 637 in 12 months to 89 at 6 months and 210 at 18 months of treatment (p<0.001). Oral corticosteroid requirement was reduced or stopped entirely (p<0.001). Subgroup analysis of one site replicated these results and showed a significant reduction in the Asthma Control Questionnaire Score (p<0.001) CONCLUSIONS: Selected patients continued on IL-5 treatment to 18 months had significantly reduced exacerbations, GP visits, oral corticosteroid use and asthma-associated hospitalisations. These results show that anti-IL-5 therapy, in carefully selected and monitored patients with asthma, results in significant improvements in clinical outcomes in a real-world setting.

Longitudinal changes in sputum and blood inflammatory mediators during FeNO suppression testing.

To explore whether fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) non-suppression identifies corticosteroid resistance, we analysed inflammatory mediator changes during a FeNO suppression test with monitored high-intensity corticosteroid therapy. In linear mixed-effects models analysed over time, the 15 clinically distinct 'suppressors' (ie, ≥42% FeNO suppression) normalised Asthma Control Questionnaire scores (mean±SD, start to end of test: 2.8±1.4 to 1.4±0.9, p<0.0001) and sputum eosinophil counts (median (IQR), start to end of test: 29% (6%-41%) to 1% (1%-5%), p=0.0003) while significantly decreasing sputum prostaglandin D2 (254 (89-894) to 93 (49-209) pg/mL, p=0.004) and numerically decreasing other type-2 cytokine, chemokine and alarmin levels. In comparison, the 19 non-suppressors had persistent sputum eosinophilia (10% (1%-67%) despite high-intensity therapy) with raised end-test inflammatory mediator levels (1.9 (0.9-2.8)-fold greater than suppressors). FeNO non-suppression during monitored treatment implies biological corticosteroid resistance.

Drug-Related Pneumonitis Induced by Osimertinib as First-Line Treatment for Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutation-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Real-World Setting.

BACKGROUND: Osimertinib has demonstrated impressive efficacy as a first-line treatment for patients with advanced epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation-positive (m+) lung cancer. Drug-related pneumonitis (DRP) is a potentially lethal complication of osimertinib treatment, but reliable real-world data currently are lacking. RESEARCH QUESTION: What is the prevalence of osimertinib-induced DRP in first-line settings? What are the characteristics, clinical impact, and risk factors of osimertinib-induced DRP? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective multicenter cohort study of patients who received osimertinib as a first-line treatment for advanced EGFR m+ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) between August 2018 and December 2019. All chest CT scans and clinical information during osimertinib exposure were collected until June 2020. The primary end point was DRP incidence identified through central review. RESULTS: A total of 452 patients from 18 institutions were evaluated. Eighty patients (18%) had a diagnosis of DRP (all grades), and 21 patients (4.6%) had a diagnosis of grade 3 or more DRP. Among the patients with DRP, 46% were identified as having transient asymptomatic pulmonary opacity (TAPO). Regarding the CT scan patterns, organizing pneumonia, simple pulmonary eosinophilia, hypersensitivity pneumonia, diffuse alveolar damage, and nonspecific interstitial pneumonia were found in 30, 21, 18, 9, and two patients (38%, 26%, 23%, 11%, and 3%), respectively. In multivariate analysis, smoking history was identified as an independent risk factor for DRP (hazard ratio, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.01-2.89; P = .046). In the 3-month landmark analysis, DRP was associated with poor treatment efficacy; however, the presence of TAPO did not affect treatment efficacy negatively. INTERPRETATION: For osimertinib treatment in first-line settings, the frequency of DRP was considerably elevated to 18 %, and half of these patients exhibited TAPO features.

Eosinophilic Syndromes Associated With Daptomycin Use: Re-exposure Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis and Prior Peripheral Eosinophilia.

Background: Daptomycin pulmonary eosinophilia (DPE) has been well described in case reports and reporting from the Food and Drug Administration. We report 3 eosinophilic syndromes associated with daptomycin use. Methods: This is a retrospective review of all patients who received daptomycin (inpatient or outpatient) from 2010 to 2020 at the Veterans Affairs Portland Healthcare System. Patients who developed DPE while receiving daptomycin were evaluated to determine risk factors. Data collected included daptomycin dose and duration, body mass index, creatinine clearance, and peripheral eosinophilia. Results: Of 330 patients who received daptomycin, 81.5% developed a peripheral eosinophilia, with 109 (33%) developing peripheral eosinophilia ≥5%. Fifty-one (16%) met criteria for DPE. Primary DPE occurred in 38 of the 51 patients with a median 26 days of treatment, and 49% had peripheral eosinophilia ≥5%. Re-exposure DPE occurred in the other 13 patients and occurred a median of 3 days after initiation of daptomycin. The presence of an elevated peripheral eosinophilia of ≥5% during daptomycin usage was significantly associated with primary (odds ratio [OR], 2.23; 95% CI, 1.2-4.09; P = .008) and re-exposure DPE (OR, 12; 95% CI, 1.6-103; P = .003). All patients recovered after withdrawal of daptomycin without complications. Conclusions: There are 3 daptomycin eosinophilic syndromes: peripheral eosinophilia, primary DPE occurring about 4 weeks into therapy, and re-exposure DPE. Elevated peripheral eosinophilia ≥5% was a risk factor for both primary and re-exposure DPE, but still identified about half the cases. Peripheral eosinophilia should be carefully monitored during daptomycin treatment, and clinicians should be aware that prior eosinophilia may predict an acute pulmonary reaction upon daptomycin re-exposure.

[Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia: imaging findings]. / Neumonía eosinofílica crónica: hallazgos en imágenes.

Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) is a rare disease of unknown cause characterized by alveolar and interstitial eosinophilic infiltration. The tomographic pattern is characterized by consolidations and peripherally distributed ground glass opacities in both upper lobes. Other findings are opacities in bands parallel to the pleura, thickening of the interlobular septa, migratory opacities, and mediastinal lymph nodes. We presented a case of a woman with CEP and described the most relevant clinical and radiological characteristics.

La neumonía eosinofílica crónica (NEC) es una enfermedad rara de causa desconocida caracterizada por infiltración eosinofílica alveolar e intersticial. El patrón tomográfico se caracteriza por consolidaciones y opacidades en vidrio esmerilado de distribución periférica en ambos lóbulos superiores. Otros hallazgos son las opacidades en bandas paralelas a la pleura, engrosamiento de septos interlobulillares, opacidades migratrices y adenomegalias mediastinales. Se presenta el caso de una mujer con NEC y se describen las características clínicas y radiológicas más relevantes.

Pregnant lady with eosinophilia: common cause, uncommon association.

Peripheral eosinophilia can have a myriad of causes and presents a diagnostic challenge in everyday practice. Tropical pulmonary eosinophilia (TPE), seen commonly in tropics, is an immunological reaction to filarial parasites. This disease can present with clinical features that closely mimic asthma, eosinophilic pneumonia, and Loffler's syndrome. Differentiating between these diseases is essential owing to marked differences in treatment. This can be further challenging in pregnancy as any wrong treatment is likely to affect both the mother and the child. We report a case of a pregnant lady who presented with eosinophilia and of how she was worked up to the correct diagnosis. There are only few reported cases of TPE in pregnancy, and there are no reported cases from India. The case also underlines the approach required in these patients to reach the correct diagnosis.

Derivation of a prototype asthma attack risk scale centred on blood eosinophils and exhaled nitric oxide.

Reduction of the risk of asthma attacks is a major goal of current asthma management. We propose to derive a risk scale predicting asthma attacks based on the blood eosinophil count and exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO). Biomarker-stratified trial-level attack rates were extracted and pooled from the control arms of the Novel START, CAPTAIN, QUEST, Benralizumab Phase 2b, PATHWAY, STRATOS 1-2 and DREAM trials (n=3051). These were used to derive rate ratios and the predicted asthma attack rate for different patient groups. The resultant prototype risk scale shows potential to predict asthma attacks, which may be prevented by anti-inflammatory treatment.

Diagnostic index for acute eosinophilic pneumonia without bronchoscopy in military smokers.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP) is common among military smokers; however, bronchoscopy is required for the diagnosis. We aimed to derive and validate a scoring system to diagnose AEP without bronchoscopy. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study including patients diagnosed with AEP or any other pneumonia among military smokers hospitalized in the Armed Forces Capital Hospital from 15 November 2016 through 25 December 2019. The patients were divided into derivation and validation groups according to their admission day. Patient symptoms, laboratory findings, and computed tomography findings were candidate variables. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used to calculate the scores for each variable. RESULTS: Among 414 patients, AEP was confirmed in 54 of 279 patients (19.4%) in the derivation group and in 18 of 135 patients (13.3%) in the validation group. Ten variables were selected using LASSO regression: new-onset or a recently increased smoking (≤ 4 weeks) (8 points), interlobular septal thickening (5 points), absence of sputum (3 points), ground glass opacity (3 points), acute onset (≤ 3 days) (2 points), dyspnea (2 points), chest pain (2 points), leukocytosis (2 points), bronchovascular bundle thickening (2 points), and bilateral involvement (2 points). The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of the score to diagnose AEP was 0.997 (95% confidence interval, 0.992 to 1.000) in the derivation group and 0.985 (95% confidence interval, 0.965 to 1.000) in the validation group. CONCLUSION: We introduce a scoring system that can distinguish AEP from other types of pneumonia in military smokers without the need for bronchoscopy.

Hiperinfección por Strongyloides stercoralis en un paciente joven con infección por HTLV-1 y colitis ulcerativa / Strongyloides stercolaris hyperinfection in a young patient with HTLV-1 infection and ulcerative colitis

Resumen La estrongiloidiasis es una infección causada por el parásito Strongyloides stercoralis (SS) y se asocia con una alta mortalidad en pacientes inmunosuprimidos debido a una diseminación larvaria y síndrome de hiperinfección. El compromiso de la mucosa gástrica es raro, pero cuando se presenta se caracteriza por sangrado digestivo y emesis persistente. A continuación, se presenta el caso de un paciente de 27 años con síntomas gastrointestinales, antecedente de infección por el virus linfotrópico humano de células T tipo 1 (HTLV-1) y colitis ulcerativa, quien desarrolló síndrome de hiperinfección por SS. Se describe la presentación clínica, diagnóstico, tratamiento y complicaciones derivadas del cuadro infeccioso.

Abstract Strongyloidiasis is an infection caused by the parasite Strongyloides stercolaris (SS) and is associated with high mortality in immunosuppressed patients due to larval spread and hyperinfection syndrome. Gastric mucosal involvement is rare, but when it occurs, it is characterized by digestive bleeding and persistent emesis. The following is the case of a 27-year-old patient with gastrointestinal symptoms, a history of HTLV-1 infection and ulcerative colitis, who developed hyperinfection syndrome with SS. The clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment and complications arising from the infectious disease are described.

Stability in eosinophil categorisation during subsequent severe exacerbations of COPD.

BACKGROUND: The blood eosinophil count has been shown to be a promising biomarker for establishing personalised treatment strategies to reduce corticosteroid use, either inhaled or systemic, in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Eosinophil levels seem relatively stable over time in stable state, but little is known whether this is also true in subsequent severe acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD). AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the stability in eosinophil categorisation between two subsequent severe AECOPDs employing frequently used cut-off levels. METHODS: During two subsequent severe AECOPDs, blood eosinophil counts were determined at admission to the hospital in 237 patients in the Cohort of Mortality and Inflammation in COPD Study. The following four cut-off levels were analysed: absolute counts of eosinophils ≥0.2×109/L (200 cells/µL) and ≥0.3×109/L (300 cells/µL) and relative eosinophil percentage of ≥2% and ≥3% of total leucocyte count. Categorisations were considered stable if during the second AECOPD their blood eosinophil status led to the same classification: eosinophilic or not. RESULTS: Depending on the used cut-off, the overall stability in eosinophil categorisation varied between 70% and 85% during two subsequent AECOPDs. From patients who were eosinophilic at the first AECOPD, 34%-45% remained eosinophilic at the subsequent AECOPD, while 9%-21% of patients being non-eosinophilic at the first AECOPD became eosinophilic at the subsequent AECOPD. CONCLUSIONS: The eosinophil variability leads to category changes in subsequent AECOPDs, which limits the eosinophil categorisation stability. Therefore, measurement of eosinophils at each new exacerbation seems warranted.

Eosinophil extracellular traps in a patient with chronic eosinophilic pneumonia.

Eosinophils rapidly release extracellular filamentous chromatin fibers (extracellular traps, ETs) when they are stimulated. Reticulated ETs have been recently shown to affect secretion viscosity in eosinophilic inflammatory diseases. Here we report a 43-year-old woman with infiltrative shadows in both upper lungs that did not respond well to antibiotics. She admitted to occasional coughing and sputum, but had poor viscous regulation. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) collected from the upper left lobe showed many eosinophils (65%). She was diagnosed with chronic eosinophilic pneumonia, per previously reported criteria, and began treatment with prednisolone. The infiltration shadow gradually improved, and she was discharged 28 days after admission. Later, we immune-stained her BALF cell components with antibodies against major basic protein, an eosinophil granule protein, which showed a large number of agglomerating eosinophils; and antibodies against citrullinated histone H3 (CitH3-a marker for ETs), which showed CitH3-positive ETs, spread in a network. These findings confirmed that some BALF eosinophils released eosinophil ETs. This case shows the existence of ETs from BALF in patients with chronic eosinophilic pneumonia. Concentration of eosinophil ETs in eosinophilic inflammatory diseases may affect secretion viscosity in sputum, and so on.