Severe asthma and bronchiectasis.

Objective: The aim of our study was to determine the tomographic findings and prevalence of bronchiectasis in our population of patients with severe asthma, and to identify factors associated with the presence of bronchiectasis in these patients. Materials and methods: We retrospectively collected data from the medical histories of patients referred to the asthma unit of our hospital, with a diagnosis of severe asthma between 2015 and 2017. Patients with ABPA, cystic fibrosis, immunodeficiency or systemic disease were excluded. High-resolution thorax-computed tomodensitography (HRCT) was performed in all patients. A standardized protocol was applied in data collection. Results: A total of 108 patients comprising 50 men (46%) and 58 women (54%) were included in the study. Of the 108 patients, 59 (55%) had at least one abnormality detected by HRCT, the most commonly reported abnormalities being bronchiectasis (35%), bronchial wall thickening (33%), emphysema (7%), atelectasis area (6%), mosaic attenuation due to air trapping (4%), and "tree in bud" image (2%). Subjects with bronchiectasis were older (p = 0.001), had a longer asthma history (p = 0.048), had poorer pulmonary function tests with lower FVC (p = 0.031), had more severe bronchial obstruction with lower FEV1 (p = 0.008) and had lower FEV1/FVC (p = 0.003). They also experienced more frequent hospitalizations in the previous year (p = 0.019) and received treatment with omalizumab more frequently (p = 0.049). Plasma eosinophil count and IgE levels were comparable in both groups. In the multivariate analysis, the presence of bronchiectasis was associated with ages older than 40 (OR: 8.3; 95% CI: 1.7-41.2) and chronic airflow obstruction (OR: 5.4; 95% CI: 1.9-15.3). Conclusions: We found that in patients with severe asthma, the prevalence of bronchiectasis is high and that bronchiectasis is associated with a longer asthma history, greater severity and, more importantly, chronic airflow obstruction. These findings are still insufficient evidence to considere features of asthma-bronchiectasis overlap syndrome, a distinct phenotype of severe asthma, but bronchiectasis is a frequent phenomenon leading to a more severe disease with frequent exacerbations. The performance of thorax HRCT on patients with severe asthma can help to evaluate management strategies for the disease in order to improve treatment and prognosis.

Different Faces of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis With Preserved Forced Vital Capacity.

INTRODUCTION: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is progressive and irreversible. Some discrepancies about IPF staging exists, especially in mild phases. Forced vital capacity (FVC) higher than 80% has been considered early or mild IPF even for the design of clinical trials. METHODS: Spanish multicentre, observational, retrospective study of IPF patients diagnosed between 2012 and 2016, based on the ATS/ERS criteria, which presented FVC greater or equal 80% at diagnosis. Clinical and demographic characteristics, lung function, radiological pattern, treatment, and follow-up were analyzed. RESULTS: 225 IPF patients were included, 72.9% were men. The mean age was 69.5 years. The predominant high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) pattern was consistent usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) (51.6%). 84.7% of patients presented respiratory symptoms (exertional dyspnea and/or cough) and 33.33% showed oxygen desaturation below 90% in the 6min walking test (6MWT). Anti-fibrotic treatment was initiated at diagnosis in 55.11% of patients. Median FVC was 89.6% (IQR 17) and 58.7% of patients had a decrease of diffusion lung capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) below 60% of theoretical value; most of them presented functional progression (61.4%) and higher mortality at 3 years (20.45%). A statistically significant correlation with the 3-years mortality was observed between DLCO <60% and consistent UIP radiological pattern. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with preserved FVC but presenting UIP radiological pattern and moderate-severe DLCO decrease at diagnosis associate an increased risk of progression, death or lung transplantation. Therefore, in these cases, preserved FVC would not be representative of early or mild IPF.

Community-acquired bacteremic Streptomyces atratus pneumonia in animmunocompetent adult: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Streptomyces spp. are aerobic, Gram-positive bacteria of the order Actinomycetales, known for their ability to produce antimicrobial molecules such as streptomycin. Pneumonia due to Streptomyces is considered to be rare and limited to immunocompromised patients. Streptomyces spp. are only rarely associated with invasive systemic infections. To our knowledge, we report the first documented case of community-acquired Streptomyces atratus bacteremic pneumonia in an immunocompetent patient. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe a case of Streptomyces atratus bacteremic pneumonia in an otherwise healthy, 77-year-old Spanish man. Streptomyces identified by 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing grew in multiple blood cultures and bronchoalveolar lavage cultures. The infection resolved completely after treatment with imipenem and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid for 2 months. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of cases reported in the literature make reference to the difficulty of determining the pathogenic role of Streptomyces spp. Usually considered a contaminant, the pathogenic role of Streptomyces spp. is easier to confirm when the species is isolated from a catheter tip and, in the case of blood cultures, in more than one sample with a high count of colonies. To our knowledge, we report the first documented case of Streptomyces atratus bacteremic pneumonia in an immunocompetent patient. As the experience is limited, further studies are needed to better understand the interpretation of the isolates of the genus Streptomyces; the predisposing factors for infection; and the course, treatment, and evolution of these infections.

[Bronchial carcinoid tumor: study of 60 patients]. / Tumor carcinoide bronquial: análisis de 60 pacientes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To describe the casuistry of bronchial carcinoid tumor in the last 20 years in our hospital and determine survival after surgical treatment. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records from January 1992 to June 2012 of patients diagnosed with carcinoid tumor by the pulmonary service. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients (87%) had typical carcinoid and 8 (13%) atypical carcinoid. The mean age at diagnosis was 60 years (SD: 14.4). There was no relationship between consumption of tobacco and carcinoid tumor. Twenty-two per cent were asymptomatic radiographic finding (incidental finding) Three patients showed carcinoid syndrome and one patient had Cushing syndrome. There was a right dominance and the mean lesion size was between 2.1 and 5 cm. Nine per cent had lymph node involvement, predominantly in atypical carcinoid. Overall survival at 3.5 and 10 years was 94%, 86% and 82%. Survival at 5 years was 90% for typical and 86% for atypical and survival at 10 years was 85% for typical and 57% for atypical carcinoids. CONCLUSION: Carcinoid tumors are malignant tumors by their ability to metastasize. In our study, both histological type and staging were predictors of survival.