Radiological usual interstitial pneumonia pattern is associated with two-year mortality in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Introduction: The new diagnostic guidelines for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) did not rule out the possibility of combining the radiological patterns of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) and probable UIP, given the similar management and diagnostic capacity. However, the prognostic implications of these patterns have not been fully elucidated, with different studies showing heterogeneous results. We applied the new criteria to a retrospective series of patients with IPF, assessing survival based on radiological patterns, findings, and their extension. Methods: Two thoracic radiologists reviewed high-resolution computed tomography images taken at diagnosis in 146 patients with IPF, describing the radiological findings and patterns. The association of each radiological finding and radiological patterns with two-year mortality was analysed. Results: The two-year mortality rate was 40.2% in IPF patients with an UIP radiological pattern versus 7.1% in those with probable UIP. Compared to the UIP pattern, probable UIP was protective against mortality, even after adjusting for age, sex, pulmonary function, and extent of fibrosis (hazard ratio (HR) 0.23, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.06-0.99). Receiving antifibrotic treatment was also a protective factor (HR 0.51, 95%CI 0.27-0.98). Honeycombing (HR 3.62, 95%CI 1.27-10.32), an acute exacerbation pattern (HR 4.07, 95%CI 1.84-8.96), and the overall extent of fibrosis (HR 1.04, 95%CI 1.02-1.06) were predictors of mortality. Conclusions: In our series, two-year mortality was higher in patients with IPF who presented a radiological pattern of UIP versus probable UIP on the initial scan. Honeycombing, an acute exacerbation pattern, and a greater overall extent of fibrosis were also predictors of increased mortality. The prognostic differences between the radiological pattern of UIP and probable UIP in our series would support maintaining them as two differentiated patterns.

Mosaic attenuation in non-fibrotic areas as a predictor of non-usual interstitial pneumonia pathologic diagnosis.

The new radiological diagnostic criteria for diagnosing idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) seek to optimize the indications for surgical lung biopsy (SLB). We applied the new criteria to a retrospective series of patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) who underwent SLB in order to analyse the correlation between the radiological findings suggestive of another diagnosis (especially mosaic attenuation and its location with respect to fibrotic areas) and the usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pathologic diagnosis. Two thoracic radiologists reviewed the HRCT images of 83 patients with ILD and SLB, describing the radiological findings and patterns based on the new criteria. The association of each radiological finding with radiological patterns and histology was analysed. Mosaic attenuation is highly prevalent in both the UIP and non-UIP pathologic diagnosis and with similar frequency (80.0% vs. 78.6%). However, the presence of significant mosaic attenuation (≥ 3 lobes) only in non-fibrotic areas was observed in 60.7% of non-UIP pathologic diagnosis compared to 20.0% in UIP. This finding was associated with other diagnoses different from IPF, mostly connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) and hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP). In our series of pathologically confirmed ILD, mosaic attenuation in non-fibrotic areas was a predictor of non-UIP pathologic diagnosis, and was associated with other diagnoses different from UIP, mostly CTD-ILD and HP. If confirmed in larger series, this finding could constitute a valuable tool for improving the interpretation of radiological.

Prediction of three-month readmission based on haematological parameters in patients with severe COPD exacerbation.

INTRODUCTION: Approximately one-third of patients hospitalised for an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are readmitted to the hospital within 90 days. It is of interest to identify biomarkers that predict relapse in order to prevent readmission in these patients. In our prospective study of patients admitted for COPD exacerbation, we aimed to analyse whether routine haematological parameters can help predict the three-month readmission risk. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 106 patients were included, of whom 23 were female (22%). The age (mean ± SD) was 73 ± 10 years, and the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was 44 ± 15%. The haematological parameters were obtained from the first blood test result during admission. The variables were as follows: red cell distribution width, mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet (PLT) count, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, PLT to lymphocyte ratio, MPV to PLT ratio, and eosinophil count. Patients were differentiated into two groups for each haematological parameter according to median value, and the percentage of readmissions in each of the groups was recorded. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients (24%) were readmitted to hospital within three months of discharge. Only the difference in low-MPV and high-MPV patients was significant (37% vs 10%, p = 0.001). The predictive capacity for three-month readmission measured by the area under the curve (AUC) did not show clinically applicable values; the best result was for MPV (AUC 0.64). In the remaining values, the AUC was between 0.52 and 0.55. CONCLUSION: Routine haematological parameters proposed as prognostic biomarkers in COPD obtained at the moment of hospital admission were not useful for predicting three-month readmission.

Application of validated severity scores for pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2.

OBJECTIVES: Compare the accuracy of PSI, CURB-65, MuLBSTA and COVID-GRAM prognostic scores to predict mortality, the need for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) in patients with pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 and assess the coexistence of bacterial respiratory tract infection during admission. METHODS: Retrospective observational study that included hospitalized adults with pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 from 15/03 to 15/05/2020. We excluded immunocompromised patients, nursing home residents and those admitted in the previous 14 days for another reasons. Analysis of ROC curves was performed, calculating the area under the curve for the different scales, as well as sensitivity, specificity and predictive values. RESULTS: 208 patients were enrolled, aged 63 ± 17 years, 577% were men. 38 patients were admitted to ICU (235%), of these patients 33 required IMV (868%), with an overall mortality of 125%. Area under the ROC curves for mortality of the scores were: PSI 082 (95% CI 073-091), CURB-65 082 (073-091), MuLBSTA 072 (062-081) and COVID-GRAM 086 (070-1). Area under the curve for needing IMV was: PSI 073 (95% CI 064-082), CURB-65 066 (055-077), MuLBSTA 078 (069-086) and COVID-GRAM 076 (067-085), respectively. Patients with bacterial co-infections of the respiratory tract were 20 (9,6%), the most frequent strains being Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, the COVID-GRAM score was the most accurate to identify patients with higher mortality with pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2; however, none of these scores accurately predicts the need for IMV with ICU admission. 10% of patients admitted presented bacterial respiratory co-infection.

OBJETIVOS: Comparar el rendimiento de las escalas pronósticas PSI, CURB-65, MuLBSTA y COVID-GRAM para predecir mortalidad y necesidad de ventilación mecánica invasiva (VMI) en pacientes con neumonía por SARS-CoV-2. Valorar la existencia de coinfección bacteriana respiratoria durante el ingreso. MÉTODO: Estudio observacional retrospectivo que incluyó adultos hospitalizados con neumonía por SARS-CoV-2 del 15/03 al 15/05/2020. Se excluyeron aquellos inmunodeprimidos, institucionalizados e ingresados en los 14 días previos por otro motivo. Se realizó un análisis de curvas ROC, calculando el área bajo la curva para las diferentes escalas, así como sensibilidad, especificidad y valores predictivos. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 208 pacientes, con edad de 63 ± 17 años; el 57,7% eran hombres. Ingresaron en UCI 38 (23,5%), precisando de estos VMI 33 (86,8%), con una mortalidad global del 12,5%. Las áreas bajo las curvas ROC para mortalidad de los scores fueron: PSI 0,82 (95% IC 0,73­0,91), CURB-65 0,82 (0,73­0,91), MuLBSTA 0,72 (0,62­0,81) y COVID-GRAM 0,86 (0,70­1). Las áreas para necesidad de VMI fueron: PSI 0,73 (95% IC 0,64­0,82), CURB-65 0,66 (0,55­0,77), MuLBSTA 0,78 (0,69­0,86) y COVID-GRAM 0,76 (0,67­0,85), respectivamente. Los pacientes que presentaron coinfección bacteriana respiratoria fueron 20 (9.6%) siendo los gérmenes más frecuentes Pseudomonas aeruginosa y Klebsiella pneumoniae. CONCLUSIONES: En nuestro estudio el score COVID-GRAM fue el más preciso para identificar los pacientes con mayor mortalidad ingresados con neumonía por SARS-CoV-2, no obstante, ninguno de estos scores predice de forma precisa la necesidad de VMI con ingreso en UCI. El 10% de los pacientes presentó coinfección bacteriana respiratoria.

Symptoms in patients with asthma infected by SARS-CoV-2.

INTRODUCTION: Organ tropism of SARS-CoV-2 to the respiratory tract could potentially aggravate asthma. The susceptibility of patients with asthma to develop an exacerbation when they are infected with SARS-CoV-2 is unknown. We aimed to investigate the symptoms presented in patients with asthma who became infected with SARS-CoV-2. METHODS AND RESULTS: All patients over 14 years of age who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (by RT-PCR) were included (n = 2995). In patients with asthma (n = 77, 2.6%; 44 females), symptoms, therapy and phenotype were recorded. Seventeen (22%) patients had mild asthma, 55 (71%) moderate and five severe (6%). Twenty-six patients with asthma (34%) were asymptomatic, 34 (44%) developed symptoms but did not require hospital admission, and 17 (22%) were hospitalised. One patient was admitted because of asthma exacerbation without pneumonia or other symptoms. Ten patients (13%) had wheezes (six with pneumonia). Comparison of wheezing between patients with non-T2 asthma and the rest of the patients was statistically significant, (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: SARS-CoV-2 infection is not a significant cause of asthma exacerbation, although some patients may present wheezing, especially in cases of pneumonia. The severity of asthma does not seem to be associated with symptoms of the disease.

[Application of validated severity scores for pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2]. / Aplicación de escalas pronósticas de gravedad en la neumonía por SARS-CoV-2.

OBJECTIVES: Compare the accuracy of PSI, CURB-65, MuLBSTA and COVID-GRAM prognostic scores to predict mortality, the need for invasive mechanical ventilation in patients with pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 and assess the coexistence of bacterial respiratory tract infection during admission. METHODS: Retrospective observational study that included hospitalized adults with pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 from 15/03 to 15/05/2020. We excluded immunocompromised patients, nursing home residents and those admitted in the previous 14 days for another reasons. Analysis of ROC curves was performed, calculating the area under the curve for the different scales, as well as sensitivity, specificity and predictive values. RESULTS: A total of 208 patients were enrolled, aged 63±17 years, 57,7% were men; 38 patients were admitted to ICU (23,5%), of these patients 33 required invasive mechanical ventilation (86,8%), with an overall mortality of 12,5%. Area under the ROC curves for mortality of the scores were: PSI 0,82 (95% CI: 0,73-0,91), CURB-65 0,82 (0,73-0,91), MuLBSTA 0,72 (0,62-0,81) and COVID-GRAM 0,86 (0,70-1). Area under the curve for needing invasive mechanical ventilation was: PSI 0,73 (95% CI: 0,64-0,82), CURB-65 0,66 (0,55-0,77), MuLBSTA 0,78 (0,69-0,86) and COVID-GRAM 0,76 (0,67-0,85), respectively. Patients with bacterial co-infections of the respiratory tract were 20 (9,6%), the most frequent strains being Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, the COVID-GRAM score was the most accurate to identify patients with higher mortality with pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2; however, none of these scores accurately predicts the need for invasive mechanical ventilation with ICU admission. The 10% of patients admitted presented bacterial respiratory co-infection.

[Granulomatous lymphocytic interstitial lung disease: description of a series of 9 cases]. / Enfermedad pulmonar intersticial linfocítica granulomatosa: descripción de una serie de 9 casos.

INTRODUCTION: Granulomatous-lymphocytic interstitial lung disease (GLILD) is one of the most serious non-infectious complications in patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID). Its diagnosis and treatment are challenging. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the characteristics of Hospital General Universitario de Alicante patients with CVID and GLILD. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Descriptive study of patients with CVID and GLILD diagnosed from 2000 to 2020. RESULTS: Of the 42 patients with CVID, 9 had GLILD (21%). Mean age at diagnosis of 39 years. Sixty-six percent of the CVID was type MB0. Fifty-five percent had decreased BLs. There was a decrease in DLCO by 89%. Surgical lung biopsy (SLB) was performed in 78%. The most frequent extrapulmonary manifestation was adenopathy (78%). One patient had a heterozygous pathological mutation in the CTLA4 gene. Of the patients, 67% received combined corticosteroid treatment with Rituximab. CONCLUSIONS: GLILD is a rare complication of CVID whose diagnosis and treatment are a challenge. Its diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion, therefore a multidisciplinary diagnostic approach and combined treatment could provide a good result in the adult population.