Hospital readmissions with exacerbation of obstructive pulmonary disease in illicit drug smokers.

PURPOSE: Patients with obstructive pulmonary disease (asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-COPD) who smoke illicit drugs are at an increased risk of hospital admissions. We compared hospital readmission rates due to exacerbations of obstructive pulmonary disease amongst patients who were current/ex-illicit drug smokers versus current/ex-tobacco smokers. METHODS: We reviewed all the admissions between January 2009 and September 2011 with a presumptive diagnosis of an 'exacerbation of COPD' retrospectively from our COPD admission database. RESULTS: There were 950 sequential hospital admissions in 709 patients over a 33-month period; 250 ex-tobacco smokers, 370 current tobacco smokers and 89 current/ex-illicit drug smokers. Recurrent hospital admission rates with exacerbation of obstructive pulmonary disease were higher in the illicit drug smokers compared with current/ex-tobacco smokers (1.00 versus 0.22/0.26, p < 0.001). Illicit drug smokers were younger [50 versus 72.9/69.9 (mean 71.2) years, p < 0.001] and had shorter length of hospital stay [7.44 versus 9.28/10.69 (mean 9.87) days, p = 0.038]. Illicit drug smokers with FEV1 < 1 litre (L) had higher readmissions than ex/current tobacco smokers with FEV1 < 1 L (p < 0.001). Admissions requiring non-invasive ventilation for type 2 respiratory failure were more common in illicit drug smokers (8.4 versus 3 %, p < 0.002). CONCLUSION: We have shown that readmission rates in illicit drug smokers with FEV1 < 1 L are higher than in tobacco smokers. Studies are needed to determine whether targeting these illicit drug users with an intensive community intervention package (to include early therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation) will reduce readmission rates in this often neglected population.

Goodpasture's disease with late presentation of renal abnormality and anti-GBM autoantibody.

Goodpasture's disease without circulating autoantibodies is a rare presentation of a rare diagnosis. We present the case of a man aged 17 years who had 3 hospital admissions over a 2-month period with haemoptysis and shortness of breath. Throughout his first 2 admissions, his renal function was normal and anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) antibodies were negative. CT pulmonary angiogram during his second admission revealed florid and diffuse alveolar infiltrates. However, high-resolution CT chest performed 4 weeks later showed complete resolution of these changes. On his third admission, he developed acute kidney injury. A repeat CT chest revealed the reappearance of initial findings and anti-GBM antibodies were now positive. Goodpasture's disease was subsequently confirmed with renal biopsy. Our case, with delayed onset of renal impairment, initial seronegativity for anti-GBM antibodies and relapsing and remitting CT findings, emphasises the need to consider this diagnosis in the setting of otherwise unexplained pulmonary haemorrhage.

Aspergilloma and massive haemoptysis.

A 40-year-old homeless woman who was a known intravenous drug user and heroin smoker, presented with massive haemoptysis. Initial CT-pulmonary angiogram (CT-PA) did not show active haemorrhage but found an opacity in a right upper lobe cavity likely to represent a mycetoma. She was started on antifungal therapy but haemoptysis persisted and bronchial angiography was performed. Again no active haemorrhage was identified but abnormal vasculature was seen supplying the right upper lobe. This was empirically embolised with particles which did not improve her symptoms. A subsequent CT-PA identified a pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm in the cavity wall which was successfully embolised. There was no further haemoptysis and a repeat CT-PA 3 weeks later showed continuing occlusion of the pulmonary artery aneurysm. Investigations for tuberculosis were negative and she was discharged clinically well and on long-term antifungal therapy.

Swyer-James-McLeod's syndrome and pneumothorax on same side: delay in chest drain removal despite full expansion.

Swyer-James-McLeod's syndrome (SJMS) occurs as a result of childhood recurrent respiratory infections. As this condition presents with few symptoms, if any, it may pass unnoticed until adulthood. The authors are presenting a case of a 17-year-old male admitted with spontaneous pneumothorax. Even though his lung expanded, his chest x-rays still mimicked a pneumothorax. Chest CT pulmonary angiogram was needed to confirm the diagnosis of unilateral SJMS. Diagnostic difficulty arose because both conditions were on the same side.