Phenotypical characteristics of nontuberculous mycobacterial infection in patients with bronchiectasis.

BACKGROUND: The global mortality and morbidity rates of bronchiectasis patients due to nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) pulmonary infection are on a concerning upward trend. The aims of this study to identify the phenotype of NTM-positive individuals with bronchiectasis. METHODS: A retrospective single-center observational study was conducted in adult patients with bronchiectasis who underwent bronchoscopy in 2007-2020. Clinical, laboratory, pulmonary function, and radiological data were compared between patients with a positive or negative NTM culture. RESULTS: Compared to the NTM-negative group (n=677), the NTM-positive group (n=94) was characterized (P ≤0.05 for all) by older age, greater proportion of females, and higher rates of gastroesophageal reflux disease and muco-active medication use; lower body mass index, serum albumin level, and lymphocyte and eosinophil counts; lower values of forced expiratory volume in one second, forced vital capacity, and their ratio, and lower diffusing lung capacity for carbon monoxide; higher rates of bronchiectasis in both lungs and upper lobes and higher number of involved lobes; and more exacerbations in the year prior bronchoscopy. On multivariate analysis, older age (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.02-1.07, P=0.001), lower body mass index (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.16-1.07, P <0.001), and increased number of involved lobes (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.01-1.44, P=0.04) were associated with NTM infection. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with bronchiectasis and NTM pulmonary infection are more likely to be older and female with more severe clinical, laboratory, pulmonary function, and radiological parameters than those without NTM infection. This phenotype can be used for screening patients with suspected NTM disease.

A single center Israeli experience in pregnancy post lung transplantation: Feasibility of successful two or more full-term pregnancies in individual lung transplant recipients.

INTRODUCTION: Female lung transplant recipients (LTRs) of reproductive age are increasingly considering pregnancy due to advances in post-transplant management and improved survival. We report our experience with pregnancy in LTRs, with an emphasis on two or more successful full-term pregnancies in individual transplant recipients. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of pregnancies in LTRs at our transplant center and collected maternal and fetal outcomes. RESULTS: In our patient cohort, eight female LTRs conceived a total of 17 pregnancies, resulting in 13 newborns, 12 at full term, and 11 with a birth weight > 2.5 kg. Three of the LTRs had two or more successful full-term pregnancies. LTRs required a significant tacrolimus dose increase to maintain target trough levels during pregnancy. Six recipients are currently clinically stable and active, three with lung function comparable to pre-pregnancy values, and three with evidence of chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD), but stable lung function. Two of the eight LTRs died subsequent to childbirth secondary to chronic respiratory failure due to CLAD, at a mean of 11 years post-transplantation and a mean of 4.5 years after childbirth. CONCLUSION: Pregnancy following lung transplantation is feasible and can be achieved with acceptable maternal and newborn outcomes. Importantly, LTRs can successfully have two or more full-term pregnancies.

Lung Transplantation for Graft-Versus-Host Disease after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Single-center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Late-onset pulmonary complications can occur following hematological stem cell transplantation (HSCT). In allogeneic HSCT these complications are often associated with chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Lung transplantation (LTx) often remains the only viable therapeutic option in these patients. OBJECTIVES: To describe our experience with LTx due to GVHD after HSCT and to compare the long-term survival of this group of patients to the overall survival of our cohort of LTx recipients for other indications. METHODS: We retrospectively retrieved all data on patients who had undergone LTx for end-stage lung disease as a sequela of allogeneic HSCT, between 1997 and 2021, at Rabin Medical Center in Israel. RESULTS: A total of 15 of 850 patients (1.7%) from our cohort of LTx recipients fulfilled the criteria of LTx as a sequela of late pulmonary complication after allogeneic HSCT. The median age at the time of HSCT was 33 years (median 15-53, range 3-60). The median time between HSCT and first signs of chronic pulmonary GVHD was 24 months (interquartile range [IQR] 12-80). The median time from HSCT to LTx was 96 months (IQR 63-120). Multivariate analysis showed that patients transplanted due to GVHD had similar survival compared to patients who were transplanted for other indications. CONCLUSIONS: LTx for GVHD after allogeneic HSCT constitutes an important treatment strategy. The overall survival appears to be comparable to patients after LTx for other indications.

Use of capnography for prediction of obstruction severity in non-intubated COPD and asthma patients.

BACKGROUND: Capnography waveform contains essential information regarding physiological characteristics of the airway and thus indicative of the level of airway obstruction. Our aim was to develop a capnography-based, point-of-care tool that can estimate the level of obstruction in patients with asthma and COPD. METHODS: Two prospective observational studies conducted between September 2016 and May 2018 at Rabin Medical Center, Israel, included healthy, asthma and COPD patient groups. Each patient underwent spirometry test and continuous capnography, as part of, either methacholine challenge test for asthma diagnosis or bronchodilator reversibility test for asthma and COPD routine evaluation. Continuous capnography signal, divided into single breaths waveforms, were analyzed to identify waveform features, to create a predictive model for FEV1 using an artificial neural network. The gold standard for comparison was FEV1 measured with spirometry. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Overall 160 patients analyzed. Model prediction included 32/88 waveform features and three demographic features (age, gender and height). The model showed excellent correlation with FEV1 (R = 0.84), R2 achieved was 0.7 with mean square error of 0.13. CONCLUSION: In this study we have developed a model to evaluate FEV1 in asthma and COPD patients. Using this model, as a point-of-care tool, we can evaluate the airway obstruction level without reliance on patient cooperation. Moreover, continuous FEV1 monitoring can identify disease fluctuations, response to treatment and guide therapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinical trials.gov, NCT02805114. Registered 17 June 2016, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02805114.

Echocardiography and Cardiac Rupture: Is Contrast Extravasation an Indication for Surgery?

Contrast echocardiography demonstrating microbubbles in the pericardial space has often been cited as evidence of ventricular rupture requiring emergent surgical intervention. We report a case where no myocardial perforation was found during post-myocardial infarction surgery despite prior echocardiographic evidence of contrast extravasation into the pericardial effusion. Clinical decision making requires balancing imaging evidence with clinical circumstances to determine the optimal timing for surgical intervention.

High antinuclear antibody titer is associated with increased mortality risk in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a diagnosis of exclusion, requiring that potential etiologies of interstitial lung disease be ruled out. Antinuclear antibody (ANA) testing is commonly performed in individuals with IPF, but the clinical significance of ANA positivity remains uncertain. A retrospective search identified 161 patients diagnosed with IPF between May 2010 and January 2021. Data on ANA titers at the time of diagnosis were available in all cases. Mean age of the patients was 66.4 ± 9.6 years; 70.8% were male. ANA titers were high (≥ 1:160) in 25.4% of the cohort. Baseline characteristics were comparable between those with high and low ANA titers. During follow-up (median 28 months), 93 patients (57%) died. On Cox proportional-hazards analysis with lung transplantation entered as a competing risk and adjusting for potential confounders (age, sex, and baseline forced vital capacity and diffusing lung capacity for carbon monoxide), ANA ≥ 1:160, as a dichotomized variable, was significantly associated with case-specific mortality (HR 2.25, 95% CI 1.14-4.42, P = 0.02) and older age (for each 10-year increment, HR 1.55, 95% CI 1.07-2.25, P = 0.02). High ANA titers appear to be associated with increased mortality in IPF. This finding emphasizes the potential prognostic value of ANA testing. Further studies are needed to validate these findings and explore their implications for patient management.

A Profound Vitamin B12 Deficiency in a Patient with Lofgren's Syndrome.

Lofgren's syndrome is a unique manifestation of sarcoidosis presenting with erythema nodosum, bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy and migratory polyarthritis. A concurrent vitamin B12 deficiency is not well described and may be related to a rare gastrointestinal manifestation of sarcoid and Lofgren's syndrome. We describe a case of a 57-year-old male presented with migratory polyarthritis, erythemic nodules, edema of his legs and fever. His laboratory tests showed anemia with a profound vitamin B12 deficiency. Imaging demonstrated bilateral hilar adenopathy. Pathology revealed non-necrotizing granulomas consistent with sarcoidosis. The patient was started on prednisone and vitamin B12 supplements with improvement of his complaints and vitamin B12 levels. Sarcoidosis can manifest in many extrapulmonary organs, including the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in nutritional deficiencies, such as vitamin B12 deficiency. Treatment of these nutritional deficiencies includes treatment with steroids, as well as vitamin supplementation. We suggest this case to be a rare manifestation of gastrointestinal involvement in Lofgren syndrome; however, a biopsy from the GI tract was not performed to confirm the diagnosis. An informed consent was obtained from the patient. An institutional approval was not required for the publication of this case.

Bronchoscopy for management and identification of etiology of right middle lobe syndrome: Analysis of 66 cases.

BACKGROUND: Right middle lobe (RML) syndrome is a recurrent or chronic obstruction of the RML causing atelectasis of the right middle lobe due to mechanical and nonmechanical etiologies. The consequences of untreated RML syndrome range from chronic cough to post-obstructive pneumonia and bronchiectasis. We report here our bronchoscopy experience in patients with RML syndrome. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of adult patients who underwent bronchoscopy for RML syndrome at Rabin Medical Center from 2008 through 2022. Demographic data and medical history, bronchoscopy findings and procedures, and follow-up results were collected. RESULTS: A total of 66 patients (57.6% male, mean age 63 ± 13 years) underwent bronchoscopy for RML syndrome during the study period. Bronchoscopy revealed a mechanical etiology in 49 (74.2%) cases, including endobronchial mass (21, 31.8%) and external compression (7, 10.6%). Malignancy was identified in 20 (30.3%) cases. In 62 patients (93.9%), the bronchoscopy resulted in partial or complete reopening of the RML bronchus. The therapeutic bronchoscopic procedures were balloon dilatation (19), laser ablation (17), mechanical debridement (12), endobronchial stent insertion (11), and cryoablation (6). CONCLUSIONS: Malignancy was identified as the etiology of RML syndrome in approximately 25% of cases, suggesting bronchoscopy should be performed in every case of RML atelectasis. To our knowledge, this is the first reported series of endobronchial stenting of the RML bronchus in the context of RML syndrome.

Treatment effects of Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor in people with CF carrying non-F508del mutations.

BACKGROUND: In vitro studies have demonstrated rescue of CFTR function with Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor (ETI) in several mutations other than F508del. However, clinical efficacy was not tested in vivo in people with CF (pwCF) carrying mutations other than F508del. We report effects of treatment with ETI in pwCF with non-F508del mutations. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed pwCF with non-F508del mutations who received treatment with ETI. We evaluated sweat chloride, nutritional status, spirometry, antibiotic treatment, and pulmonary exacerbations (PEx), at baseline and 3-6 months after commencing treatment with ETI. RESULTS: We included 16 pwCF, including eight without previous use of CFTR modulators. Median time on treatment was 5.3 (range, 1.8-7.7) months. Compared to baseline, in the "naïve" group sweat chloride concentration was reduced from 113.0 (98-129) to 64.0 (32-97) mEq/L (n=7; median (IQR), p=0.018), and rate of pulmonary exacerbations declined from a median of 1.5 (IQR 1, 2.75) in the previous year to 0 (0,0) (p= 0.019) with a significant decline in annualized days with antibiotics (oral + parenteral) per year: 36 (17.5; 42) in the year before to 0 (0,0) (median (IQR), p= 0.027). Mean FEV1% changed from 66.3±25 to 72.4±29 % (mean ± SD, p=0.058). In the group of patients previously treated with Ivacaftor or Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor, we didn't observe significant improvements in any of the parameters. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate the clinical efficacy of ETI in pwCF carrying CFTR processing non-F508del mutations which are predicted to respond by in vitro studies. Our results support routine clinical use of ETI in this patient group.

Immunogenicity of a Third Dose of BNT162b2 Vaccine among Lung Transplant Recipients-A Prospective Cohort Study.

Two doses of mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines elicit an attenuated humoral immune response among immunocompromised patients. Our study aimed to assess the immunogenicity of a third dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine among lung transplant recipients (LTRs). We prospectively evaluated the humoral response by measuring anti-spike SARS-CoV-2 and neutralizing antibodies in 139 vaccinated LTRs ~4-6 weeks following the third vaccine dose. The t-cell response was evaluated by IFNγ assay. The primary outcome was the seropositivity rate following the third vaccine dose. Secondary outcomes included: positive neutralizing antibody and cellular immune response rate, adverse events, and COVID-19 infections. Results were compared to a control group of 41 healthcare workers. Among LTRs, 42.4% had a seropositive antibody titer, and 17.2% had a positive t-cell response. Seropositivity was associated with younger age (t = 3.736, p < 0.001), higher GFR (t = 2.355, p = 0.011), and longer duration from transplantation (t = -1.992, p = 0.024). Antibody titer positively correlated with neutralizing antibodies (r = 0.955, p < 0.001). The current study may suggest the enhancement of immunogenicity by using booster doses. Since monoclonal antibodies have limited effectiveness against prevalent sub-variants and LTRs are prone to severe COVID-19 morbidity, vaccination remains crucial for this vulnerable population.

Surfactant for the Treatment of ARDS in a Patient With COVID-19.

Patients with COVID-19 report severe respiratory symptoms consistent with ARDS. The clinical presentation of ARDS in COVID-19 is often atypical, as patients with COVID-19 exhibit a disproportionate hypoxemia compared with relatively preserved lung mechanics. This pattern is more similar to neonatal respiratory distress syndrome secondary to surfactant deficiency, which has been shown to benefit from exogenous surfactant. We present our experience with exogenous surfactant treatment in a patient with COVID-19 experiencing COVID-19-related ARDS. The patient responded with improved oxygenation, and we believe surfactant was the catalyst for the successful extubation and clinical improvement of the patient.

Sertraline-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease: A case series and Literature Review.

Sertraline-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a rare entity. A search of the English medical literature retrieved only 9 such cases. We report herein on an additional 12 patients who developed ILD during treatment with sertraline. The patients met the criteria for drug-induced pulmonary toxicity such as exposure to drug, correlation of the drug with clinical symptoms, lung imaging, lung biopsy findings, exclusion of other potential causes and improvement after drug removal. We review the available data and discuss various aspects of this entity. The possibility of drug-induced ILD should be considered in an individual who during treatment with sertraline develops dyspnea, cough, and radiographic findings compatible with ILD. Further epidemiological studies should be conducted to explore the association of sertraline treatment with ILD, and to delineate, substantiate, and broaden our knowledge of this rare entity.

Effect of Endobronchial Coils on Exercise Tolerance and Lung Functions in Patients with Severe Emphysema - A Retrospective Cohort Study of 48 Patients.

BACKGROUND: Lung volume reduction with endobronchial coils treatment (ECT), for patients with severe emphysema, has shown modest improvement in exercise capacity and lung functions in clinical trials, yet the benefit of this procedure is still unclear. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study including all patients who underwent ECT in Israel and a propensity score matched control group of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that were treated with usual care. The primary outcome was six-minute walk test distance (6MWTD), secondary outcomes were lung function tests and patient survival. RESULTS: Overall, 46 patients were included in the ECT group. Their mean 6MWTD at baseline and at 6 and at 24 months post procedure was 331.0±101.4, 372.9±76.8 and 338.8±104.8, respectively (overall P=0.04, pairwise comparison: baseline to 6 months (P=0.1), baseline to 24 months (P=1.0)). Mean FEV1 values at baseline and at 6 and at 24 months post procedure were 0.86±0.38, 0.92±0.37 and 0.82±0.36 liters, respectively (overall P=0.003, pairwise comparison: baseline to 6 months (P=0.04), baseline to 24 months (P=0.75)). The median 6MWTD for the ECT and control groups at 24 months were 333.0 (262.5-390) and 280 (210-405), respectively (P=0.16). There was no difference in overall survival (P=0.84). Heterogenous emphysema was a significant predictor of treatment success in univariate analysis (p=0.004). CONCLUSION: Lung volume reduction with endobronchial coils may improve the exercise capacity and FEV1 of COPD patients. However, the majority of the effect was diminished after 24 months. The current state of evidence does not support regulatory approval of ECT and warrant its use only after consideration of the benefit-harm ratio in a highly selected patient population.

The LungVision navigational platform for peripheral lung nodule biopsy and the added value of cryobiopsy.

BACKGROUND: The LungVision system is a novel augmented-fluoroscopy-based real-time navigation and guidance technology for bronchoscopy that can be integrated with any standard biopsy tool, including the cryoprobe, to enable real-time visualization and localization of pulmonary nodules. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the diagnostic yield and safety among patients undergoing peripheral pulmonary nodule biopsy with the LungVision system. METHODS: This prospective, single-center study was conducted at Rabin Medical Center in Israel. All patients that underwent peripheral pulmonary nodule biopsy with the LungVision system from January 2016 to August 2020 were included. All procedures were performed under moderate sedation. The primary outcome was tissue diagnosis by either identification of malignant cells or benign diagnosis. Secondary outcomes were safety and the added value of cryobiopsy. RESULTS: Sixty-three procedures were performed during the study period. Median lesion size (interquartile range) was 25.0 mm (18-28 mm). The diagnostic yield overall was 27/33 (81.8%) and for lesions smaller than 20 mm was 13/18 (72.2%). In nine cases the transbronchial cryobiopsy showed tissue with malignant cells that were not found in any other biopsy material taken with other sampling tools. One patient was treated with a chest tube for a pneumothorax. No other major complications were reported. CONCLUSIONS: The LungVision system showed good feasibility and safety for peripheral pulmonary nodule biopsy. The system is compatible with all biopsy tools, including the cryoprobe. Randomized controlled trials are needed to accurately ascertain its diagnostic yield.

Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Infection Among Lung Transplant Recipients.

OBJECTIVES: Data are limited regarding the clinical significance of nontuberculous mycobacteria pulmonary infections among lung transplant recipients. We investigated the incidence and characteristics of pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacteria infection in ourlung transplant patient population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We obtaineddata of the patients who underwent lung transplant in our center from January 1997 to March 2019. RESULTS: Of 690 patients, nontuberculous mycobacteria were identified in 58 patients (8.4%) over a median follow-up of 3 years. Types of species were as follows: Mycobacterium simiae (n = 24), avium complex (n = 12), abscessus (n = 9), fortuitum (n = 6), chelonae (n = 2), szulgai (n = 1), kansasii (n = 1), lentiflavum (n = 1), and undefined mycobacteria (n = 2). When we compared infections in the early versus late period posttransplant (before and after 6 months), infections with Mycobacterium simiae (16 vs 8 incidents) and Mycobacterium fortuitum (5 vs 1 incident) were more often observed within the early period, whereas most Mycobacterium abscessus (7 vs 1 incident) and Mycobacterium avium complex (9 vs 3 incidents) were observed in the later period. The median forced expiratory volume in 1 second overtime did not differ significantly between patients with and without nontuberculous mycobacteria infection (P = .29). Nontuberculous mycobacteria acquisition was significantly associated with decreased survival (relative risk of 2.41, 95% CI, 1.70-3.43; P ⟨ .001). CONCLUSIONS: The nontuberculous mycobacteria species isolated varied according to the time elapsed since transplant. Among lung transplant recipients, nontuberculous mycobacteria infection was associated with increased mortality but not with lung dysfunction.

Effects of a 12-week combined aerobic and strength training program in ambulatory patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of a combined aerobic, strength, and flexibility training program with flexibility alone on disease-specific and health-related symptoms in ambulatory amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. METHODS: Thirty-two ambulatory patients with ALS were equally randomized into a combined aerobic-strength intervention group or a stretching control group. The intervention period for both groups was identical, 12 consecutive weeks, two sessions per week. The combined intervention program consisted of aerobic training by recumbent cycling, flexibility achieved by stretching and passive exercises, and strength training via functional exercises. Patients in the control group performed basic stretching exercises of the upper and lower limb at home. Outcome measures included the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R), respiratory function, mobility, fatigue, and quality of life and were collected 1-week prior to the intervention, after 6-weeks of training, and at the completion of the intervention. RESULTS: Twenty-eight participants (17 males, 11 females); mean age (S.D.) = 58.5 (13.2) years; mean disease duration (S.D.) = 7.3 (12.0) years, completed the study. According to the group X time analysis, significant differences were found in respiratory function, mobility, and the ALSFRS-R in favor of the aerobic-strength group. These patients maintained their abilities, whereas, a significant decrease was observed in the flexibility training group. Scores of the SF-36 categories "physical functioning", "energy fatigue" and "wellbeing" were higher following the intervention in the aerobic-strength group compared with the stretching control group. CONCLUSIONS: A 12-week combined aerobic and strength training program is far superior to flexibility alone in improving respiratory function, mobility, and wellbeing in ambulatory ALS patients.

Comparison of nutritional screening and diagnostic tools in diagnosis of severe malnutrition in critically ill patients.

RATIONALE: While various nutritional assessment tools have been proposed, consensus is lacking with respect to the most effective tool to identify severe malnutrition in critically ill patients. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study in an adult general intensive care unit (ICU) comparing four nutritional assessment tools: Nutrition Risk Screening (NRS), Nutrition Risk in Critically Ill (NUTRIC), and malnutrition criteria proposed by European Society of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) and American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN). These criteria were tested for their sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) in diagnosis of severe malnutrition, defined as Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) C. RESULTS: Hospitalization records for 120 critically ill patients were analyzed. 60 (50%), 17 (14.2%) and 43 (35.8%) patients were classified as SGA A, B, and C, respectively. The sensitivity in diagnosis of severe malnutrition was 79.1%, 58.1%, 65.1%, and 65.1%, and specificity was 94.8%, 74.0%, 94.8%, and 98.7% for NRS, NUTRIC, ESPEN, and ASPEN, respectively. NRS, ESPEN, and ASPEN had higher PPV (89.5%, 87.5%, and 87.5%, respectively) and NPV (89%, 83%, and 83.5%, respectively) than NUTRIC (PPV 55.6% and NPV 76%). NUTRIC showed the highest correlation with mortality, but none of the tools retained their correlation with mortality after adjustment for potential confounding factors. CONCLUSIONS: NRS showed the highest sensitivity and high specificity, PPV, and NPV. NUTRIC had least effective overall performance in diagnosis of severe malnutrition in an ICU setting. A larger population may be required to explore the association between mortality and these nutritional assessment tools.

Bronchoscopy for Chronic Unexplained Cough: Use of Biopsies and Cultures Increase Diagnostic Yield.

BACKGROUND: Prior studies assessing the diagnostic utility of bronchoscopy for chronic unexplained cough have focused primarily on identifying endobronchial anomalies to determine chronic cough etiology. On the basis of our institutional experience, expanding bronchoscopy to include cultures and biopsies can considerably increase its diagnostic yield for identifying the etiology of chronic unexplained cough. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective review analyzed bronchoscopies conducted in our institution between 2013 and 2017. Eligibility criteria were bronchoscopies conducted for chronic unexplained cough for which no etiology had been identified before the bronchoscopy. Microbiology, pathology, and cytology results from bronchoscopy were reviewed to identify the etiology of the cough. RESULTS: Over the study period, 169 bronchoscopies met the eligibility criteria. The average patient age at bronchoscopy was 59.7±14.8 years; 61% were female individuals. Direct visualization identified anatomic etiologies in 48 (28%) patients, most commonly tracheobronchomalacia, and less common conditions, such as tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica. Microbiology cultures were positive in 33 (20%) patients, principally Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and nontuberculosis mycobacterium. Pathology results from endobronchial biopsies identified respiratory conditions associated with cough, primarily eosinophilic bronchitis (n=15), as well as neurofibromatosis (n=1) and amyloidosis (n=1). Cytology results did not reveal alternate diagnoses not previously identified. CONCLUSION: Inclusion of bronchial washings and endobronchial biopsies during bronchoscopy for chronic unexplained cough increased diagnostic yield from 28%, attributable to directly visualized anatomic etiologies, to 41%. The addition of microbiology cultures and pathology analysis significantly increased the diagnostic yield of bronchoscopy in identifying the potential etiology of chronic heretofore unexplained cough.

The Etiology and Prognosis of Delayed Postoperative Leukocytosis in Lung Transplant Recipients.

BACKGROUND: Leukocytosis (white blood cell count >12 000/µL) in the delayed postoperative period (4-7 days) after lung transplantation is due to diverse etiologies. We aimed to describe the etiologies of delayed postoperative leukocytosis in lung transplant recipients and to evaluate the association of leukocytosis causes with short-term survival. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 274 lung transplantations performed in our institution during 2006 to 2013. RESULTS: Delayed postoperative leukocytosis was seen in 159 (58.0%) of lung transplant recipients. In 57 (35.8%) of them, the etiology of the leukocytosis was not identified. The etiologies of leukocytosis that were identified were infection (n = 39), second surgery, acute rejection (n = 12), primary graft dysfunction (n = 3), multiple etiologies (n = 17), and other causes (n = 10). On multivariate analysis, delayed postoperative leukocytosis was one of the variables that most significantly associated with decreased survival in the entire sample (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.52, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-2.29, P = .040). On additional analysis for mortality assessing each leukocytosis subgroup, the data were acute graft rejection (HR = 8.21, 95% CI: 4.09-16.49, P < .001), second surgery (HR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.08-3.90, P = .020), primary graft dysfunction (HR = 2.72, 95% CI: 0.65-11.33, P = .169), other causes (HR = 1.30, 95% CI: 0.47-3.62, P = .620), and unknown etiology (HR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.54-1.62, P = .800). CONCLUSIONS: Delayed post-lung transplant leukocytosis is a poor prognostic sign, especially when attributed to acute graft rejection, infection, and multiple etiologies. In the absence of an identifiable etiology, it can be attributed to postoperative reactive stress, is not associated with increased mortality, and likely does not warrant further diagnostic investigation.

Characteristics of lung cancer in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with single lung transplant versus non-transplanted patients: a retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have significantly higher incidence of lung cancer (LC) relative to the general population. There is a further increase in LC incidence in patients with IPF subsequent to lung transplant, specifically in patients with IPF undergoing single lung transplant. OBJECTIVES: To examine the incidence and characteristics of LC in patients with IPF during follow-up and after lung transplantation (LTX). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of all patients with IPF diagnosed with LC in Rabin Medical Center, Israel, over an 11-year period. We compared the characteristics of transplanted patients with IPF diagnosed with LC to patients with IPF who did not undergo lung transplant. Data were accessed from database registries using the words 'fibrosis', 'lung-cancer' and 'lung-transplantation'. Demographic parameters included age, gender and smoking history (pack years). Clinical-pathological parameters included lapse in time from IPF diagnosis to LC, type of malignancy, affected pulmonary lobe, and stage at diagnosis, oncological treatment and survival. RESULTS: Between 2008 and 2018, 205 patients with IPF underwent lung transplantation at our medical centre. Double LTX was performed in 83 and single LTX in 122 cases. Subsequently, 15 (12.3%) single LTX patients were diagnosed with LC during the study period. During the same period, of 497 non-transplanted patients with IPF followed in our centre, 45 (9.1%) were diagnosed with LC. In all 15 transplanted patients with IPF, LC was diagnosed exclusively in the native fibrotic lung. LC incidence was higher in the transplanted as compared with the non-transplanted group, but this difference did not reach statistical significance (OR=0.7, 95% CI 0.38 to 1.32, p=0.28). At LC diagnosis, the non-transplanted group was older than the transplanted group with average age of 67.7 versus 60.8 years, respectively (p=0.006). Both groups showed male predominance. In both groups, LC was primarily peripheral, lower lobe predominant and most frequently squamous cell carcinoma. The median survival time after LC diagnosis was 4 months in the transplanted group and 11 months in the non-transplanted group (p=0.19). Multivariate analysis showed improved survival in the non-transplanted group among those patients who received oncological treatment. CONCLUSION: Chest CT should be performed regularly in order to evaluate IPF patients for potential LC. Single lung transplant IPF patients face an increased risk of post-transplant LC in the native fibrotic lung. Where practicable, IPF patients should be prioritised for double lung transplant.