Clinical predictors and explant lung pathology of acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterised by constant threat of acute exacerbation of IPF (AE-IPF). It would be significant to identify risk factors of AE-IPF. We sought to determine the prognostic value of lung transplantation candidacy testing for AE-IPF and describe explant pathology of recipients with and without AE-IPF before lung transplantation. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of 89 IPF patients listed for lung transplantation. Data included pulmonary function testing, echocardiography, right heart catheterisation, imaging, oesophageal pH/manometry and blood tests. Explanted tissue was evaluated by pulmonary pathologists and correlated to computed tomography (CT) findings. RESULTS: Out of 89 patients with IPF, 52 were transplanted during stable IPF and 37 had AE-IPF before transplantation (n=28) or death (n=9). There were no substantial differences in candidacy testing with and without AE-IPF. AE-IPF had higher rate of decline of forced vital capacity (FVC) (21±22% versus 4.8±14%, p=0.00019). FVC decline of >15% had a hazard ratio of 7.2 for developing AE-IPF compared to FVC decline of <5% (p=0.004). AE-IPF had more secondary diverse histopathology (82% versus 29%, p<0.0001) beyond diffuse alveolar damage. There was no correlation between ground-glass opacities (GGO) on chest CT at any point to development of AE-IPF (p=0.077), but GGO during AE-IPF predicted secondary pathological process beyond diffuse alveolar damage. CONCLUSIONS: Lung transplantation candidacy testing including reflux studies did not predict AE-IPF besides FVC absolute decline. CT did not predict clinical or pathological AE-IPF. Secondary diverse lung pathology beyond diffuse alveolar damage was present in most AE-IPF, but not in stable IPF.

ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction due to arterial thrombosis in a 29-year-old woman with normal coronary arteries.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is rare in young adults. We present a case of a 29-year-old black woman who presented with an acute onset of chest pain while sleeping. Anterior wall ST-elevation AMI was diagnosed based on clinical presentation, electrocardiographic findings, and elevated cardiac biomarkers. Coronary angiography revealed a totally occluded proximal left anterior descending artery. The obstructing lesion, thrombus, was removed. There was no evidence of atherosclerotic disease or dissection. An evaluation for a hypercoagulable state was unrevealing. Echocardiography 1 year later revealed normal left ventricular wall motion and systolic function.

Assessing the need for and acceptability of a free-of-charge postpartum HPV vaccination program.

OBJECTIVE: Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake rate among young adult US women was only 23% in 2010. One way to improve this low rate is to administer the vaccine postpartum. We examined whether this population requires vaccination and whether they would be agreeable to receiving it free of charge after delivery. STUDY DESIGN: Women 26 years of age or younger seeking prenatal care in publicly funded clinics in southeast Texas were interviewed in 2012 regarding their HPV vaccination status, barriers to vaccination, and whether they would be willing to receive this vaccine postpartum if offered free of charge. Medical charts were reviewed to extract additional information. RESULTS: Overall, 13.0% (65 of 500) stated they had initiated and 7.6% (38 of 500) completed the 3-dose vaccine series. Ethnic differences were noted with 21.0% of non-Hispanic whites, 14.6% of blacks, and 9.3% of Hispanics (P = .002) initiating the vaccine and 13.5%, 7.8%, and 5.2% (P = .006) competing all 3 doses, respectively. Lowest initiation (4.2%) and completion (1.4%) rates were observed among recently immigrated Hispanic women. Those who had not graduated from high school and older women were less likely to have been vaccinated. Almost 83% of those who had not received any HPV doses or completed the series were willing to receive the injection free of charge in the hospital after their delivery. CONCLUSION: HPV vaccine uptake rates are very low among women receiving prenatal care in southeast Texas. Offering this vaccine free of charge to postpartum women could be an effective strategy in this population because 5 of 6 women favored receiving it in this setting.