Endotyping Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Bronchiectasis, and the "Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-Bronchiectasis Association".

Rationale: Bronchiectasis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are two disease entities with overlapped clinical features, and codiagnosis frequently occurs (termed the "COPD-bronchiectasis association"). Objectives: To investigate the sputum microbiome and proteome in patients with bronchiectasis, COPD, and the COPD-bronchiectasis association with the aim of identifying endotypes that may inform treatment. Methods: Sputum microbiome and protein profiling were carried out using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and a label-free proteomics workflow, respectively, in a cohort comprising patients with COPD (n = 43), bronchiectasis (n = 30), and the COPD-bronchiectasis association (n = 48). Results were validated in an independent cohort of 91 patients (n = 28-31 each group) using targeted measurements of inflammatory markers, mucins, and bacterial culture. Measurements and Main Results: Principal component analysis of sputum microbiome and protein profiles showed a partial separation between the COPD and the "COPD-bronchiectasis association" group. Further analyses revealed that patients with the "COPD-bronchiectasis association" had a higher abundance of proteobacteria, higher expression of mucin-5AC and proteins from the "neutrophil degranulation" pathway compared to those with COPD. In contrast, patients with COPD had an elevated expression of mucin-5B and several peptidase inhibitors, higher abundance of common commensal taxa, and a greater microbiome diversity. The profiles of "COPD-bronchiectasis association" and bronchiectasis groups were largely overlapping. Five endotypes were proposed with differential inflammatory, mucin, and microbiological features. The key features related to the "COPD-bronchiectasis association" were validated in an independent cohort. Conclusions: Neutrophilic inflammation, differential mucin expression, and Gram-negative infection are dominant traits in patients with the "COPD-bronchiectasis association."

Características demográficas, clínicas, radiológicas y de función pulmonar en pacientes con bronquiectasias / Radiological and pulmonary function clinical demographic characteristics in patients with bronchiectasias

OBJETIVOS: determinar las principales características demográficas, clínicas, radiológicas y de función pulmonar de los pacientes con bronquiectasias en la Clínica del Pulmón. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: estudio observacional, retrospectivo. Se revisaron las historias clínicas de 23 pacientes con diagnóstico de dilataciones bronquiales. RESULTADOS: de los 23 pacientes, con una edad media de 49,4 ± 3,87 años, 13 corresponden al sexo femenino y 10 al sexo masculino, el tiempo de evolución de la enfermedad desde el diagnóstico de la patología inicial es de 17,3 ± 2,92 años. La tuberculosis es la etiología principal en 15 pacientes (65,2%). Las manifestaciones clínicas más frecuentes son la tos y expectoración mucopurulenta por varios años en la mayoría de los pacientes, al que añadimos la disnea y hemoptisis, la auscultación pulmonar revela la presencia de crépitos en 17 pacientes (73,9%). La Tomografía de Tórax de Alta Resolución distingue dos tipos de bronquiectasias: La sacular o quística y la cilíndrica, de localización unilobar, bilobar y multilobar (difuso). La Espirometría Forzada fue indicada en 10 pacientes (43,5%) 7 mujeres y 3 varones, el Síndrome Bronquial Obstructivo fue el hallazgo más frecuente. La asociación de Tetraciclina con Metronidazol indicado en 9 pacientes (39,1%) mejoró el cuadro clínico. La fisiopatología de esta entidad clínica está sujeta a una constante actualización. CONCLUSIONES: en pacientes tosedores crónicos, las bronquiectasias deben tener prioridad diagnóstica, se trata de una patología antigua, pero de actualidad permanente.

The purpose of this document is to determine the main epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with bronchiectasis at the Lung Clinic. METHOD: observational, retrospective study. The medical records of 23 patients diagnosed with bronchial dilation were reviewed. RESULTS: the results of the 23 patients studied, with a mean age of 49,4 ± 3,87 years, 13 correspond to the female sex and 10 to the male sex, indicate that the time of evolution of the disease from the diagnosis of the initial pathology is: 17,3 ± 2,92 years. Tuberculosis is the main etiology in 15 patients (65,2%). The most frequent clinical manifestations were cough and mucopurulent expectoration of several years in most of the patients, to which we must add dyspnea and hemoptysis, pulmonary auscultation reveals the presence of crepitus in 17 patients (73,9%). High Resolution Chest Tomography distinguishes two types of bronchiectasis: the saccular or cystic and the cylindrical, the localization is unilobar, bilobar and multilobar (diffuse). Forced spirometry was indicated in 10 patients (43,5%), 7 women and 3 men, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is the main diagnosis. The association of Tetracycline with Metronidazole indicated in 9 patients (39,1%) had positive results. The pathophysiology of this clinical entity is subject to constant updating. CONCLUSIONS: in chronic coughing patients, bronchiectasis must have diagnostic priority, it is an old pathology, but it is permanently current