Autoimmune interstitial lung disease in Latin-America.

Information about the prognosis and natural history of autoimmune interstitial lung diseases (Ai-ILD) is limited. The aim of the study was to evaluate the characteristics of patients diagnosed with Ai-ILD in Latin-America. We conducted an ambispective multicenter cohort study in 25 centers of Argentina, Colombia, and Uruguay between January 2015 and April 2018. Participants were included in the study if they had diagnosis of Ai-ILD performed by a multidisciplinary team. Patients were classified into the following sub-groups: connective tissue disease-associated ILD (ILD-CTD), interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF), and positive antineutrophils cytoplasmatic antibodies associated ILD (ILD-ANCA). All images were reviewed by a blinded thoracic radiologist. Out of the 381 patients included during the study period, 282 (74%; 95% CI; 69.39-78.16) were women. Mean age was 58 years old (SD 16). Three-hundred and twenty-five (85.1%; 95% CI 81.39-88.5) patients were classified as ILD-CTD (rheumatoid arthritis 31%, systemic sclerosis 29%, dermatomyositis 15%). Thirty-six patients were classified as IPAF (9.5%; 95% CI 6.9-12.8), and 13 (3.5%; 95% CI 2-5.75) as ILD-ANCA. Fifty percent of patients (95% CI 45.12-55.43) had a mild decrease of the forced vital capacity at the time of diagnosis. The most common treatment strategy was the combination of steroids and cyclophosphamide (30.1%; 95% CI 25.32-35.34) followed by azathioprine (20,3%; 95% CI 16.32-25.14). In conclusion, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the characteristics and treatment strategies used in patients affected by Ai-ILD in Latin-America. Future studies should to evaluate the prognosis and impact of current treatment strategies in patients with Ai-ILD.

[Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia]. / Neumonia eosinofilica crónica: informe de un caso.

Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia. The chronic eosinophilic pneumonia is part of Pulmonary Eosinophilic Syndroms. It is presented a 33-years old man, Asmathic, with dry cough, fever, night sweats and fatigue of several weeks. The chest X-ray showed opacity in the right hemithorax. He was treated with antibiotics without response. A chest TC showed multifocal involvement. The patient refused bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) so treatment antituberculostatic was started. Despite treatment the symptoms worsened. The Chest X-ray showed migration of the infiltrates and the blood smear marked eosinophilia. Finally, bronchoalveolar lavage was carried out and it showed a high percentage of eosinophils (over 50%). The patient was treated with inmmunosuppresive doses of corticosteroids with excellent response. The blood smear in Nonresolving pneumonia is key to consider eosinophilic pneumonia, an uncommon pathology but amenable to treatment.