Platypnoea-orthodeoxia syndrome in COVID-19 pneumonia patients: An observational study.

This retrospective observational study aimed to assess the clinical characteristics of platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) treated using mechanical ventilation or high-flow nasal canula. We analyzed 42 consecutive patients with COVID-19 from January 2020 to March 2022. The primary outcomes were the incidence of platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome, the time with required long-term oxygen therapy, and short-term prognosis. Additionally, we examined the relationships between platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome and COVID-19 severity, the time with long-term oxygen therapy, and short-term prognosis. Of the 42 included patients, 15 (35.7 %) had platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome. Although mortality was not significantly different between both groups, the oxygen withdrawal rate in the platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome group was significantly lower than that in the group without this syndrome. Clinical staff should be aware of the possibility of platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome during positional changes in patients with COVID-19. Recognizing POS can improve early detection, countermeasures, and safety during physiotherapy.

Lung Involvement in Adult T-Cell Lymphoma Diagnosed Using Bronchoscopic Cryobiopsy: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

The diagnosis of pulmonary lymphoma using small tissue samples is difficult and often requires surgical procedures; thus, a less invasive sampling method is desirable. Moreover, pulmonary involvement in adult T-cell lymphoma (ATL) is often difficult to diagnose, especially in cases without characteristic flower cells. Here, we present the case of a 78-year-old man, in whom pathological examination of the transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) specimen did not reveal malignant findings; therefore, transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) in combination with endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS) was used to diagnose ATL based on the pathological findings. A literature review identified 18 cases of pulmonary lymphomas diagnosed using TBLC. Among the 19 cases, including our own, 16 cases were of B-cell lymphoma (84.2%), and the present case is the first case of ATL diagnosed using TBLC. Eighty percent of the cases underwent a biopsy (more than two samples) of the middle or lower lobe and were diagnosed without major complications. EBUS was used with TBLC in three cases to identify the location of the pulmonary lesions. In the present case, EBUS was also useful for avoiding vascular biopsy. Although large-scale prospective studies are required to establish precise guidelines for diagnosing pulmonary lymphomas using TBLC, our case report and review contributes to a deeper understanding of the diagnosis of rare diseases.

Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis diagnosed using transbronchial lung cryobiopsy: A case report.

A 63-year-old Japanese woman with multiple cysts in both lungs on chest computed tomography (CT) was referred to our hospital after a thorough examination, including a transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB), failed to provide a diagnosis. Based on the findings on chest CT and pathological examination of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) specimen, the patient was diagnosed with pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH). TBLC may replace TBLB as the main diagnostic technique for PLCH, although further studies are required to determine the usefulness of TBLC for the diagnosis of PLCH.

The interplay of physical and cognitive function in rehabilitation of interstitial lung disease patients: a narrative review.

Background and Objective: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) encompasses several diverse pulmonary pathologies that result in abnormal diffuse parenchymal changes. When prescribing rehabilitation, several additional factors need to be considered as a result of aging, polypharmacy, and comorbidities manifested in ILD patients. This review aims to discuss issues related to frailty, skeletal muscle and cognitive function that limit physical activities in ILD patients. It will also highlight exercise training and propose complementary strategies for pulmonary rehabilitation. Methods: A literature search was performed in MEDLINE, CINAHL (inception to October 19th, 2022) using search terms based on concepts of: idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or interstitial lung disease; frailty; muscular atrophy; skeletal muscle dysfunction; cognitive dysfunction; sleep quality; sleep disorders; anxiety disorders; or depressive disorders. After eligible texts were screened, additional references were included from references cited in the screened articles. Key Content and Findings: Frailty and skeletal muscle dysfunction are common in ILD. Weight loss, exhaustion, and anti-fibrotic medications can impact frailty, whereas physical inactivity, aging, corticosteroids and hypoxemia can contribute to sarcopenia (loss of muscle mass and function). Frailty is associated with worse clinical status, exercise intolerance, skeletal muscle dysfunction, and decreased quality of life in ILD. Sarcopenia appears to influence wellbeing and can potentially affect overall physical conditioning, cognitive function and the progression of ILD. Optimal assessment tools and effective strategies to prevent and counter frailty and sarcopenia need to be determined in ILD patients. Even though cognitive impairment is evident in ILD, its prevalence and underlying neurobiological model of contributing factors (i.e., inflammation, disease severity, cardiopulmonary status) requires further investigation. How ILD affects cognitive interference, motor control and consequently physical daily activities is not well defined. Strategies such as pulmonary rehabilitation, which primarily focuses on strength and aerobic conditioning have demonstrated improvements in ILD patient outcomes. Future incorporation of interval training and the integration of motor learning could improve transfer of rehabilitation strategies to daily activities. Conclusions: Numerous underlying etiologies of ILD contribute to frailty, skeletal muscle and cognitive function, but their respective neurobiologic mechanisms require further investigation. Exercise training increases physical measures, but complementary approaches may improve their applicability to improve daily activities.

Disseminated Mycobacterium genavense Infection Mimicking Sarcoidosis: A Case Report and Review of Literature on Japanese Patients.

Sarcoidosis is a systemic inflammatory disease characterized by noncaseating epithelioid cell granulomas. However, certain infections can exhibit similar histological findings. We present a case of a 69-year-old man who was initially diagnosed with sarcoidosis and later was confirmed, through 16S rRNA sequencing, to have disseminated Mycobacterium genavense infection. Acid-fast bacteria were detected in the bone marrow biopsy using Ziehl-Neelsen staining, but routine clinical tests did not provide a definitive diagnosis. The patient tested negative for HIV, anti-interferon-gamma antibodies, and genetic immunodeficiency disorders. He was treated with multiple drugs, including aminoglycosides and macrolides, but showed no improvement in fever and pancytopenia. However, these clinical signs responded favorably to steroid therapy. We reviewed 17 Japanese cases of M. genavense infection. All cases were in males; 7/17 (41%) were HIV-negative; and 12/17 (71%) had a decreased CD4 count. Genetic analysis confirmed M. genavense isolation, and macrolides were used universally. Mycobacterium genavense infection is challenging to identify and mimics other systemic inflammatory diseases such as sarcoidosis. There are no standard treatment protocols. Our case report and Japanese case review contribute to understanding this rare disease.

Drug-induced interstitial lung disease caused by olaparib: three case reports and review of the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report database and literature.

BACKGROUND: Olaparib, a poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, has demonstrated effectiveness in treating ovarian, breast, and other cancers, particularly those with specific molecular subtypes including, but not limited to, BRCA1/2 mutations. Consequently, its utilization is expected to increase in the future. For this reason, it is important to acknowledge the potential for adverse events associated with olaparib, including the relatively rare but significant risk of drug-induced interstitial lung disease (DIILD). Since DIILD can lead to fatal outcomes, its early detection is crucial. The dissemination of knowledge regarding DIILD can be facilitated through case reports; however, specific reports of DIILD caused by olaparib have only been published in Japanese. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in English of our experience with three cases of DIILD caused by olaparib. CASE PRESENTATION: Cases 1, 2, and 3 involved Japanese women with ovarian cancer who had been receiving olaparib at a dose of 600 mg/day. Case 1, a 72-year-old woman who had been on olaparib for 4 months, and case 2, a 51-year-old woman who had been on olaparib for 8 months, reported fever and general malaise. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed pale ground glass opacity (GGO) similar to hypersensitivity pneumonitis. The severity grade was 2 in both cases. Case 3, a 78-year-old woman who had been on olaparib for 3 weeks, presented with cough and reported dyspnea on exertion. Chest CT revealed non-specific interstitial pneumonia and organizing pneumonia-like shadows. The severity grade was 4. Olaparib was discontinued in all cases. Case 1 received 0.6 mg/kg of prednisolone due to mild hypoxia, while prednisolone was not administered in case 2 due to the absence of hypoxia. Case 3 received steroid pulse therapy due to severe hypoxia. Olaparib administration was not resumed in any patient. CONCLUSION: DIILD caused by olaparib in Japan, including the present three cases, commonly presents with GGO, similar to hypersensitivity pneumonitis on chest CT. The prognosis for the majority of patients is favorable; however, there have been instances of severe cases. Early recognition of drug-induced lung injury and further accumulation of cases is important.

Urinary titin N-fragment as a predictor of decreased skeletal muscle mass in patients with interstitial lung diseases.

This study aimed to examine the validity of urinary N-terminal titin fragment/creatinine (urinary N-titin/Cr) reflecting muscle damage biomarker in patients with interstitial lung disease. This retrospective study enrolled patients with interstitial lung disease. We measured urinary N-titin/Cr. Furthermore, we measured the cross-sectional areas of the pectoralis muscles above the aortic arch (PMCSA) and erector spinae muscles of the 12th thoracic vertebra muscles (ESMCSA) to assess muscle mass until 1 year. We examined the correlation between urinary N-titin/Cr and the change in muscle mass. We plotted receiver operating characteristic curves to estimate the cut-off points for urinary N-titin/Cr for distinguishing the greater-than-median and smaller-than-median reduction of muscle mass after 1 year. We enrolled 68 patients with interstitial lung disease. The median urinary N-titin/Cr value was 7.0 pmol/mg/dL. We observed significant negative correlations between urinary N-titin/Cr and changes in the PMCSA after 1 year (p < 0.001) and changes in the ESMCSA after 6 months (p < 0.001) and 1 year (p < 0.001). The cut-off points for urinary N-titin/Cr were 5.2 pmol/mg/dL and 10.4 pmol/mg/dL in the PMCSA and ESMCSA, respectively. In summary, urinary N-titin/Cr may predict muscle loss in the long-term and act as a clinically useful biomarker reflecting muscle damage.

Impact of Administering Intravenous Azithromycin within 7 Days of Hospitalization for Influenza Virus Pneumonia: A Propensity Score Analysis Using a Nationwide Administrative Database.

The potential antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effectiveness of azithromycin against severe influenza is yet unclear. We retrospectively investigated the effect of intravenous azithromycin administration within 7 days of hospitalization in patients with influenza virus pneumonia and respiratory failure. Using Japan's national administrative database, we enrolled and classified 5066 patients with influenza virus pneumonia into severe, moderate, and mild groups based on their respiratory status within 7 days of hospitalization. The primary endpoints were total, 30-day, and 90-day mortality rates. The secondary endpoints were the duration of intensive-care unit management, invasive mechanical ventilation, and hospital stay. The inverse probability of the treatment weighting method with estimated propensity scores was used to minimize data collection bias. Use of intravenous azithromycin was proportional to the severity of respiratory failure (mild: 1.0%, moderate: 3.1%, severe: 14.8%). In the severe group, the 30-day mortality rate was significantly lower with azithromycin (26.49% vs. 36.65%, p = 0.038). In the moderate group, the mean duration of invasive mechanical ventilation after day 8 was shorter with azithromycin; there were no significant differences in other endpoints between the severe and moderate groups. These results suggest that intravenous azithromycin has favorable effects in patients with influenza virus pneumonia using mechanical ventilation or oxygen.

Relationship between perfusion index and central temperature before and after induction of anesthesia in laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery: A prospective cohort study.

The perfusion index (PI) cutoff value before anesthesia induction and the ratio of PI variation after anesthesia induction remain unclear. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between PI and central temperature during anesthesia induction, and the potential of PI in individualized and effective control of redistribution hypothermia. This prospective observational single center study analyzed 100 gastrointestinal surgeries performed under general anesthesia from August 2021 to February 2022. The PI was measured as peripheral perfusion, and the relationship between central and peripheral temperature values was investigated. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to identify baseline PI before anesthesia, which predicts a decrease in central temperature 30 minutes after anesthesia induction, and the rate of change in PI that predicts the decrease in central temperature 60 minutes after anesthesia induction. In cases with a central temperature decrease of ≥ 0.6°C after 30 minutes, the area under the curve was 0.744, Youden index was 0.456, and the cutoff value of baseline PI was 2.30. In cases with a central temperature decrease of ≥ 0.6°C after 60 minutes, the area under curve was 0.857, Youden index was 0.693, and the cutoff value of the PI ratio of variation after 30 minutes of anesthesia induction was 1.58. If the baseline PI is ≤ 2.30 and the PI 30 minutes after anesthesia induction is at least 1.58-fold the PI ratio of variation, there is a high probability of a central temperature decrease of at least 0.6°C within 30 minutes after 2 time points.

Pulmonary Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis That Progressed from a Single-system to a Multisystem Form despite Smoking Cessation.

A 36-year-old Japanese man presented with cavities and nodular shadows in the lower lobes of his lungs and osteolytic lesions in the thoracic spine. He was diagnosed with multisystem Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). Three years earlier, he had been noted to have small cavities and granular lesions noted in the upper lobes of his lungs, which later improved with smoking cessation. It was likely that his single-system pulmonary LCH (PLCH) progressed to multisystem LCH despite smoking cessation. Relapse or progression may occur in cases where PLCH lesions improve after smoking cessation. Thus, close follow-up is vital.

Pulmonary and Intestinal Involvement in a Patient with Myeloperoxidase-specific Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-positive Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome.

A 26-year-old Japanese woman was admitted with a 1-month history of diarrhea, a high fever for a few days, and exacerbation of dyspnea. She was treated with an antifibrotic drug and long-term oxygen therapy for Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome-related pulmonary fibrosis. New ground-glass attenuation appeared on chest computed tomography (CT), and a colon biopsy showed an inflammatory cell accumulation with a high titer of myeloperoxidase (MPO)-specific anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA). Systemic inflammation related to MPO-ANCA titer elevation was suspected. Steroid pulse therapy and intravenous cyclophosphamide improved chest CT findings and diarrhea. Therefore, immunosuppressant treatment should be considered for systemic inflammation related to MPO-ANCA.

Two Distinct Mechanisms Underlying γδ T Cell-Mediated Regulation of Collagen Type I in Lung Fibroblasts.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic intractable lung disease, leading to respiratory failure and death. Although anti-fibrotic agents delay disease progression, they are not considered curative treatments, and alternative modalities have attracted attention. We examined the effect of human γδ T cells on collagen type I in lung fibroblasts. Collagen type I was markedly reduced in a γδ T cell number-dependent manner following treatment with γδ T cells expanded with tetrakis-pivaloxymethyl 2-(thiazole-2-ylamino) ethylidene-1,1-bisphosphonate (PTA) and interleukin-2. Collagen type I levels remained unchanged on addition of γδ T cells to the culture system through a trans-well culture membrane, suggesting that cell-cell contact is essential for reducing its levels in lung fibroblasts. Re-stimulating γδ T cells with (E)-4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate (HMBPP) reduced collagen type I levels without cell-cell contact, indicating the existence of HMBPP-induced soluble anti-fibrotic factors in γδ T cells. Adding anti-interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-neutralizing mAb restored collagen type I levels, demonstrating that human γδ T cell-derived IFN-γ reduces collagen type I levels. Conversely, interleukin-18 augmented γδ T cell-induced suppression of collagen type I. Therefore, human γδ T cells reduce collagen levels in lung fibroblasts via two distinct mechanisms; adoptive γδ T cell transfer is potentially a new therapeutic candidate.

Interstitial Pneumonia with HLA-B54 Antigen that Responded Well to Erythromycin.

A 65-year-old Japanese man with interstitial pneumonia demonstrated honeycomb lung with thickened walls on chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and predominance of neutrophils in the cell fraction of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Although there were no centrilobular nodular or branching shadows on chest HRCT suggestive of diffuse panbronchiolitis, he exhibited sinusitis and had the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B54 antigen. With long-term macrolide therapy, the cough and sputum production markedly improved, wall thickening of the honeycomb lung on chest HRCT decreased, and the forced vital capacity increased. Confirming the presence of HLA-B54 antigen may help determine the indication for long-term macrolide therapy in interstitial pneumonia patients.

Autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis exacerbated by steroid therapy due to misdiagnosis as anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (ARS) antibody positive- interstitial pneumonia: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (anti-ARS) antibodies are myositis-specific autoantibodies that have been identified in a subset of patients with interstitial pneumonia who do not present with dermatomyositis or polymyositis. Anti-ARS antibody-positive interstitial pneumonia is commonly treated with steroids or immunosuppressive agents and is usually responsive to these therapies. Here, we present in detail a case in which respiratory failure of a patient diagnosed with anti-ARS antibody-positive interstitial pneumonia was exacerbated by treatment with steroids and immunosuppressive agents. Further examination revealed misdiagnosis of this patient and a subsequent diagnosis of autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 66-year-old man presented to the hospital with dyspnea on exertion, which resulted in the detection of interstitial pneumonia. Serum anti-ARS antibodies were detected; however, there were no other findings suggestive of myositis. Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) was suspected based on the marked increase in serum KL-6 and chest computed tomography findings. The bronchoalveolar lavage revealed no milky changes in the lavage fluid. After treatment with steroids and initiation of immunosuppressive agents for anti-ARS antibody-positive interstitial pneumonia, respiratory failure and chest imaging findings showed worsening of the condition. Bronchoscopy was repeated, and milk-like alveolar lavage fluid was collected; serum anti-granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor antibody was identified. Steroids and immunosuppressive agents were gradually tapered and discontinued, and the patient's condition stabilized after repeated alveolar lavage under general anesthesia. CONCLUSION: Due to similar presentation, PAP can be misdiagnosed as interstitial pneumonia. If pulmonary lesions due to interstitial pneumonia are exacerbated by immunosuppressive treatment, physicians should reconsider the diagnosis and include PAP in the differential diagnosis.

A comparative study of the sarcopenia screening in older patients with interstitial lung disease.

BACKGROUND: The Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 (AWGS 2019) is the gold standard diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia in Asian populations. The calf circumference (CalF), the strength, assistance in walking, rising from a chair, climbing stairs, and falls (SARC-F) and the SARC-CalF questionnaires for sarcopenia screening have been used by AWGS 2019. The aim of this study was to assess accuracy of these three sarcopenia screening tools in patients with interstitial lung disease. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, stable patients with interstitial lung disease were enrolled. The SARC-F, SARC-CalF, and CalF, used in patients with interstitial lung disease, were compared to the diagnostic criteria proposed by AWGS 2019. The accuracy of screening tools was compared using sensitivity and specificity. Moreover, areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) were computed. RESULTS: Seventy eight patients were analyzed, and sarcopenia was identified in 25 (32.1%) patients with interstitial lung disease by the AWGS 2019 criteria. The sensitivity of the CalF was highest (96%) of the three screening tools, while the specificity was 60%. The sensitivity of SARC-F and SARC-CalF were 24% and 68%, while the specificity were 92% and 66%, respectively. The AUCs of CalF, SARC-F, and SARC-CalF in all patients were 0.78, 0.58, and 0.67, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The CalF is most suitable for screening sarcopenia in patients with interstitial lung disease, while SARC-F and SARC-CalF are not.

Underbody blankets have a higher heating effect than overbody blankets in lithotomy position endoscopic surgery under general anesthesia: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Surgery under general anesthesia results in temperature decrease due to the effect of anesthetics and peripheral vasodilation on thermoregulatory centers. Perioperative temperature control is therefore an issue of high importance. In this study, we aimed to compare the warming effect of underbody and overbody blankets in patients undergoing surgery in the lithotomy position under general anesthesia. METHODS: From September 2018 to October 2019, 99 patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer in the lithotomy position were included in this randomized controlled trial and assigned to the intervention group (underbody blanket) or control group (overbody blanket). RESULTS: The central temperature was significantly higher in the underbody blanket group than in the overbody blanket group at 90 min after the beginning of the surgery (p = 0.02); also in this group, the peripheral temperature was significantly higher 60 min after the beginning of the surgery (p = 0.02). Regarding postoperative factors, the underbody blanket group had a significantly lower frequency of postoperative shivering (p < 0.01) and a significantly shorter postoperative hospital stay (p = 0.04) than the overbody blanket group. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend the use of underbody blankets for intraoperative temperature control in patients undergoing surgery in the lithotomy position under general anesthesia. Underbody blankets showed improved rise and maintenance of central and peripheral temperature, decreased the incidence of postoperative shivering, and shortened the postoperative length of hospital stay.

Removal of an aspirated tooth from the bronchus using a cryoprobe: A case report.

An 88-year-old bedridden man with Alzheimer's disease developed fever and hypoxaemia. Chest radiography showed obstructive pneumonia caused by a foreign body in the airway. Examination using a flexible bronchoscope revealed a silver-crowned molar, thought to have fallen out due to root caries, at the left lower lobe branch. Removal of the foreign body was unsuccessful with grasping or basket forceps, but successful with cryoadhesion using a cryoprobe. Removal of an airway foreign body by a cryoprobe depends on the nature of the foreign body, namely its water content. Therefore, cryoprobes are not inherently suitable for removing foreign bodies of aspirated teeth, but a tooth covered with mucus for a long time after aspiration can be cryoadhered with cryoprobes. Airway foreign bodies that remain in the airway for a long time should also be considered for removal by cryoprobe, regardless of the water content of the material.

Idiopathic desquamative interstitial pneumonia diagnosed using transbronchial lung cryobiopsy: A case report.

A 60-year-old Japanese man with a history of heavy smoking came to our hospital for a detailed examination, suspecting interstitial pneumonia because of gradually increasing dyspnea on exertion over a period of one year. Chest high-resolution computed tomography revealed ground-glass shadows with emphysematous changes. Pathological analysis of samples obtained using transbronchial lung cryobiopsy revealed an accumulation of alveolar macrophages with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm in the alveolar space. Following a multidisciplinary discussion, the patient was diagnosed with desquamative interstitial pneumonia. To our knowledge, this is the first detailed report of desquamative interstitial pneumonia diagnosed using transbronchial lung cryobiopsy.

Early walking time is associated with recovery of activities of daily living during hospitalization in older patients with community-acquired pneumonia: A single-center prospective study.

AIM: Pneumonia is a common disease with a high mortality rate among older adults that is associated with a decline in activities of daily living (ADL) during hospitalization. The aims of this study were to investigate the following: (i) early physical activity time among older patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia; and (ii) the association of physical activity time with the recovery of ADL. METHODS: A prospective observational study was carried out in patients aged ≥65 years hospitalized with community acquired pneumonia. We measured the time spent standing and walking as physical activity time using the activPAL accelerometer from the third to the ninth day of admission. Patients underwent rehabilitation during their hospitalization, and rehabilitation effectiveness was calculated using the motor Functional Independence Measure on admission and at day 10. We used stepwise multiple regression to examine the relationship between physical activity time and rehabilitation effectiveness. RESULTS: A total of 87 patients were included in the analysis. Median (interquartile range) physical activity time was 69 min/day (43-103 min/day). In the multiple regression model, a greater daily walking time, higher cognitive and physical function, and ADL at admission were independently associated with rehabilitation effectiveness (adjusted R2  = 0.32, P < 0.0001). For every increase of 10 min/day of walking time, ADL improved by 7.8% (B = 7.8, 95% CI 1.3-14.2, P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Older patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia have low levels of physical activity, and increasing early walking time might be an effective strategy to accelerate the recovery of ADL. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; 21: 1099-1104.

HLA-B54 is an independent risk factor for pneumonia in Japanese patients with interstitial lung disease: A multicenter retrospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: Pneumonia is a major cause of respiratory-related hospitalization and an important prognostic factor in patients with chronic interstitial lung disease (ILD). However, the relationship between the incidence of pneumonia and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) serotype has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed to determine if there is a relationship between HLA serotype and the incidence of pneumonia in Japanese patients with ILD. METHODS: The medical records of patients with ILD treated at any of three centers in Japan were reviewed to determine their HLA-A and HLA-B serotypes. The characteristics of patients with and without pneumonia were compared. Cox regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for pneumonia and death in these patients. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-four patients with ILD (pneumonia group, n = 27; non-pneumonia group, n = 117) and complete HLA serology data available were included. HLA-B54 positivity was significantly more common in the pneumonia group than in the non-pneumonia group (37.0% vs. 15.4%, p = 0.010). HLA-B54 positivity was also a significant risk factor for pneumonia (hazard ratio [HR] 4.166, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.862-9.320, p = 0.001) and death (HR 4.050, 95% CI 1.581-10.374, p = 0.004) in patients with ILD. Furthermore, HLA-B54 positivity was a significant risk factor for pneumonia (HR 3.964, 95% CI 1.392-11.090, p = 0.010) and death (HR 8.131, 95% CI 1.763-37.494, p = 0.007) in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. CONCLUSION: HLA-B54 positivity was a significant risk factor for pneumonia and death in patients with ILD, including those with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.