ObjectiveTo explore whether nesiritide (recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide, rh-BNP) could be used to treat pulmonary artery hypertension. MethodsA 34-year-old female patient with severe symptomatic idiopathic pulmonary artery hypertension was reported, who was refractory to routine therapies, including prostacyclin. Therapy with continuous nesiritide infusion resulted in significant decrease in pulmonary vascular resistance and an improvement in dyspnea. The relevant literature was reviewed. ResultsThe clinical symptoms of this patient relieved significantly after nesiritide therapy. Literature review showed that nesiritide could increase the production of nitrogen oxides and cyclic guanosine monophosphate in the body, so as to dilate the vessels which were shrunk due to hypoxia and low down the pulmonary vascular resistance. ConclusionNesiritide is useful to treat severe pulmonary artery hypertension, and combination with phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors may be a brand new therapy of value.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical manifestation, radiological, pathological features and treatment of organizing pneumonia (OP) induced by aerosolized recombinant super compound interferon (rSIFN-co). MethodsClinical features and related laboratory examinations of a patient with OP developing after initiation of rSIFN-co for treatment of lung adenocarcinoma were analyzed, and the relevant literature was reviewed. ResultsA 48-year-old man developed cough, fevers, shortness of breath and weight loss, shortly half a month after initiation of therapy with rSIFN-co for lung adenocarcinoma. Chest high resolution computerized tomography (HRCT) showed multiple lung infection diseases. However, the anti-infection treatment was invalid. Lung tissue biopsy by bronchofibroscope was consistent with OP. After discontinuation of rSIFN-co and receiving pulse corticosteroid therapy followed by oral methylprednisolone, the pneumonic symptoms and chest manifestations markedly improved. After eight-month follow-up, the patient's condition was stable. The relative literature screening from Pubmed and Wanfangdata was implemented, but there was no report about OP caused by aerosolized rSIFN-co for lung adenocarcinoma. ConclusionThis report suggests that treatment with aerosolized rSIFN-co for lung adenocarcinoma may induce OP, a rare complication, and clinicians should have vigilance on it.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of different biopsy methods in the diagnosis of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP). MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed in patients hospitalized and diagnosed as IIP between January 2010 to December 2013 in the Department of Respiratory Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University. The patients were divided based on initial diagnoses. The performance of invasive examinations including both transbronchoscopic lung biopsy (TBLB) and surgical lung biopsy (SLB) and final diagnoses were recorded. ResultsThree hundred and ninety-one patients were included in the study with mean age of 62.5±11.9 years. There were 299 patients receiving TBLB, 43 patients receiving SLB, and 49 patients receiving non-invasive examinations. Among 299 patients who underwent TBLB, parenchymal tissue was not obtained in 132 (44.1%) but successfully obtained in 167 (55.9%) patients, with 79 (47.3% out of 167) clinically helpful. TBLB-based specific diagnoses were as follows:30 cases of non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP), 22 cases of cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP), 18 cases of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), 4 cases of acute interstitial pneumonia (AIP), 2 cases of respiratory bronchiolitis-interstitial lung disease (RB-ILD) and lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia (LIP) for each, 1 case of desquamative interstitial pneumonia (DIP), respectively. Among 43 patients who underwent SLB, parenchymal tissue was obtained in all cases with 40(93.0% out of 43) pathologically diagnostic, including 20 cases of NSIP, 12 cases of IPF, 3 cases of COP and LIP for each, and 2 cases of RB-ILD and DIP for each. Finally, among 181 patients who failed to obtain parenchymal tissue or did not undergo invasive examination, specific diagnoses could be established in 40 patients with all finally diagnosed as IPF. ConclusionsThe pathological diagnosis, either based on TBLB or SLB, is very important in the diagnostic procedure of IIP. The biopsy technique of hospital and patient conditions should be considered when making the decision of biopsy method.
ObjectiveTo highlight the characteristics of bronchial foreign body in Adults. MethodsThe clinical data of three patients with bronchial foreign body were analyzed and related literatures were reviewed. ResultsForeign bodies in three patients were all located in right bronchi. Their initial diagnoses were tumor, pneumonia and foreign body, respectively. They all didn't offer a definite history of foreign body aspiration. Foreign bodies in three patients were diagnosed and treated by bronchoscopy. Through reviewing 978 related literatures, we found 2920 cases of bronchial foreign body in adults. 75.00% of them didn't offer a history of foreign body aspiration. 80.13% of them were misdiagnosed as other diseases before bronchoscopy, such as pneumonia(31.23%), lung cancer(25.21%), tuberculosis(5.81%), bronchiectasis(6.58%) and asthma(12.47%). Some of them were misdiagnosed for over 30 years. ConclusionsBronchial foreign bodies in adults are easily misdiagnosed. Bronchoscopy plays an important role in diagnosis and treatment of bronchial foreign body.