Pulmonary complications of connective tissue diseases

Neutrophil extracellular traps induce pyroptosis of pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells by activating the NLRP3 inflammasome

Excessive formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) may lead to myositis-related interstitial lung disease (ILD). There is evidence that NETs can directly injure vascular endothelial cells and play a pathogenic role in the inflammatory exudation of ILD. However, the specific mechanism is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the specific mechanism underlying NET-induced injury to human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMECs). HPMECs were stimulated with NETs (200 ng/ml) in vitro. Cell death was detected by propidium iodide staining. The morphological changes of the cells were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Pyroptosis markers were detected by western blot, immunofluorescence, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and the related inflammatory factor Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) was verified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Compared with the control group, HPMECs mortality increased after NET stimulation, and the number of pyroptosis vacuoles in HPMECs was further observed by TEM. The pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMECs) of the experimental autoimmune myositis mouse model also showed a trend of pyroptosis in vivo. Cell experiment further confirmed the significantly high expression of the NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis-related markers, including GSDMD and inflammatory factor IL-1β. Pretreated with the NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950, the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis of HPMECs were effectively inhibited. Our study confirmed that NETs promote pulmonary microvascular endothelial pyroptosis by activating the NLRP3 inflammasome, suggesting that NETs-induced pyroptosis of PMECs may be a potential pathogenic mechanism of inflammatory exudation in ILD.

The utility of transbronchial lung biopsies to guide the treatment decision in patients with rheumatic inflammatory diseases: a retrospective cross-sectional study

The role of transbronchial lung biopsies (TBB) in the diagnostic workup of systemic inflammatory rheumatic disease-associated interstitial lung disease (SIRD-ILD) is unclear and TBB is not generally recommended. The study objective was to examine the utility of TBB to guide treatment in a population of patients with SIRD-ILD. All patients from the Department of Rheumatology, Rigshospitalet, Denmark, who had TBB performed, from 2002 to 2016 were identified. Patient demographics as well as smoking status, previous lung disease, pulmonary function test, SIRD-diagnosis, imaging results and immunomodulatory therapy pre- and post-bronchoscopy were obtained. Histology findings were used to dichotomize patients into a high-inflammatory group or a low-inflammatory group. The high-inflammation group primarily consisted of non-specific interstitial pneumonia, organizing pneumonia, lymphocytic infiltrating pneumonia and granulomatous inflammation whereas the low inflammation group primarily consisted of histological findings of usual interstitial pneumonitis and biopsies describing fibrosis and/or sparse unspecific inflammation. Therapeutic consequence was defined as intensification of therapy. Differences in treatment intensification were calculated using a binominal logistic regression model. Ninety-six patients had TBB performed. Biopsies from 55 patients were categorized as high inflammatory and 41 as low inflammatory, respectively. In the high-inflammatory group, 38 (69%) had their therapy intensified compared to 6 (14%) in the low-inflammatory group (Odds ratio 8.0, 95% confidence limits 3.2-20.0, P < 0.001). No procedure-related complications were registered. TBB findings can guide treatment strategy in SIRD-ILD patients with suspected activity in the pulmonary disease. TBB appears safe and could be considered as part of the diagnostic workup.

The clinico-radiological profile of obliterative bronchiolitis in a tertiary care center

Background

Obliterative bronchiolitis (OB) forms a major proportion of chronic airway diseases (CADs). OB is often misdiagnosed and included under the umbrella term 'chronic obstructive pulmonary disease'. We set out to identify the proportion of OB cases among the CADs and study the clinical profile of OB.

Materials and Methods

This prospective, observational study noted all patients with Chronic airway obstruction (CAO), of which patients with OB were included and the clinical profile was studied. Data were subjected to statistical analysis.

Results

Five hundred patients with CAO were noted in the study period, of which 115 patients were found to be OB amounting to a prevalence of 23%. The mean age of presentation was 51.8 years (standard deviation 12.1) with a male-female ratio of 1:1. The most common etiology for OB was as sequelae to past treated pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) seen in 82 patients (71%) of cases. Dyspnea in 114 patients (99%) and productive cough in 110 patients (95%) were the predominant symptoms. Postexercise desaturation was seen in all 115 patients (100%). Forty-six patients (43%) presented with either Type 1 or Type 2 respiratory failure. Spirometry showed obstructive pattern in 68 patients (59%) with forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) ratio of <70% and FEV1 <70% postbronchodilator and mixed pattern in 47 patients (41%) with a reduction in both FEV1 and FVC and normal FEV1/FVC ratio. There was the presence of mosaic attenuation on high-resolution computerized tomography (HRCT) of the chest with expiratory scans in all 115 patients (100%). Pulmonary hypertension was documented in 109 patients (95%).

Conclusion

OB is one of the major causes of CAO. HRCT of the chest with expiratory scans plays a important role in the diagnosis. Early diagnosis can prevent irrevocable complications.

Connective tissue disease associated interstitial pneumonia: a challenge for both rheumatologists and pulmonologists

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) can be either idiopathic, the result of exposure or may be associated with extrapulmonary diseases. Among the latter, connective tissue diseases (CTDs) make up the largest part. The identification, follow-up and treatment of CTD-associated ILD (CTD-ILD) are a challenge for every physician as ILD can occur before, during and after the diagnosis of CTD. Early detection of pulmonary involvement is an essential task for the treating rheumatologist and recognition of the underlying CTD can pose a challenge for the treating pulmonologist. Multidisciplinary engagement towards the patient is therefore indispensable for optimal clinical care. (Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis 2017; 34: 326-335).

The COPD Assessment Test as a Prognostic Marker in Interstitial Lung Disease

The chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Assessment Test (CAT), which was developed to measure the health status of patients with COPD, was applied to patients with interstitial lung disease, aiming to examine the CAT as a predictor of outcome. Over a follow-up period of more than one year, 101 consecutive patients with interstitial lung disease were evaluated by the CAT. The CAT scores of 40 in total were categorized into four subsets according to the severity. Patients with higher (more severe) scores exhibited lower forced vital capacity and lung diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide. The survival rate was significantly lower in patients with higher scores (log-rank test, P = 0.0002), and the hazard ratios for death of the higher scores and lower lung diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide were independently significant. These findings suggest that CAT can indicate the risk of mortality in patients with interstitial lung disease.

Chronic interstitial pneumonia in young patients undergoing lung transplantation or autopsy: clinico-radiologic-pathologic observations from a single institution

PURPOSE

To retrospectively evaluate high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings and clinical diagnoses of chronic interstitial pneumonia (IP) with a poor prognosis in young patients (≤50 years).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

HRCT images of 8 men and 7 women (mean age 34.8 years) obtained before lung transplantation or autopsy were reviewed. After reviewing whole lung specimens and pathologic diagnoses, all patients were clinically diagnosed according to the 2010 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis/usual interstitial pneumonia (IPF/UIP) consensus statement.

RESULTS

HRCT images revealed intralobular reticular opacity, air cysts, ground glass opacity, traction bronchiectasis, and interlobular septal thickening. Intralobular reticular opacity was the most extensive finding. Abnormal findings existed predominantly in both the peripheral and lower lung zones in only 1 patient. Classifications of HRCT patterns were "UIP" (n = 2), "inconsistent with UIP" (n = 11), and "indeterminate UIP" (n = 2). Multidisciplinary diagnoses were "IPF/UIP" (n = 1), "possible IPF/UIP" (n = 1), "IP with connective tissue disease" (n = 7), "fibrotic nonspecific IP" (n = 1), and "unclassified IP" (n = 5).

CONCLUSION

The most extensive HRCT finding was intralobular reticular opacity. Most HRCT images differed from typical IPF/UIP, and IPF/UIP was uncommon in young patients with chronic IP with a poor prognosis.

Pulmonary involvement in rheumatoid arthritis: multidetector computed tomography findings

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary involvement in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is common and encompasses a large spectrum of disease with different treatment options and prognoses. Therefore, assessment of these patients with multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is vital.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the MDCT pulmonary findings of patients with RA and to compare these findings with the clinical status.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Chest MDCT scans of 85 patients with RA between 2006-2012 were assessed. One patient with a pulmonary infection was excluded from the study. MDCT findings and distribution of the CT findings were examined, and patients were classified according to the predominant CT pattern. The pulmonary function test (PFT) results and categories, demographic characteristics, and clinical status of some of the patients for whom the results were obtained were evaluated, and the CT findings, PFT results, demographic characteristics, and clinical status were compared.

RESULTS

The study group consisted of 20 men (mean age, 58.1 years ± 13.1; range, 15-77 years) and 64 women (mean age, 55.3 years ± 11.5; range, 30-84 years). The most frequent findings were nodules (78.6%) and pleural thickening (48.8%). The most common CT patterns were follicular bronchiolitis (FB) in 28 (33.3%) patients and nodular disease (ND) in 12 (14.3%) others. There was no statistically significant difference between the CT findings and PFT results, and no statistically significant difference was noted in the CT findings between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. In addition, there were some patients who exhibited no symptoms and/or had abnormal PFT results but had abnormal CT findings.

CONCLUSION

Rheumatoid arthritis is associated with a high frequency of CT findings and CT patterns, with nodules and pleural thickening being the most common CT findings and FB and ND being the most common CT patterns. MDCT identification of patients with RA may be helpful in the evaluation of pulmonary disease, even in patients without symptoms and PFT abnormalities.

Connective tissue disease related fibrotic lung disease: high resolution computed tomographic and pulmonary function indices as prognostic determinants

PURPOSE

To determine high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) patterns and pulmonary function indices which are associated with increased mortality in patients with connective tissue disease related fibrotic lung disease (CTD-FLD).

METHODS

HRCTs from 168 patients with CTD-FLD were scored by 2 observers for a variety of HRCT patterns and traction bronchiectasis. A radiological diagnosis of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), fibrotic non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) or indeterminate was also assigned. Using Cox regression analysis, associations with mortality were identified. Honeycombing and traction bronchiectasis scores were converted to binary absence/presence scores and also tested. A subgroup analysis of patients with biopsy material (n=51) was performed by classifying patients according to radiological and histopathological diagnoses, as concordant UIP, discordant UIP and fibrotic NSIP. The prognostic separation of this classification was also evaluated.

RESULTS

Severity of traction bronchiectasis (HR 1.10, p=0.001, 95% CIs 1.04 to 1.17), increasing extent of honeycombing (HR 1.08, p=0.021, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.13) and reduction in DLco (HR 0.97, p=0.013, 95% CI 0.95 to 0.99) were independently associated with increased mortality. Interobserver agreement and prognostic strength were higher for binary traction bronchiectasis scores (weighted κ (κw)=0.69, HR 4.00, p=0.001, 95%CI 1.19 to 13.38), than binary honeycombing scores (κw=0.50, HR 2.87, p=0.022, 95% CI 1.53 to 5.43). The radiological-histopathological classification was strongly associated with increased mortality (HR 2.74, p<0.001, 95% CI 1.57 to 4.77) and patients with discordant UIP had a better prognosis than concordant UIP but worse prognosis than fibrotic NSIP.

CONCLUSIONS

Severity of traction bronchiectasis, extent of honeycombing and DLco are strongly associated with mortality in CTD-FLD. Interobserver agreement for traction bronchiectasis is higher than for honeycombing. In CTD-FLD, radiological diagnosis has survival implications in biopsy proven UIP.

Interstitial lung disease in anti-Jo-1 patients with antisynthetase syndrome

OBJECTIVE

To assess the outcome of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in anti-Jo-1 patients with antisynthetase syndrome, determine predictive variables of ILD deterioration in these patients, and compare features of anti-Jo-1 patients with and without ILD.

METHODS

Ninety-one anti-Jo-1 patients were identified by medical records search in 4 medical centers. All of these patients had undergone pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans.

RESULTS

Sixty-six patients (72.5%) had ILD. Patients could be divided into 3 groups according to their presenting lung manifestations: acute onset of lung disease (n = 12), progressive onset of lung signs (n = 35), and asymptomatic patients exhibiting abnormalities consistent with ILD on PFTs and HRCT scans (n = 19). Sixteen patients had resolution of ILD; 39 and 11 patients experienced improvement and deterioration of ILD, respectively. ILD led to decreased functional status, since 29.8% of patients exhibited a marked reduction of activities due to ILD and 13.6% had respiratory insufficiency requiring oxygen therapy; 5 of 6 patients died due to ILD complications. Predictive parameters of ILD deterioration were HRCT scan pattern of usual interstitial pneumonia, respiratory muscle involvement, and age ≥55 years. Furthermore, anti-Jo-1 patients with ILD, compared with those without, more frequently exhibited mechanic's hands and lower creatine kinase levels.

CONCLUSION

Our findings confirm that ILD is a frequent complication in anti-Jo-1 patients, resulting in high morbidity. We suggest that patients with predictive factors of ILD deterioration may require more aggressive therapy. Finally, anti-Jo-1 patients with ILD, compared with those without, may exhibit a particular clinical phenotype.

Thoracic manifestations of collagen vascular diseases

Collagen vascular diseases are a diverse group of immunologically mediated systemic disorders that often lead to thoracic changes. The collagen vascular diseases that most commonly involve the lung are rheumatoid arthritis, progressive systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, polymyositis and dermatomyositis, mixed connective tissue disease, and Sjögren syndrome. Interstitial lung disease and pulmonary arterial hypertension are the main causes of mortality and morbidity among patients with collagen vascular diseases. Given the broad spectrum of possible thoracic manifestations and the varying frequency with which different interstitial lung diseases occur, the interpretation of thoracic images obtained in patients with collagen vascular diseases can be challenging. The task may be more difficult in the presence of treatment-related complications such as drug toxicity and infections, which are common in this group of patients. Although chest radiography is most often used for screening and monitoring of thoracic alterations, high-resolution computed tomography can provide additional information about lung involvement in collagen vascular diseases and may be especially helpful for differentiating specific disease patterns in the lung. General knowledge about the manifestations of thoracic involvement in collagen vascular diseases allows radiologists to provide better guidance for treatment and follow-up of these patients.

The spectrum of lung involvement in collagen vascular-like diseases following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: report of 6 cases and review of the literature

Multisystem autoimmune diseases occurring after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation are infrequent, late-onset manifestations that resemble well-defined collagen vascular disorders. Because the lung is frequently involved in the course of connective tissue disorders, we focused on lung manifestations occurring in autoimmune diseases following allogeneic stem cell transplantation. In the present series, we report 6 patients with systemic lupus erythematous, mixed connective tissue disease, Sjögren syndrome, polymyositis, and ANCA-positive vasculitis who presented with a spectrum of pulmonary manifestations affecting the airways, lung parenchyma, and probably respiratory muscles. We identified 3 different histopathologic patterns of interstitial pneumonia consistent with the underlying autoimmune disorder: lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia and non-specific interstitial pneumonia in 2 patients with Sjögren syndrome and diffuse alveolar damage in 1 patient with ANCA-positive vasculitis. These lung manifestations had poor prognoses. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal therapy for these complications.

Interstitial Lung Disease in Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy

The lung is one of the most common extra-muscular targets in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a prevalent and often devastating manifestation of IIM. IIM-associated ILD (IIM-ILD) contributes to nearly 80% of the mortality in IIM with a reported prevalence of 65% of newly diagnosed IIM cases. Although ILD frequently accompanies clinical and laboratory findings of myositis, overt signs of muscle disease may be absent in the setting of significant lung disease. Understanding the varied scope of presentation of these diseases is essential to providing optimal patient care. This review will provide an in depth examination of ILD in IIM both from a rheumatologic and pulmonary perspective and will discuss the scope of disease, presenting features, genetic associations, pathogenesis, diagnosis, radiographic and histopathologic findings, along with biomarker assessment and a rationale for therapeutic intervention.

Interstitial Lung Disease in Children Older Than 2 Years

The spectrum of childhood interstitial lung diseases (chILD) encompasses a group of heterogeneous, rare disorders in children characterized by diffuse pulmonary infiltrates and disordered gas exchange. Whereas the disorders that present in early life are unique to children, those that present in older children are also seen in adults. This review will concentrate on chILD presenting in children older than 2 years of age with a focus on the idiopathic interstitial pneumonias, connective tissue diseases, alveolar hemorrhage, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. A systematic approach to diagnosis that includes a careful history and physical, computed tomography of the chest, bronchoalveolar lavage, and lung biopsy can be very helpful in establishing the correct diagnosis. Treatment approaches are described, including general supportive measures, indications for a trial of systemic corticosteroids, or other immunomodulating therapies, and when lung transplantation reserved for those with end-stage lung disease should be considered.

Manifestações intratorácicas das doenças do colágeno na tomografia computadorizada de alta resolução do tórax

As manifestações intratorácicas das doenças do colágeno são bastante comuns. O padrão e a freqüência de comprometimento dependem do tipo específico de doença do colágeno, que pode envolver um ou vários compartimentos simultaneamente, tais como parênquima, vias aéreas, artérias pulmonares, pleura, e pericárdio. As manifestações mais importantes incluem as pneumonias intersticiais difusas e a hipertensão pulmonar, que em conjunto representam as principais causas de mortalidade e morbidade nesses pacientes. O acometimento pulmonar, pleural e de via aérea pode ser também secundário a terapêutica instituída ou ser decorrente de processos infecciosos bacterianos ou por germes oportunistas, por causa da imunossupressão. Nesta revisão os autores sumarizam as manifestações intratorácicas e o diagnóstico diferencial das principais doenças do colágeno na tomografia computadorizada de alta resolução do tórax.