Pneumonitis induced by sulphasalazine

Pulmonary involvement in inflammatory bowel disease

AIM: To determine the relationship of pulmonary abnormalities and bowel disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

METHODS: Thirty ulcerative colitis (UC) and nine Crohn’s disease patients, and 20 control subjects were enrolled in this prospective study. Detailed clinical information was obtained. Extent and activity of the bowel disease were established endoscopically. Each patient underwent pulmonary function tests and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Blood samples for measurement of C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), angiotensin converting enzyme and total IgE were delivered by the patients.

RESULTS: Ten (25.6%) patients had respiratory symptoms. A pulmonary function abnormality was present in 22 of 39 patients. Among all patients, the most prevalent abnormalities in lung functions were a decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory flow (FEF) 25%-75%, transfer coefficient for carbon monoxide (DLCO), DLCO/alveolar volume. Increased respiratory symptoms score was associated with high endoscopic activity index in UC patients. Endoscopic and clinical activities in UC patients were correlated with FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and FEF 25%-75%. Smoking status, duration of disease and medication were not correlated with pulmonary physiological test results, HRCT abnormalities, clinical/endoscopic disease activity, CRP, ESR or total IgE level or body mass index.

CONCLUSION: It is important that respiratory manifestations are recognized and treated early in IBD. Otherwise, they can lead to destructive and irreversible changes in the airway wall.

Infliximab-associated alveolitis after treatment for severe left-sided ulcerative colitis

Here we describe a patient with ulcerative colitis who developed alveolitis after infliximab therapy. With earlier case reports of development of alveolitis in rheumatoid arthritis patients after infliximab infusion, the temporal relationship between the infliximab therapy and the development of alveolitis in this case, raises the possibility that the two might be causally related. With an increasing trend towards treating moderate to severely active ulcerative colitis patients with infliximab as a rescue therapy, clinicians should be aware of this potentially serious complication.

Changes in pulmonary function in patients with ulcerative colitis

OBJECTIVES

Information on the occurrence and frequency of pulmonary involvement in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) is inconsistent. Some authors reported pulmonary impairment with UC by standard pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and documented a reduced diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) especially in patients with active disease, whereas others could not detect differences in routine PFTs between UC patients and controls.

AIM

The aim of this prospective study was to determine the frequency and type of pulmonary dysfunction in patients with UC with respect to disease activity. Furthermore, to evaluate the influence of smoking, nutritional status, sputum cytology and sulphasalazine therapy on PFT parameters.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty-six patients with UC (20 with active disease, 6 inactive) and 16 age and sex matched healthy controls were investigated with respect to the following pulmonary function tests, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the 1s (FEV(1)%) and their ratio (FEV(1)/FVC) and forced expiratory flow 25-75% (FEF25-75%) as well as oxygen saturation. For UC patients, colonoscopy and biopsy were done. Disease activity was assessed by Truelove index for UC. Induced sputum was sampled for cytology. Smoking habit, body mass index (BMI) and medications were recorded.

RESULTS

Fifteen out of 26 patients with UC (57.6%) exhibited at least one pathological pulmonary function test (<80% of predicted value). Small airway obstruction was reported in the 15 patients, restrictive dysfunction in 30.7% and obstructive dysfunction in 11.5%. The impairment of PFTs was significant and more pronounced in patients with active disease, FVC (-14% of predicted), FEV(1) (-9% of predicted) and FEF25-75% (-32% of predicted), P<0.01, 0.05 and 0.01, respectively. There was no significant influence of smoking and medications on PFTs.

CONCLUSIONS

UC patients show significantly decreased lung function tests in comparison to healthy controls. The impairment in active disease exceeded that during the remission. Early recognition is important, as they can be strikingly steroid responsive.

Bilateral pulmonary infiltrates in a patient with ulcerative colitis receiving mesalazine

A 36-year-old woman presented with a 2-month history of dry cough, bilateral pain in the upper chest, and low-grade fever. She had a 1-year history of ulcerative colitis (UC), which was treated with mesalazine. Cultures of sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were negative. Chest radiograph and a computed tomography (CT) scan showed dense bilateral subpleural infiltrates in both upper lobes. A c-ANCA test was positive in a 1:1280 titer, and further specification showed antibodies against proteinase-3 antigen. Due to the possibility of mesalazine toxicity, this medication was stopped. Within 2 weeks, the patient's symptoms markedly improved, together with the chest roentgenogram.

Alterations in pulmonary function in inflammatory bowel disease are frequent and persist during remission

OBJECTIVES

Information on the occurrence and frequency of pulmonary involvement in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is inconsistent. The aim of this prospective study was to determine the frequency and type of pulmonary dysfunction in patients with IBD.

METHODS

Sixty-six patients with IBD (35 with Crohn's disease [CD] and 31 with ulcerative colitis [UC]) and 30 control patients were investigated with respect to the following pulmonary function tests: forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), inspiratory vital capacity (IVC), Tiffeneau value (FEV1/IVC), and lung CO transfer capacity (D(LCO)). Disease activity in IBD patients was assessed by the CD activity index for CD and the Truelove index for UC, respectively. Smoking habits and medication were documented in every patient.

RESULTS

Fourteen of 36 CD patients (39%) and 14 of 31 UC patients (45%) but only one of the controls exhibited at least one pathological (<80% of predicted value) pulmonary function test. In both CD and UC lung function tests were significantly decreased in comparison to the control group. This could be shown for FEV1 (-14% of predicted value in CD and -17% in UC, p < 0.01), IVC (-10% in CD and -12% in UC, p < 0.05), and DLCO (-20% in CD and -31% in UC, p < 0.01) without significant differences between both disease entities. The impairment of pulmonary function tests was more pronounced in patients with active disease than in those with inactive disease (FEV1, 81.4% vs 93.4% predicted, p < 0.02; IVC, 84.4% vs 93.7%, p < 0.05; DLCO, 80.4% vs 95.8%, ns).

CONCLUSIONS

IBD patients show significantly decreased lung function tests in comparison to healthy controls. The impairment in active disease exceeded that during remission.