Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and GERD: links and risks

Study on the common mechanisms of gastroesophageal reflux disease and interstitial lung disease

OBJECTIVE

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have complex interactions and can exacerbate severity of each other. This study aimed to screen shared genes between ILD and GERD and explore their common mechanisms and clinical value.

METHODS

We obtained microarray datasets of ILD and GERD from public databases. Shared genes were screened by differential expression analysis and Venn analysis. Hub genes were screened from shared genes using the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. The ssGSEA algorithm was utilized to estimate immune infiltration level of ILD and GERD, and correlation of hub genes with immune cell infiltration was studied. Finally, potential drugs that may act on hub genes were screened using DSigDB.

RESULTS

52 shared genes were obtained through Venn analysis. PPI network analysis identified 10 hub genes (BMP4, NT5E, PPARG, EPCAM, DPP4, KLF2, MMP1, AGR2, ADAMTS1, GATA6) that may have diagnostic performance (p < 0.05). The results of immune infiltration showed that hub genes were highly linked to multiple immune cell infiltrations (p < 0.05). In addition, we identified 5 potential drugs. Notably, thioridazine may target 5 hub genes (MMP1, AGR2, KLF2, ADAMTS1, and PPARG) simultaneously (p < 0.05) and had the potential to be a novel therapeutic drug.

CONCLUSION

In summary, we have screened out the hub genes with diagnostic value in ILD and GERD, and also revealed the close relationship between the hub genes and the disease immune microenvironment, providing new research directions for the common mechanism and interaction of the two diseases.

Treatable traits in interstitial lung disease: a narrative review

The interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are a heterogeneous and complex group of diseases. The treatable trait (TT) model represents a shift in ILD management, away from traditional diagnostic labels towards a more individualised, trait-focused approach. This review explores the application of the TT paradigm to ILD, identifying key traits across the aetiological, pulmonary, extrapulmonary and behavioural domains. By addressing these traits, the TT model offers a framework to improve outcomes in ILD through multidisciplinary management with a precision medicine focus. Further research is necessary to evaluate the overall impact of this TT model on ILD care.

Collagen-V and K-α-1 Tubulin Antibodies as Potential Markers of Unsuspected GERD-Related Lung Damage: Insights from a Cross-Sectional Analysis

PURPOSE

Our group has proposed that aspiration of gastric contents leads to exposure of normally sequestered lung self-antigens (SAgs), specifically collagen-V (Col-V) and K-α-1-tubulin (Kα1T), which elicits an immune response characterized by increasing concentrations of self-antibodies (SAbs) anti-Col-V and anti-Kα1T. We sought to establish the point prevalence of abnormally elevated concentrations of SAbs among patients with pathological gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and/or hiatal hernia undergoing antireflux surgery (ARS).

METHODS

For this cross-sectional study, we retrieved a plasma aliquot from the Norton Thoracic Institute BioBank from blood samples that were taken preoperatively from patients who underwent ARS between November 2019 and August 2022. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were employed to detect and quantify anti-Col-V and anti-Kα1T.

RESULTS

Samples from 43 patients (females, n = 34 [79.1%]; mean age, 62 ± 12 years; and mean BMI, 30.5 ± 7  kg/m2) were analyzed. Before ARS, 28 (65.1%, CI95: 50.3-80.0%) patients had abnormally elevated concentrations of anti-Col-V and 19 (44.2%, CI95: 28.7-59.7%) had elevated concentrations of circulating anti-Kα1T. Overall, 13 patients (30.2%) had low (i.e., normal) concentrations of both SAbs, 13 (30.2%) were positive only for one, and 17 (39.5%) were positive for both SAbs.

CONCLUSION

A relative high point prevalence of abnormally elevated circulating SAbs (i.e., anti-Col-V and/or anti-Kα1T) before ARS was found. This result suggests clinically unsuspected pulmonary parenchymal injury secondary to GERD-related aspiration. Further studies are required to confirm this hypothesis and to identify alternative non-invasive early biomarkers of GERD-related lung damage.

Prevalence of Gastroesophageal Reflux in Interstitial Lung Diseases Clinic

Background Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are a group of non-infectious diseases characterized by interstitial inflammation and fibrosis on histological examination. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is common in this patient population, but whether there is a causal or coincidental relationship is not yet clear. It still remains unsettled how to diagnose GERD, and the role of different treatment modalities for GERD, in these lung disorders. Furthermore, most of the work is done to find the association of GERD with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) only. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of GERD in ILD patients presenting to an ILD clinic. Methods Prospective study of registered ILD patients during a period of eight months (May-December 2016). Diagnosis of GERD was made on a clinical basis (presentation with typical symptoms of heartburn and regurgitation). Current use of acid-reducing medications and steroids was also recorded. Results A total of 79 patients were included in the study. Females (58, 73.41%) outnumbered males (21, 26.58%). The heaviest burden of ILD was contributed by IPF (32, 40.50%), followed by non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) (26, 32.91%), hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) (8, 10.12%), sarcoidosis (5, 6.3%), silicosis (3, 3.8%), desquamative interstitial pneumonia (DIP) (2, 2.5%), and Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) (3, 3.79%). Fifty (63.29%) patients were on steroids, and 29 (36.70%) were already taking anti-reflux medications at presentation. GERD was reported in 21 (65.6%) IPF, 12 (46.15%) NSIP, one (12.5%) HP, one (33.3%) silicosis, two (40%) sarcoidosis, and all (2,100%) of DIP patients. The overall prevalence of GERD was 39 (49.36%) in ILD patients. Conclusion The prevalence of abnormal acid reflux in ILD patients is high. It may be one of the underlying etiologies of lung fibrosis. Long-term follow-up is necessary to determine if control of reflux alters the natural history of these lung disorders. GERD must be investigated and managed optimally for patients with ILD.

Investigation of pepsin levels in bronchial lavage in patients with interstitial lung disease and chronic cough

AIM

Pepsin is an enzyme that helps digest protein secreted only from the gastric chief cell in an inactive state. Pepsin is a good marker for acidic gastroesophageal reflux (GER). Its presence in sputum or saliva is considered pathologic. In GER, cough is stimulated by broncho-esophageal neurogenic reflex and aspiration of gastric contents into the airways. GER is the most common cause of cough. Gastric acid reflux is also thought to play a role in Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) etiology. In many studies, pepsin and bile acid levels in bronchial lavage were high in patients with interstitial lung disease and chronic cough. In our study, we aimed to evaluate pepsin levels in bronchial lavage in patients with ILD and chronic cough and to investigate the relationship between symptoms and reflux treatment.

METHODS

Between January 2021 and February 2022, 212 patients who underwent bronchoscopy in our tertiary clinic were evaluated. These patients were divided into three groups: 52 patients with interstitial lung disease, 81 patients with chronic cough, and 79 patients who underwent bronchoscopy with a pre-diagnosis of lung cancer as the control group. Bronchial lavage obtained by bronchoscopy was analyzed for pepsin levels.

RESULTS

Shortness of breath and cough were the most common symptoms in all three groups. Pepsin levels were 16.71 ± 8.6 ng/ml in the chronic cough group, 15.6 ± 8.9 ng/ml in the ILD group, and 10.58 ± 5.4 ng/ml in the lung cancer (control) group. Pepsin levels in the ILD and chronic cough group were statistically significantly higher than in the lung cancer group (p:0.00). There was no statistical difference between the ILD group and the chronic cough group regarding pepsin levels. It was found that pepsin levels were lower in the three groups who received anti-reflux treatment. There was no difference in pepsin levels between ILD subgroups.

CONCLUSION

Pepsin levels in bronchial lavage were higher in the ILD and chronic cough groups. This suggests that reflux may be involved in the etiology of chronic cough and ILD. Low pepsin values in patients receiving anti-reflux therapy have shown that occult reflux may occur. In our study, the high level of pepsin in bronchial lavage, especially in the chronic cough and ILD group, may be instructive in the etiology and treatment planning of the disease.

Esophageal Function Testing Patterns in the Evaluation and Management of Lung Transplantation: Results of a National Survey

GOALS

We surveyed esophageal motility laboratories affiliated with adult pulmonary transplant centers to determine esophageal function testing (EFT) practices.

BACKGROUND

Gastroesophageal reflux and esophageal dysmotility are associated with worse lung transplant outcomes, yet no consensus guidelines for EFT exist in this population.

STUDY

A deidentified online survey was sent to gastrointestinal motility laboratory directors of 49 academic and community-affiliated medical centers that perform lung transplants. Practice characteristics, including annual lung transplant volume and institutional EFT practices pre-lung transplantation and post-lung transplantation were queried. Respondents were categorized by transplant volume into small and large programs based on median annual volume.

RESULTS

Among 35 respondents (71% response rate), the median annual transplant volume was 37, and there were 18 large programs. Institutional EFT protocols were used pretransplant by 24 programs (68.6%) and post-transplant by 12 programs (34.2%). Among small and large programs, 52.9% and 72.2% always obtained high-resolution manometry before transplant, respectively. Endoscopy before transplant was performed more often in small programs (n=17, 100%) compared with large programs (n=15,83.3%). Pretransplant endoscopy ( P =0.04), barium esophagram ( P <0.01), and high-resolution manometry ( P =0.04) were more common than post-transplant. In contrast, post-transplant reflux monitoring off-therapy was more common than pretransplant ( P =0.01). In general, pulmonologists direct referrals for EFT and gastroenterology consultation (n=28, 80.0%), with symptoms primarily prompting testing.

CONCLUSIONS

In the absence of established guidelines, substantial variability exists in pretransplant and post-transplant EFT, directed by pulmonologists. Standardized EFT protocols and gastroenterologist-directed management of esophageal dysfunction has potential to improve lung transplant outcomes.

Progressive pulmonary fibrosis and its impact on survival in systemic sclerosis-related interstitial lung disease

OBJECTIVE

To describe the frequency of progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) in an incident cohort of systemic sclerosis (SSc)-related interstitial lung disease (ILD) and its impact on survival.

METHODS

Incident ILD was defined as the new development of characteristic fibrotic changes on chest HRCT scan. PPF was defined as per the 2022 American Thoracic Society. Determinants of PPF were identified using generalised estimating equations. Impact on survival was analysed using accelerated failure time regression modelling.

RESULTS

Of our incident SSc-ILD cases, 38.8% (n = 180) experienced PPF within a 12-month period after ILD diagnosis. Determinants of PPF included older age (OR 1.02, 95%CI 1.00-1.03, P = 0.011), dcSSc (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.06-2.25, P = 0.024) and SSc-specific antibodies (anticentomere antibody OR 0.51, 95%CI 0.29-0.91, P = 0.021 and anti-Scl-70 antibody OR 1.46, 95%CI 1.01-2.09, P = 0.043). Raised CRP was numerically associated with PPF but did not reach statistical significance (OR 1.29, 95%CI 0.99-1.68, P = 0.064) nor did GORD or dysphagia (OR 1.18, 95%CI 0.57-2.42, P = 0.658 and OR 1.17, 95%CI 0.57-2.40, P = 0.664, respectively). The presence of PPF significantly impacted survival in SSc-ILD (hazard ratio 2.66, 95%CI 1.59-4.41, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

PPF occurred in a third of our incident SSc-ILD cohort; however, its occurrence was significantly associated with mortality indicating an at-risk group who may be suitable for earlier introduction of immunosuppressive and/or antifibrotic therapy.

Airway pepsinogen A4 identifies lung transplant recipients with microaspiration and predicts chronic lung allograft dysfunction

BACKGROUND

Aspiration is a known risk factor for adverse outcomes post-lung transplantation. Airway bile acids are the gold-standard biomarker of aspiration; however, they are released into the duodenum and likely reflect concurrent gastrointestinal dysmotility. Previous studies investigating total airway pepsin have found conflicting results on its relationship with adverse outcomes post-lung transplantation. These studies measured total pepsin and pepsinogen in the airways. Certain pepsinogens are constitutively expressed in the lungs, while others, such as pepsinogen A4 (PGA4), are not. We sought to evaluate the utility of measuring airway PGA4 as a biomarker of aspiration and predictor of adverse outcomes in lung transplant recipients (LTRs) early post-transplant.

METHODS

Expression of PGA4 was compared to other pepsinogens in lung tissue. Total pepsin and PGA4 were measured in large airway bronchial washings and compared to preexisting markers of aspiration. Two independent cohorts of LTRs were used to assess the relationship between airway PGA4 and chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD). Changes to airway PGA4 after antireflux surgery were assessed in a third cohort of LTRs.

RESULTS

PGA4 was expressed in healthy human stomach but not lung. Airway PGA4, but not total pepsin, was associated with aspiration. Airway PGA4 was associated with an increased risk of CLAD in two independent cohorts of LTRs. Antireflux surgery was associated with reduced airway PGA4.

CONCLUSIONS

Airway PGA4 is a marker of aspiration that predicts CLAD in LTRs. Measuring PGA4 at surveillance bronchoscopies can help triage high-risk LTRs for anti-reflux surgery.

The effect of colchicine on cancer risk in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases: a time-dependent study based on the Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database

BACKGROUND

To determine the effect of colchicine on cancer risk in patients with the immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs)-related to colchicine use.

METHODS

This is a time-dependent propensity-matched general population study based on the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan. We identified the IMIDs patients (n = 111,644) newly diagnosed between 2000 and 2012 based on the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM)-274,712, 135, 136.1, 279.49, 518.3, 287.0, 696.0, 696.1, 696.8, 420, 429.4, 710.0, 710.1, 710.3, 710.4, 714.0, 720, 55.0, 55.1, 55.9, 556.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

aged ≧ 20 years, if a patient had at least these disease diagnosis requirements within 1 year of follow-up, and, these patients had at least two outpatient visits or an inpatient visit. After propensity-matched according to age, sex, comorbidities, medications and index date, the IMIDs patients enter into colchicine users (N = 16,026) and colchicine nonusers (N = 16,026). Furthermore, time-dependent Cox models were used to analyze cancer risk in propensity-matched colchicine users compared with the nonusers. The cumulative cancer incidence was analyzed using Cox proportional regression analysis. We calculated adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for cancer after adjusting for sex, age, comorbidities, and use of medicine including acetylcysteine, medication for smoking cessation such as nicotine replacement medicines (the nicotine patch) and pill medicines (varenicline), anti-inflammatory drugs and immunosuppressant drugs.

RESULTS

Comparing the colchicine nonusers, all cancer risk were mildly attenuated, the (aHR (95% CI)) of all cancer is (0.84 (0.55, 0.99)). Meanwhile, the colchicine users were associated with the lower incidence of the colorectal cancer, the (aHRs (95% CI)) is (0.22 (0.19, 0.89)). Those aged < 65 years and male/female having the colchicine users were associated with lower risk the colorectal cancer also. Moreover, the colchicine > 20 days use with the lower aHR for colorectal cancer.

CONCLUSION

Colchicine was associated with the lower aHR of the all cancer and colorectal cancer formation in patients with the IMIDs.

Association between Antacid Exposure and Risk of Interstitial Lung Diseases

BACKGROUND

The mechanisms leading to lung fibrosis are still under investigation. This study aimed to demonstrate whether antacids could prevent the development of interstitial lung disease (ILD).

METHODS

This population-based longitudinal cohort study was conducted between January 2006 and December 2010 in South Korea. Eligible subjects were ≥40 years of age, exposed to proton pump inhibitors (PPI)±histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H-2 blockers) or H-2 blockers only, and had no history of ILD between 2004 and 2005. Exposure to antacids was defined as the administration of either PPI or H-2 receptor antagonists for >14 days, whereas underexposure was defined as antacid treatment administered for less than 14 days. Newly developed ILDs, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), were counted during the 5-year observation period. The association between antacid exposure and ILD development was evaluated using adjusted Cox regression models with variables, such as age, sex, smoking history, and comorbidities.

RESULTS

The incidence rates of ILD with/without antacid use were 43.2 and 33.8/100,000 person-years, respectively and those of IPF were 14.9 and 22.9/100,000 person-years, respectively. In multivariable analysis, exposure to antacid before the diagnosis of ILD was independently associated with a reduced development of ILD (hazard ratio [HR], 0.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.45 to 0.71; p<0.001), while antacid exposure was not associated with development of IPF (HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.72 to 1.09; p=0.06).

CONCLUSION

Antacid exposure may be independently associated with a decreased risk of ILD development.

Nationwide Study of the Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis in Korea

BACKGROUND

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is a condition with an uncertain global incidence, and information on its diagnosis and management is limited. This study aimed to address these knowledge gaps.

METHODS

This study utilized customized claims data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) in South Korea from January 2010, to December 2021. Patients with HP were identified based on the diagnosis code (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, J67) between 2011 and 2020. Incident HP cases were defined as new HP claims, excluding those with claims in the previous year. The study examined various factors such as age, sex, comorbidities, diagnostic methods, and treatment patterns. Additionally, multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors associated with treatment initiation.

RESULTS

A total of 8,678 HP incident cases were confirmed, with age- and sex-adjusted annual incidence rates ranging from 1.14/100,000 in 2020 to 2.16/100,000 in 2012. The mean age of patients with incident HP was 52 years, with a higher incidence observed among males. Additionally, the most common comorbidity was asthma. Bronchoscopy was performed on 16.9% of patients, and 25.4% of patients did not receive treatment within 1 year of diagnosis. Among those who received treatment, prednisone was the most used systemic steroid, and azathioprine was the most commonly used second-line immunosuppressant. Factors associated with treatment initiation included the female sex, having asthma or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and undergoing bronchoscopy.

CONCLUSION

This study provides valuable insights into the incidence, diagnosis, and treatment patterns of HP in South Korea using nationwide medical claims data.

Childhood interstitial lung disease in Turkey: first data from the national registry

The childhood interstitial lung diseases (chILD) Turkey registry (chILD-TR) was established in November 2021 to increase awareness of disease, and in collaboration with the centers to improve the diagnostic and treatment standards. Here, the first results of the chILD registry system were presented. In this prospective cohort study, data were collected using a data-entry software system. The demographic characteristics, clinical, laboratory, radiologic findings, diagnoses, and treatment characteristics of the patients were evaluated. Clinical characteristics were compared between two main chILD groups ((A) diffuse parenchymal lung diseases (DPLD) disorders manifesting primarily in infancy [group1] and (B) DPLD disorders occurring at all ages [group 2]). There were 416 patients registered from 19 centers. Forty-six patients were excluded due to missing information. The median age of diagnosis of the patients was 6.05 (1.3-11.6) years. Across the study population (n = 370), 81 (21.8%) were in group 1, and 289 (78.1%) were in group 2. The median weight z-score was significantly lower in group 1 (- 2.0 [- 3.36 to - 0.81]) than in group 2 (- 0.80 [- 1.7 to 0.20]) (p < 0.001). When we compared the groups according to chest CT findings, ground-glass opacities were significantly more common in group 1, and nodular opacities, bronchiectasis, mosaic perfusion, and mediastinal lymphadenopathy were significantly more common in group 2. Out of the overall study population, 67.8% were undergoing some form of treatment. The use of oral steroids was significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1 (40.6% vs. 23.3%, respectively; p = 0.040).   Conclusion: This study showed that national registry allowed to obtain information about the frequency, types, and treatment methods of chILD in Turkey and helped to see the difficulties in the diagnosis and management of these patients. What is Known: • Childhood interstitial lung diseases comprise many diverse entities which are challenging to diagnose and manage. What is New: • This study showed that national registry allowed to obtain information about the frequency, types and treatment methods of chILD in Turkey and helped to see the difficulties in the diagnosis and management of these patients. Also, our findings reveal that nutrition should be considered in all patients with chILD, especially in A-DPLD disorders manifesting primarily in infancy.

Unraveling the Complex Relationship Between Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, Lifestyle Factors, and Interstitial Lung Disease: Insights From Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Analyses

Background Although the cause of interstitial lung disease (ILD) remains uncertain, it is believed to be a combination of genetic and non-inherited factors, such as smoking and diet. This research aims to evaluate the impact of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and other modifiable risk factors on the likelihood of developing ILD by utilizing two-sample Mendelian randomization. Methodology The research utilized publicly accessible single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were deemed significant on a genome-wide scale. These SNPs were chosen from prior studies conducted by various consortia. The study examined GERD and a wide range of smoking habits, including the age at which individuals started smoking, the intensity of their smoking, and whether their mothers smoked. Additionally, the study considered other relevant risk factors such as key dietary factors, coffee consumption, body mass index (BMI), and physical activity. The study focused on self-reported ILD as its outcome measure. The genetic information for ILD was sourced from the FinnGen and UK Biobank (UKB) cohorts. Results The study encompassed a wide range of sample sizes, varying from 64,949 to 632,802, for each risk factor collected from multiple consortia. In total, 593 SNPs were included for all risk factors. The findings revealed significant associations between genetically estimated GERD, dietary factors, BMI, and the risk of ILD within the FinnGen consortium. The odds ratios (ORs) indicated an increase in the risk of ILD per unit of GERD (OR = 1.17, p = 0.001), smoking initiation (OR = 1.10, p < 0.05), BMI (OR = 1.15, p = 0.006), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (OR = 1.10, p = 0.02). On the other hand, there was a decrease in the risk of ILD per unit increase in coffee intake (OR = 0.64, p = 0.01) and physical activity (OR = 0.79, p=0.03). Additionally, the results demonstrated a significant association between genetically estimated GERD (OR = 1.01, p < 0.05), coffee intake (OR = 1.14, p=0.03), and high-density lipoproteins (HDL) (OR = 1.01, p=0.04) and increased risk of ILD specifically within the UKB. Conclusions This research indicates that the development of ILDs may be causally associated with GERD and various factors such as coffee intake, smoking, BMI, physical activity, LDL, and HDL These results hold great importance in terms of devising effective strategies for the treatment and prevention of ILDs.

Emerging opportunities to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: Design, discovery, and optimizations of small-molecule drugs targeting fibrogenic pathways

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most common fibrotic form of idiopathic diffuse lung disease. Due to limited treatment options, IPF patients suffer from poor survival. About ten years ago, Pirfenidone (Shionogi, 2008; InterMune, 2011) and Nintedanib (Boehringer Ingelheim, 2014) were approved, greatly changing the direction of IPF drug design. However, limited efficacy and side effects indicate that neither can reverse the process of IPF. With insights into the occurrence of IPF, novel targets and agents have been proposed, which have fundamentally changed the treatment of IPF. With the next-generation agents, targeting pro-fibrotic pathways in the epithelial-injury model offers a promising approach. Besides, several next-generation IPF drugs have entered phase II/III clinical trials with encouraging results. Due to the rising IPF treatment requirements, there is an urgent need to completely summarize the mechanisms, targets, problems, and drug design strategies over the past ten years. In this review, we summarize known mechanisms, target types, drug design, and novel technologies of IPF drug discovery, aiming to provide insights into the future development and clinical application of next-generation IPF drugs.

Impact of concomitant gastroesophageal reflux disease symptomology on prognosis and pulmonary function of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis

Background and Objectives

Comorbid risk factors in chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (CHP) are poorly characterised. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is linked to interstitial lung diseases like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), but its association and treatment in CHP is less understood. This study aims to understand the role and prevalence of GERD in CHP, plus the effect of GERD treatment on lung function and mortality.

Methods

A tertiary referral centre panel was retrospectively reviewed for 214 patients diagnosed with CHP based on clinical history, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid analysis, imaging and histopathology. GERD diagnostic criteria included symptomology, acid suppressive therapy use and diagnostic testing. CHP patients with GERD (n = 89) and without GERD (n = 125) were compared via descriptive statistical analysis. Pulmonary function, GERD diagnosis plus treatment and other comorbidities were evaluated against CHP outcomes.

Results

Respective differences between diagnosis and study termination dates in the GERD population versus without GERD for functional vital capacity (FVC) were - 1 L vs - 2.5 L, diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO) were - 2 mL/min/mmHg versus - 1 mL/min/mmHg, per cent alive at the time of study 88% versus 81%, median date of survival 574.5 versus 850 and supplemental oxygen requirement 41% versus 37%. GERD prevalence was higher in CHP patients relative to the general population. No statistical significance was found between survival curves, oxygen requirement, smoking history, FVC, or DLCO.

Conclusions

GERD could be a harmful comorbidity in CHP though may not necessarily affect survival or functional outcomes. This aligns with previous IPF studies, though remains controversial. Further research is needed regarding this association and treatment benefit.

Progress in understanding and treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: recent insights and emerging therapies

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a long-lasting, continuously advancing, and irrevocable interstitial lung disorder with an obscure origin and inadequately comprehended pathological mechanisms. Despite the intricate and uncharted causes and pathways of IPF, the scholarly consensus upholds that the transformation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts-instigated by injury to the alveolar epithelial cells-and the disproportionate accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, such as collagen, are integral to IPF's progression. The introduction of two novel anti-fibrotic medications, pirfenidone and nintedanib, have exhibited efficacy in decelerating the ongoing degradation of lung function, lessening hospitalization risk, and postponing exacerbations among IPF patients. Nonetheless, these pharmacological interventions do not present a definitive solution to IPF, positioning lung transplantation as the solitary potential curative measure in contemporary medical practice. A host of innovative therapeutic strategies are presently under rigorous scrutiny. This comprehensive review encapsulates the recent advancements in IPF research, spanning from diagnosis and etiology to pathological mechanisms, and introduces a discussion on nascent therapeutic methodologies currently in the pipeline.

Association of Symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux, Esophageal Dilation, and Progression of Systemic Sclerosis-Related Interstitial Lung Disease

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease and radiographic measures of esophageal dilation are associated with radiographic progression of systemic sclerosis-related interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD).

METHODS

Participants of the Scleroderma Lung Study II, which compared mycophenolate versus cyclophosphamide for SSc-ILD, completed the reflux domain of the University of California Los Angeles Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium Gastrointestinal Tract 2.0 at baseline. The diameter and area of the esophagus in the region of maximum dilation was measured by quantitative image analysis. Univariate and multivariable linear regression analyses were created to evaluate the relationship between these measures of esophageal involvement and progression of SSc-ILD over 2 years, based on the radiologic quantitative interstitial lung disease (QILD) and quantitative lung fibrosis (QLF) in the lobe of maximum involvement (LM). All multivariable models controlled for the treatment arm, baseline ILD severity, and proton-pump inhibitor use.

RESULTS

The baseline mean patient-reported reflux score was 0.57, indicating moderate reflux (n = 141). Baseline mean maximal esophageal diameter and area were 22 mm and 242 mm2 , respectively. Baseline reflux scores were significantly associated with the change in QLF-LM and QILD-LM in the univariate and multivariable models. Neither radiographic measure of esophageal dilation was associated with the change in radiographic measures of lung involvement.

CONCLUSION

Severity of reflux symptoms as measured by an SSc-specific questionnaire was independently associated with the change in the radiographic extent of ILD and fibrosis over 2 years in patients with SSc-ILD. Two objective measures of esophageal dilation were not associated with radiographic progression of ILD, highlighting the need for improved objective measures of esophageal dysfunction in SSc.

An update on current and emerging drug treatments for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

INTRODUCTION

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and devastating lung disease, characterized by progressive lung scarring.

AREAS COVERED

Prior to antifibrotic therapy (pirfenidone and nintedanib), there was no validated pharmaceutical therapy for IPF. Both antifibrotics can slow disease progression, however, IPF remains a detrimental disease with poor prognosis and treated survival rates of less than 7 years from diagnosis. Despite their effect the disease remains non-reversible and progressing whilst their side effect profile is often challenging. Treatment of comorbidities is also crucial. In this review, we discuss the current pharmacological management as well as management of comorbidities and symptoms. We also reviewed clinicaltrials.gov and summarised all the mid to late stage clinical trials (phase II and III) registered in IPF over the last 7 years and discuss the most promising drugs in clinical development.

EXPERT OPINION

Future for IPF management will need to focus on current unresolved issues. First a primary pathogenetic pathway has not been clearly identified. Future management may involve a combination of brushstroke approach with antifibrotics with targeted treatments for specific pathways in patient subsets following an 'oncological' approach. Another unmet need is management of exacerbations, which are deathly in most cases as well as either treating or preventing lung cancer.

The causal relationship between gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomisation study

BACKGROUND

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in observational studies. It is not known if this association arises because GORD causes IPF or because IPF causes GORD, or because of confounding by factors, such as smoking, associated with both GORD and IPF. We used bidirectional Mendelian randomisation (MR), where genetic variants are used as instrumental variables to address issues of confounding and reverse causation, to examine how, if at all, GORD and IPF are causally related.

METHODS

A bidirectional two-sample MR was performed to estimate the causal effect of GORD on IPF risk and of IPF on GORD risk, using genetic data from the largest GORD (78 707 cases and 288 734 controls) and IPF (4125 cases and 20 464 controls) genome-wide association meta-analyses currently available.

RESULTS

GORD increased the risk of IPF, with an OR of 1.6 (95% CI 1.04-2.49; p=0.032). There was no evidence of a causal effect of IPF on the risk of GORD, with an OR of 0.999 (95% CI 0.997-1.000; p=0.245).

CONCLUSIONS

We found that GORD increases the risk of IPF, but found no evidence that IPF increases the risk of GORD. GORD should be considered in future studies of IPF risk and interest in it as a potential therapeutic target should be renewed. The mechanisms underlying the effect of GORD on IPF should also be investigated.

GRADE-ADOLOPMENT of clinical practice guidelines and creation of clinical pathways for the primary care management of chronic respiratory conditions in Pakistan

INTRODUCTION

In Pakistan, chronic respiratory conditions contribute a large burden of morbidity and mortality. A major reason for this is the lack of availability of local evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (EBCPGs) in Pakistan, particularly at the primary care level. Thus, we developed EBCPGs and created clinical diagnosis and referral pathways for the primary care management of chronic respiratory conditions in Pakistan.

METHODS

The source guidelines were selected by two local expert pulmonologists after a thorough literature review on PubMed and Google Scholar from 2010 to December 2021. The source guidelines covered idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders, and bronchiectasis. The GRADE-ADOLOPMENT process consists of three key elements: adoption (using recommendations as is or with minor changes), adaptation (effective context-specific changes to recommendations) or additions (including new recommendations to fill a gap in the EBCPG). We employed the GRADE-ADOLOPMENT process to adopt, adapt, adopt with minor changes, or exclude recommendations from a source guideline. Additional recommendations were added to the clinical pathways based on a best-evidence review process.

RESULTS

46 recommendations were excluded mainly due to the unavailability of recommended management in Pakistan and scope beyond the practice of general physicians. Clinical diagnosis and referral pathways were designed for the four chronic respiratory conditions, explicitly delineating the role of primary care practitioners in the diagnosis, basic management, and timely referral of patients. Across the four conditions, 18 recommendations were added (seven for IPF, three for bronchiectasis, four for COPD, and four for asthma).

CONCLUSION

The widespread use of the newly created EBCPGs and clinical pathways in the primary healthcare system of Pakistan can help alleviate the morbidity and mortality related to chronic respiratory conditions disease in the country.

The prognostic value of gastroesophageal reflux disorder in interstitial lung disease related hospitalizations

Background

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common comorbidity in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). We built and validated a model using the national inpatient sample (NIS) database to assess the contributory role of GERD in ILD-related hospitalizations mortality.

Methods

In this retrospective analysis, we extracted ILD-related hospitalizations data between 2007 and 2019 from the NIS database. Univariable logistic regression was used for predictor selection. Data were split into the training and validation cohorts (0.6 and 0.4, respectively). We used decision tree analysis (classification and regression tree, CART) to create a predictive model to explore the role of GERD in ILD-related hospitalizations mortality. Different metrics were used to evaluate our model. A bootstrap-based technique was implemented to balance our training data outcome to improve our model metrics in the validation cohort. We conducted a variance-based sensitivity analysis to evaluate GERD's importance in our model.

Findings

The model had a sensitivity of 73.43%, specificity of 66.15%, precision of 0.27, negative predictive value (NPV) of 93.62%, accuracy of 67.2%, Matthews Correlation Coefficient (MCC) of 0.3, F1 score of 0.4, and area under the curve (AUC) for the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.76. GERD did not predict survival in our cohort. GERD contribution to the model was ranked the eleventh among twenty-nine variables included in this analysis (importance of 0.003, normalized importance of 5%). GERD was the best predictor in ILD-related hospitalizations who didn’t receive mechanical ventilation.

Interpretations

GERD is associated with mild ILD-related hospitalization. Our model-performance measures suggest overall an acceptable discrimination. Our model showed that GERD does not have a prognostic value in ILD-related hospitalization, indicating that GERD per se might not have any impact on mortality in hospitalized ILD patients.

ILD-GAP Combined with the Charlson Comorbidity Index Score (ILD-GAPC) as a Prognostic Prediction Model in Patients with Interstitial Lung Disease

Background

The ILD-GAP scoring system has been widely used to predict the prognosis of patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). The ability of the ILD-GAP scoring system combined with the Charlson Comorbidity Index score (CCIS) (ILD-GAPC) to predict ILD prognosis was investigated.

Methods

In ILD patients, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (iNSIP), collagen vascular disease-related interstitial pneumonia (CVD-IP), chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (CHP), and unclassifiable ILD (UC-ILD), treated between April 2013 and April 2017, the relationships between baseline clinical parameters, including age, sex, CCIS, ILD diagnosis, pulmonary function test results, and disease outcomes, were retrospectively assessed, and the ability to predict prognosis was compared between the ILD-GAP and ILD-GAPC models, respectively.

Results

A total of 185 patients (mean age, 71.9 years), all of whom underwent pulmonary function testing, including percentage predicted diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide, were assessed. ILD diagnosis consisted of IPF in 57 cases, iNSIP and CVD-IP in 117 cases, CHP in 6 cases, and UC-ILD in 5 cases. The ILD-GAPC provided a greater area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (0.758) for predicting 3-year ILD-related events than the ILD-GAP (0.721). In addition, log-rank tests showed that the Kaplan-Meier curves differed significantly among low, middle, and high ILD-GAPC scores (P < 0.001), unlike ILD-GAP scores (P = 0.083).

Conclusions

The ILD-GAPC model could provide more accurate information for predicting prognosis in patients with ILD than the ILD-GAP model.

Characteristics of gastroesophageal reflux disease in children with interstitial lung disease

BACKGROUND

Childhood interstitial lung disease (chILD) is a rare group of respiratory tract disorders. One of the factors suggested to be associated with its etiopathogenesis is microaspiration related to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The aim of the present study was to determine the frequency and characteristics of GERD in children with chILD, with a particular focus on proximal GER episodes.

METHODS

This was a prospective cross-sectional study. Consecutive patients with chILD underwent 24-h multichannel intraluminal pH-impedance monitoring. Different types of gastroesophageal reflux episodes (GER) were recorded and compared with regard to the GERD diagnosis.

RESULTS

Sixty-two children (median age of 1.22 years) were included. GERD was diagnosed in 20 (32.3%) of them. The GERD (+) and GERD (-) subgroups differed mainly in their esophageal exposure to acid content (2.9 vs. 1.0%, p = 0.02) and bolus exposure (3.0 vs. 1.4%, p < 0.0001), as well as total number of GER (72.5 vs. 42.0 p = 0.0004), acid GER (35.5 vs. 15.0 p = 0.004), and acid proximal GER (21.0 vs. 12.0 p = 0.02). There were no differences in the number of proximal GER comparing GERD (+) and GERD (-) subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

The frequency of GERD seems to be relatively high in the population of children with chILD used in this study. However, it has not demonstrated an association between proximal GER and GERD diagnosis in chILD, which casts uncertainty over the microaspiration theory proposed to link the two diseases. The latter conclusion, however, needs to be confirmed using more accurate aspiration assessment methods.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Viewer or Actor? To Treat or Not to Treat?

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a rare and severe disease with a median survival of ∼3 years. Several risk factors have been identified, such as age, genetic predisposition, tobacco exposure, and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Prevalence of GERD in IPF is high and may affect 87% of patients, of whom only half (47%) report symptoms. Objective: The aim of this study is to review current evidence regarding the correlation between GERD and IPF and to evaluate the current studies regarding treatments for GERD-IPF. Methods: A review to identify research papers documenting an association between GERD and IPF was performed. Results: We identified several studies that have confirmed the association between GERD and IPF, with an increased acid exposure, risk of gastric aspiration and bile acids levels in these patients. Few studies focused their attention on GERD treatment, showing how antiacid therapy was not able to change IPF evolution. Conclusions: This review investigating the correlation between GERD and IPF has confirmed the hypothesized association. However, further large prospective studies are needed to corroborate and elucidate these findings with a focus on preventative and treatment strategies.

Evaluation of aerodigestive disease and diagnosis of sliding hiatal hernia in brachycephalic and nonbrachycephalic dogs

Background

Aerodigestive diseases (AeroD), hybrid disorders between the respiratory and gastrointestinal (GI) tracts, may present without GI signs. Sliding hiatal hernia (sHH) is an important AeroD in brachycephalic dogs linked to respiratory pathology. The spectrum of other AeroD and respiratory clinical signs (CS) in brachycephalic and nonbrachycephalic dogs with sHH is unknown.

Objectives

Characterize CS of AeroD in dogs with sHH, compare CS between brachycephalic and nonbrachycephalic dogs, and compare thoracic radiographs and videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) for diagnosing sHH.

Animals

Sixty‐seven client‐owned dogs with sHH.

Methods

Medical records of dogs with sHH presented to the veterinary teaching hospitals at Auburn University and the University of Missouri between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Between group, comparisons were made using Mann‐Whitney test, Chi‐square analysis, and Spearman correlation (P < .05).

Results

Dogs with sHH presented with exclusively GI signs (28/67), mixed respiratory and GI signs (22/67), or with exclusively respiratory signs (17/67). Wheras brachycephalic dogs were not significantly more likely to present with respiratory CS (P = .145), they were younger (P < .001), and more likely to present in respiratory distress (P = .02), and with radiographic evidence of aspiration pneumonia (P < .001) compared to nonbrachycephalic dogs. Six of 12 dogs with normal thoracic radiographs having sHH presented with respiratory CS. For detection of sHH, VFSS was superior to radiographs (P < .001).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Dogs with sHH may present with exclusively respiratory signs. Respiratory signs may be more severe in brachycephalic compared to nonbrachycephalic dogs. Videofluoroscopic swallow study was superior to thoracic radiographs for detection of sHH in dogs.

Awareness towards the main ILD among primary care physicians

Background: Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) comprise a group of multiple entities sharing some clinical, functional and radiological similarities. In many countries primary care setting has been devoid of pre- and post-graduate educational interventions focused on basic knowledge on ILD. This, along with usual nonspecificity of symptoms at presentation, may contribute to diagnostic delay in this disease setting.Methods: We designed a study questionnaire to assess the level of awareness on basic diagnostic and management aspects of core ILDs – idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), hypersensitivity pneumonitis, sarcoidosis, connective tissue disease related-ILD and drug-induced ILD - among primary care physicians (GPs) from five “ACeS Baixo Vouga” health centres and to perceive possible weaknesses. Differences in awareness between GPs under 45 and over 45 years-old were also assessed.Results: Globally, 69% of questions were correctly answered but only 21.9% of GPs considered to have a satisfactory self-perceived level of knowledge on ILD. Except sarcoidosis (p=0.017) and some isolated questions on other diseases, no significant differences were found between physicians below 45 years and above. Though, there was a trend to higher awareness in the younger group. The best awareness was seen in sarcoidosis. IPF questions had the worst performance and only 48.5% of GPs recognized the importance of velcro-type crackles in suggesting a possible diagnosis.Conclusion: Specific attention should be devoted to educational interventions directed to GPs on basic notions on the main ILDs. This could improve the usual diagnostic delay in many ILDs, as a timely diagnosis is essential for an early treatment and prolonged patient survival.

Complex Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the most prevalent gastrointestinal disorder posing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Diagnosis should be objectively defined with endoscopy and pH testing, while novel metrics may augment diagnosis for inconclusive GERD cases, including the postreflux swallow-induced peristaltic wave index and esophageal mucosal impedance. Conditions that overlap with or mimic GERD should be considered such as achalasia, rumination, and eosinophilic esophagitis. Genetic testing for proton pump inhibitor metabolism is an option for precision therapy in complex persistent GERD. Proton pump inhibitor refractory GERD may require medical, surgical, or endoscopic therapies. The presence of GERD should be objectively evaluated in achalasia patients treated with peroral endoscopic myotomy, and further studies are needed to determine timing of this evaluation. Patients with scleroderma are at a high risk for GERD owing to abnormal esophageal motility and should be managed with aggressive medical therapy and lifestyle changes given the high prevalence of esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus in this population. Further studies are needed to understand the complex mechanisms of GERD in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and lung transplantation.

A Retrospective Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Endoscopic Radiofrequency Therapy Under Direct Vision in 59 Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease from 2 Centers in Beijing, China Using the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire

BACKGROUND This retrospective study from 2 centers in Beijing, China aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of endoscopic radiofrequency therapy under direct vision in 59 patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) using the gastroesophageal reflux disease questionnaire (GerdQ). MATERIAL AND METHODS Fifty-nine GERD patients who underwent endoscopic radiofrequency treatment were included. Patients were divided into 2 groups: the endoscopic radiofrequency therapy under direct vision group and the non-direct vision radiofrequency therapy group. Indicators such as GerdQ score, lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure, DeMeester score, acid exposure time, and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) use were collected before and after radiofrequency treatment. Postoperative complications were also recorded. The efficacy and safety of endoscopic radiofrequency therapy under direct vision were evaluated by comparing the indicators of patients in the 2 groups. RESULTS At 3 months after radiofrequency treatment, patients in the endoscopic radiofrequency therapy under direct vision group improved significantly in GerdQ score, decreased from 11.0 (10.0, 12.0) to 6.0 (6.0, 8.0), better than patients in the non-direct vision radiofrequency therapy group, and the better improvements remained at 12 months after the procedure (P<0.05). At 6 months after treatment, patients in the endoscopic radiofrequency therapy under direct vision group had significant improvements in LES pressure, which increased from 8.15 (3.18, 12.88) mmHg to 15.20 (10.25, 27.03) mmHg (P<0.05). There were no severe complications in our trial. CONCLUSIONS When compared with non-visualized endoscopic radiofrequency therapy, treatment under direct vision was safer and improved the GerdQ score and LES pressure at up to 12 months.

Demystifying idiopathic interstitial pneumonia: time for more etiology-focused nomenclature in interstitial lung disease

INTRODUCTION

A major focus of interstitial lung disease (ILD) has centered on disorders termed idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs) which include, among others, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia, cryptogenic organizing pneumonia, and respiratory bronchiolitis-interstitial lung disease.

AREAS COVERED

We review the radiologic and histologic patterns for the nine disorders classified by multidisciplinary approach as IIP, and describe the remarkable amount of published epidemiologic, translational, and molecular studies demonstrating their associations with numerous yet definitive environmental exposures, occupational exposures, pulmonary diseases, systemic diseases, medication toxicities, and genetic variants.

EXPERT OPINION

In the 21st century, these disorders termed IIPs are rarely idiopathic, but rather are well-described radiologic and histologic patterns of lung injury that are associated with a wide array of diverse etiologies. Accordingly, the idiopathic nomenclature is misleading and confusing, and may also promote a lack of inquisitiveness, suggesting the end rather than the beginning of a thorough diagnostic process to identify ILD etiology and initiate patient-centered management. A shift toward more etiology-focused nomenclature will be beneficial to all, including patients hoping for better life quality and disease outcome, general medicine and pulmonary physicians furthering their ILD knowledge, and expert ILD clinicians and researchers who are advancing the ILD field.

Multi-omics profiling predicts allograft function after lung transplantation

RATIONALE

Lung transplantation is the ultimate treatment option for patients with end-stage respiratory diseases but bears the highest mortality rate among all solid organ transplantations due to chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD). The mechanisms leading to CLAD remain elusive due to an insufficient understanding of the complex post-transplant adaptation processes.

OBJECTIVES

To better understand these lung adaptation processes after transplantation and to investigate their association with future changes in allograft function.

METHODS

We performed an exploratory cohort study of bronchoalveolar lavage samples from 78 lung recipients and donors. We analysed the alveolar microbiome using 16S rRNA sequencing, the cellular composition using flow cytometry, as well as metabolome and lipidome profiling.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

We established distinct temporal dynamics for each of the analysed data sets. Comparing matched donor and recipient samples, we revealed that recipient-specific as well as environmental factors, rather than the donor microbiome, shape the long-term lung microbiome. We further discovered that the abundance of certain bacterial strains correlated with underlying lung diseases even after transplantation. A decline in forced expiratory volume during the first second (FEV1) is a major characteristic of lung allograft dysfunction in transplant recipients. By using a machine learning approach, we could accurately predict future changes in FEV1 from our multi-omics data, whereby microbial profiles showed a particularly high predictive power.

CONCLUSION

Bronchoalveolar microbiome, cellular composition, metabolome and lipidome show specific temporal dynamics after lung transplantation. The lung microbiome can predict future changes in lung function with high precision.

Rethinking Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating disease for patients and their loved ones. Since initial efforts to characterize this disease in the 1960s, understanding of IPF has evolved considerably. Such evolution has continually challenged prior diagnostic and treatment paradigms, ushering in an era of higher confidence diagnoses with less invasive procedures and more effective treatments. This review details how research and clinical experience over the past half century have led to a rethinking of IPF. Here, the evolution in understanding of IPF pathogenesis, diagnostic evaluation and treatment approach is discussed.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: What nurses need to know

ABSTRACT

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a restrictive lung disease in which the cause cannot be determined. This article discusses restrictive lung diseases that fall under the general category of interstitial lung disease with a focus on IPF-a fatal disease characterized by progressive fibrosis and interstitial pneumonia, dyspnea, and decreasing pulmonary function.

A SIGE-SINGEM-AIGO technical review on the clinical use of esophageal reflux monitoring

Patients with esophageal symptoms potentially associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease such as heartburn, regurgitation, chest pain, or cough represent one of the most frequent reasons for referral to gastroenterological evaluation. The utility of esophageal reflux monitoring in clinical practice is: (1) to accurately define reflux burden, (2) to segregate patients according to reflux monitoring results as true GERD, reflux hypersensitivity and functional heartburn, and (3) to establish a treatment plan. With this in mind, in the last decade, investigations and technical advances, with the introduction of impedance-pH monitoring and wireless pH capsule, have enhanced our understanding and management of GERD. The following recommendations were discussed and approved after a comprehensive review of the medical literature pertaining to reflux testing techniques and their recent application. This review created under the auspices of the Società Italiana di Gastroenterologia ed Endoscopia Digestiva (SIGE), Società Italiana di Neuro-Gastro-Enterologia e Motilità (SINGEM) and Associazione Italiana Gastroenterologi ed Endoscopisti Digestivi Ospedalieri (AIGO) is intended to help clinicians in applying reflux studies in the most fruitful manner within the context of their patients with esophageal symptoms.

The Lyon Consensus: Does It Differ From the Previous Ones?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a complex disorder with heterogeneous symptoms and a multifaceted pathogenetic basis, which prevent a simple diagnostic algorithm or any categorical classification. Clinical history, questionnaires and response to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy are insufficient tools to make a conclusive diagnosis of GERD and further investigations are frequently required. The Lyon Consensus goes beyond the previous classifications and defines endoscopic and functional parameters able to establish the presence of GERD. Evidences for reflux include high-grade erosive esophagitis, Barrett’s esophagus, and peptic strictures at endoscopy as well as esophageal acid exposure time > 6% on pH-metry or combined pH-impedance monitoring. Even if a normal endoscopy does not exclude GERD, its combination with distal acid exposure time < 4% on off-PPI pH-impedance monitoring provides sufficient evidence refuting this diagnosis. Reflux-symptom association on pH-monitoring provides supportive evidence for reflux-triggered symptoms and may predict a better treatment outcome, when present. Also recommendations to perform pH-impedance “on” or “off” PPI are well depicted. When endoscopy and pH-metry or combined pH-impedance monitoring are inconclusive, adjunctive evidence from biopsy findings (eg, microscopic esophagitis), high-resolution manometry (ie, ineffective esophagogastric barrier and esophageal body hypomotility), and novel impedance metrics, such as mean nocturnal baseline impedance and post-reflux swallow-induced peristaltic wave index, can contribute to better identify patients with GERD. Definition of individual patient phenotype, based on the level of refluxate exposure, mechanism of reflux, efficacy of clearance, underlying anatomy of the esophagogastric junction, and clinical presentation, will lead to manage GERD patients with a tailored approach chosen among different types of therapy.

Lung transplantation for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by relentlessly progressive lung function impairment that is consistently fatal in the absence of lung transplantation, as no curative pharmacological treatment exists. The pace of progression varies across patients, and acute life-threatening exacerbations occur unpredictably, causing further sharp drops in lung function. Recently introduced antifibrotic agents slow the pace of disease progression and may improve survival but fail to stop the fibrotic process. Moreover, the magnitude and kinetics of the response to these drugs cannot be predicted in the individual patient. These characteristics require that lung transplantation be considered early in the course of the disease. However, given the shortage of donor lungs, lung transplantation must be carefully targeted to those patients most likely to benefit. Current guidelines for lung transplantation listing may need reappraisal in the light of recent treatment advances. Patients with IPF often have multiple comorbidities such as coronary heart disease, frailty, and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Consequently, extensive screening for and effective treatment of concomitant conditions is crucial to appropriate candidate selection and outcome optimisation. A multidisciplinary approach is mandatory. Pulmonologists with expertise in IPF must work closely with lung transplant teams. Careful consideration must be given to preoperative optimisation, surgical technique, and pulmonary rehabilitation to produce the best post-transplantation outcomes.

Smoking-associated interstitial lung disease: update and review

INTRODUCTION

Smoking-associated interstitial lung disease manifests as several heterogeneous disorders involving the airways, pleura, and lung parenchyma with various radiological patterns. The clinical history, radiologic, and pathologic findings are important to distinguish these more uncommon diseases. A multidisciplinary approach is recommended for diagnosis and to manage these conditions appropriately.

AREAS COVERED

This review provides an overview of the epidemiology, risk factors, pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of acute eosinophilic pneumonia, e-cigarettes, or vaping associated lung injury, respiratory bronchiolitis interstitial lung disease, desquamative interstitial pneumonitis, pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and combined pulmonary fibrosis emphysema.

EXPERT OPINION

Cigarette smoking is associated with a variety of pathologic conditions that affect the airways and lungs. E-cigarette use and vaping present new challenges to the clinician. Consensus between the clinical, radiographic, and pathologic findings is important in identifying and differentiating between the various entities to properly diagnose smoking-related interstitial lung diseases discussed in this review.

Acute exacerbations of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (AE-IPF): an overview of current and future therapeutic strategies

Introduction: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), the most common of the idiopathic interstitial pneumonias, is a disease with a poor prognosis, and a highly heterogeneous and unpredictable clinical course. While most patients experience a relatively slow clinical, functional and radiological deterioration, a significant minority develops episodes of acute respiratory worsening termed acute exacerbations of IPF (AE-IPF). AE-IPF cannot be predicted or prevented and precede approximately half of IPF-related deaths. An international working group has recently proposed new diagnostic criteria and definition of AE-IPF.Areas covered: Despite their clinical significance, the optimal treatment of AE-IPF remains undetermined. In this review, we discuss the huge unmet need for an improved understanding of AE-IPF, with emphasis on current and potential therapeutic strategies.Expert opinion: The recently revised definition and diagnostic criteria of AE-IPF will facilitate future research into the etiology, pathobiology and clinical management of these life-threatening events. Efforts should be made to identify patients at higher risk for AE-IPF and detect early signs of these events. Potential treatment options should be studied in randomized, controlled trials. To this end, the importance of international collaborations cannot be overemphasized.