Mustapha El-Guelai

Mr. Mustapha El-Guelai


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3 August 2020 in Journal of Clinical Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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Ekaterina KraussEkaterina Krauss
Ekaterina Krauss
MEMustapha El-Guelai
Mustapha El-Guelai
JPJörn Pons-Kühnemann
Jörn Pons-Kühnemann
RDRuth C. Dartsch
Ruth C. Dartsch
STSilke Tello
Silke Tello
AGAndreas Günther
Andreas Günther
(1) Aim of the study: In spite of extensive research, up to 20% of interstitial lung diseases (ILD) patients cannot be safely classified. We analyzed clinical features, progression factors, and outcomes of unclassifiable ILD (uILD). (2) Methods: A total of 140 uILD subjects from the University of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC) were recruited between 11/2009 and 01/2019 into the European Registry for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (eurIPFreg) and followed until 01/2020. The diagnosis of uILD was applied only when a conclusive diagnosis could not be reached with certainty. (3) Results: In 46.4% of the patients, the uILD diagnosis was due to conflicting clinical, radiological, and pathological data. By applying the diagnostic criteria of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) based on computed tomography (CT), published by the Fleischner Society, 22.2% of the patients displayed a typical UIP pattern. We also showed that forced vital capacity (FVC) at baseline (p = 0.008), annual FVC decline ≥10% (p < 0.0001), smoking (p = 0.033), and a diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLco) ≤55% of predicted value at baseline (p < 0.0001) were significantly associated with progressive disease. (4) Conclusions: The most important prognostic factors in uILD are baseline level and decline in lung function and smoking. The use of Fleischner diagnostic criteria allows further differentiation and accurate diagnosis.