Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) and pulmonary cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection are common opportunistic infections among immunocompromised patients. However, few studies have evaluated their co-infection, especially among non-HIV patients. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the outcomes and prognostic factors among non-HIV patients with PJP according to their CMV infection status. This retrospective study evaluated non-HIV patients who were diagnosed with PJP between January 2009 and January2016.The patients were classified and compared according to their pulmonary CMV infection status (positive infection: bronchoalveolar lavage fluid [BALF] CMV DNA loads of >500copies/mL). Among 70 non-HIV patients with PJP, we identified 38 patients (54.3%) with pulmonary CMV infection. There was no significant difference in the mortality rates for the two groups (p = 0.15). Pulmonary CMV infection was significantly more common among patients who were receiving glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants, compared to corticosteroids only (p = 0.02). Pulmonary CMV infection was also significantly associated with severe dyspnea, a lower PaO2/FiO2, and the presence of centrilobular nodules (p = 0.008). Higher CMV DNA loads in the BALF were positively associated with mortality (p = 0.012). Combined therapy using corticosteroids and other immunosuppressants may be a risk factor for pulmonary CMV co-infection among patients with PJP. In addition, CMV pneumonia should be considered when centrilobular nodules and/or severe hypoxemia are observed in non-HIV patients with PJP. Furthermore, antiviral treatment should be promptly initiated for patients with a high CMV DNA load in BALF, based on their poor prognosis.
1 September 2021 in Science of The Total Environment
Background: The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) is a potential tool for assessing the severity of interstitial lung disease (ILD). Objectives: To explore the relationship between 6MWT results and traditional measures including pulmonary function and chest computed tomography(CT) and to determine factors that might influence the 6-minute walk distance (6MWD). Methods: Seventythree patients with ILD were enrolled at Peking University First Hospital. All patients underwent 6MWT, pulmonary CT, and pulmonary function tests and their correlations were analyzed. Multivariate regression analysis was used to identify factors that might impact 6MWD. Results: Thirty (41.4%) of the patients were female and the mean age was 66.1 & PLUSMN; 9.6 years. 6MWD was correlated with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), total lung capacity (TLC), diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) and DLCO%pred. The decrease in oxygen saturation (SpO2) after the test was correlated with FEV1%pred, FVC%pred, TLC, TLC%pred, DLCO, DLCO%pred and the percentage of normal lung calculated by quantitative CT. The increase in Borg dyspnea scale was correlated with FEV1, DLCO and the percentage of normal lung. The backward multivariate model (F = 15.257, P < 0.001, adjusted R2 = 0.498) indicated that 6MWD was predicted by age, height, body weight, increase in heart rate, and DLCO. Conclusions: The 6MWT results were closely correlated with pulmonary function and quantitative CT in patients with ILD. However, in addition to disease severity, 6MWD was also influenced by individual characteristics and the degree of patient effort, which should thus be considered by clinicians when interpreting 6WMT results.
A 66-year-old woman with a history of diabetes presented with an intermittent low-grade fever, cough, shortness of breath, and decreased activity tolerance over a 3-month period. She is a farmer, and denied a history of chronic pulmonary disease. Her only medical history was type 2 diabetes managed without medication. She denied smoking or tobacco use. She did not report any recent travel and denied having birds at home. Imaging at a local hospital showed left lower lobe atelectasis with a small pleural effusion. An infection with mucormycosis was diagnosed through transbronchial biopsy. The patient was given nebulized amphotericin B along with concurrent IV liposomal amphotericin B for a total of 15 days. She experienced no significant improvement in symptoms during therapy and, in fact, developed worsening, progressive dyspnea.
Primary pulmonary Hodgkin's lymphoma (PPHL) is an extremely rare disease. The nonspecific clinical and radiological features render the diagnosis a great challenge. Here, we present a case of PPHL mimicking rheumatoid arthritis‐associated organizing pneumonia.
15 March 2022 in International Journal of Neuroscience
To investigate the characteristics of respiratory involvement in Chinese paediatric neuromuscular disease (NMD) at early stage and to explore convenient monitoring methods.Children with NMD (age < ...