Background/Objectives: Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) have been found in interstitial lung disease (ILD) in recent years, although its impact on ILD prognosis is less known. To date, ANCAs are not included in the interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF) definition criteria. Therefore, ANCA-ILD, in the absence of known ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), could be underdiagnosed. Our aim was to analyze the clinical profile and prognosis of ANCA-ILD patients. Methods: Patients diagnosed with ILD and positive ANCA were enrolled in a retrospective, monocentric cohort study. Lung function outcomes and mortality were assessed according to clinical, serological, radiological, and treatment characteristics. Survival was analyzed using Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox regression models. Results: A total of 23 patients were included, mostly women, with a median time from ILD diagnosis of 36 (24–68) months and a predominant anti-MPO pattern (56.5%). Nearly half of the patients had AAV, mostly microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). The presence of AAV was significantly associated with anti-MPO antibodies and an NSIP radiographic pattern. Overall, the fibrotic pattern (either UIP or fibrotic NSIP) was the most common (73.9%), mainly UIP (51.2%). However, it appeared less frequently in the AAV-ILD group. During follow-up, lung function impairment or radiological progression was observed in 65.2% of patients. Cumulative mortality incidence was high (43.4%), largely due to ILD itself (80%). A UIP pattern was associated with a higher and earlier mortality (HR 34.4 [1.36–132]), while the use of immunosuppressants showed a trend towards lower ILD-related death. Conclusions: In our cohort, ANCA-ILD patients mostly presented with fibrotic patterns, with AAV in almost half of the cases and a high and early mortality rate, which suggests the need to assess ANCA in all ILD patients.
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic and multisystemic disease that requires a high therapeutic demand for its control. The aim of this study was to assess therapeutic adherence (TA) to different treatments to study possible clinical consequences and clinical factors influencing adherence. This is an ambispective observational study of 57 patients aged over 18 years with a diagnosis of CF. The assessment of TA was calculated using the Medication Possession Ratio (MPR) index. These data were related to exacerbations and the rate of decline in FEV1 percentage. Compliance was good for all CFTR modulators, azithromycin, aztreonam, and tobramycin in solution for inhalation. The patients with the best compliance were older; they had exacerbations and the greatest deterioration in lung function during this period. The three variables with the highest importance for the compliance of the generated Random Forest (RF) models were age, FEV1%, and use of Ivacaftor/Tezacaftor. This is one of the few studies to assess adherence to CFTR modulators and symptomatic treatment longitudinally. CF patient therapy is expensive, and the assessment of variables with the highest importance for a high MPR, helped by new Machine learning tools, can contribute to defining new efficient TA strategies with higher benefits.
Diagnosis and treatment of acute exacerbation of interstitial lung disease (AE-ILD) continue to be challenging. The annual incidence of AE in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is 5% to 15%, with an in-hospital mortality exceeding 50%. Similar annual incidence and mortality rates have been documented in other ILDs. The pathogenic mechanisms underlying AE are not entirely clear, although they could involve an acute injury or inflammatory process in previously affected lung tissue, with histological features of diffuse alveolar damage, similar to acute respiratory distress syndrome. AE-ILD is defined based on the following criteria: acute respiratory worsening within 30 days in a patient with a previous or concurrent diagnosis of ILD accompanied by new bilateral ground-glass abnormalities and/or consolidation on high-resolution computed tomography after ruling out heart failure or fluid overload. Pharmacologic treatments such as corticosteroids, antibiotics, and immunosuppressants have been and continue to be used despite scarce evidence from randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials. Oxygen therapy and ventilatory support are key elements of treatment of AE-ILD. The aim of our article is to provide an updated review on the diagnosis and treatment of AE-ILD and to propose practical algorithms for management.