Project description:BACKGROUND:The efficacy of azathioprine (AZA) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) for interstitial lung disease (ILD) has been described, but mainly in connective tissue disease-associated ILD. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of AZA and MMF on lung function and prednisone dose in myositis-related ILD (M-ILD). METHODS:In this retrospective study, patients with M-ILD seen at Johns Hopkins and treated with AZA or MMF and no other steroid-sparing agents were included. Linear mixed-effects models adjusted for sex, age, antisynthetase antibody, and smoking status were used to compare the change in FVC % predicted, diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (Dlco) % predicted, and prednisone dose. RESULTS:Sixty-six patients with M-ILD were treated with AZA and 44 with MMF. At treatment initiation, mean FVC % predicted and Dlco % predicted were significantly lower in the AZA group than in the MMF group. In both groups, FVC % predicted improved and the prednisone dose was reduced over 2 to 5 years; however, for Dlco % predicted, only the AZA group improved. The adjusted model showed no significant difference in posttreatment FVC % predicted or Dlco % predicted between groups (mean difference of 1.9 and -8.2, respectively), but a 6.6-mg lower dose of prednisone at 36 months in the AZA group. Adverse events were more frequent with AZA than MMF (33.3% vs 13.6%; P = .04). CONCLUSIONS:In M-ILD, AZA treatment was associated with improved FVC % predicted and Dlco % predicted, and lower prednisone dose. Patients treated with MMF had improved FVC % predicted and lower prednisone dose. After 36 months, patients treated with AZA received a lower prednisone dose than those treated with MMF.
Project description:Interstitial lung disease (ILD) represents one of the most severe extra-muscular features of idiopathic inflammatory myositis (IIM). We aimed to identify any clinical and serological predictors of ILD in a monocentric cohort of 165 IIM patients.ILD+ patients were defined as having restrictive impairment in lung function tests and signs of ILD at chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Available HRCT images were centralized and classified in different ILD patterns: non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP), organizing pneumonia (OP), usual interstitial pneumonia-like (UIP), indeterminate for UIP, and interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA). Lung function test data were recorded at onset, at 1 and 5 years after ILD diagnosis.ILD was found in 52 IIM patients (31.5%): 46.2% was affected by anti-synthetase syndrome (ARS), 21% by polymyositis (PM), 19% by dermatomyositis (DM), and 13.5% by overlap myositis. Most of ILD+ showed NSIP (31.9%), OP (19%), indeterminate for UIP (19%), and UIP (12.8%) patterns. At multivariate analysis, ILD was predicted by anti-Ro52 (p: 0.0026) and dyspnea (p: 0.015) at IIM onset. Most of ILD onset within is 12 months after IIM. In five cases, ILD occurs after 12 months since IIM diagnosis: these patients more frequently show dry cough and anti-Ku antibodies. Anti-Ro52 + ILD patients showed a significant increase of DLCO at 1 and 5 years of follow-up, compared with anti-Ro52 negative cases.ILD occurs in about one third of IIM and was predicted by dyspnea at onset and anti-Ro52 antibodies. Anti-Ro52 defines a subgroup of ILD showing a significant improvement of DLCO during follow-up. This retrospective study has been approved by local ethic committee (ASST-Spedali Civili of Brescia, Italy); protocol number: NP3511.
Project description:BackgroundTransbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) has been introduced as an alternative to surgical lung biopsy (SLB) in the diagnostics of interstitial lung diseases (ILD). Despite controversy on safety, TBLC is increasingly implemented in ILD centers with an apparent diagnostic yield comparable to SLB. The aim of this study was to assess TBLC implementation experiences from a tertiary Danish ILD center regarding diagnosis, complications, and learning curves for TBLC performance.MethodsTBLC was prospectively performed in a cohort of patients with unclassifiable ILD based on a preceding multidisciplinary clinical and radiological revision. TBLC was performed as an outpatient procedure with the patients in general anesthesia using a flexible bronchoscope with 1.9 or 2.4 mm cryoprobes. Learning curves for TBLC performance were calculated using cumulated sum (CUSUM) scores for diagnostic yield, pneumothorax, and bleeding.ResultsFrom February 2017 to March 2020 141 patients (86 (61%) men, median age 69 years [IQR, 60-74 years]) had TBLC performed. A histological and confirmative diagnosis was made in 101 patients (75.2%) and 124 patients (87.9%, i.e. clinical diagnostic yield), respectively, in whom idiopathic interstitial pneumonias constituted the majority (67.3%) of the clinical diagnoses. We observed 2 deaths (1.4%) within 30 days of TBLC, but no procedure-related mortality or severe bleeding. Moderate bleeding occurred in 23 patients (16.3%), pneumothorax in 21 patients (14.9%) with only 14 patients (9.9%) requiring a pleural drain. Based on the CUSUM score analysis, the diagnostic yield obtained was satisfactory throughout the period.ConclusionThis study reports experiences of outpatient TBLC implementation in a tertiary referral ILD center from the largest investigated TBLC cohort in Scandinavia The diagnostic yield and prevalence of complications obtained by TBLC from this single center study on unclassifiable ILD support outpatient TBLC as a valuable and safe alternative to SLB to diagnose ILD in well-selected patients. The learning curves for TBLC were acceptable in the hands of experienced bronchoscopists.
Project description:Antifibrotic treatment has been approved for reducing disease progression in fibrotic interstitial lung disease (ILD). As a result of increased bleeding risk, some experts suggest cessation of antifibrotics prior to lung transplantation (LT). However, extensive knowledge regarding the impact of antifibrotic treatment on postoperative complications remains unclear. We performed a comprehensive search of several databases from their inception through to 30 September 2021. Original studies were included in the final analysis if they compared postoperative complications, including surgical wound dehiscence, anastomosis complication, bleeding complications, and primary graft dysfunction, between those with and without antifibrotic treatment undergoing LT. Of 563 retrieved studies, 6 studies were included in the final analysis. A total of 543 ILD patients completing LT were included, with 161 patients continuing antifibrotic treatment up to the time of LT and 382 without prior treatment. Antifibrotic treatment was not significantly associated with surgical wound dehiscence (RR 1.05; 95% CI, 0.31-3.60; I2 = 0%), anastomotic complications (RR 0.88; 95% CI, 0.37-2.12; I2 = 31%), bleeding complications (RR 0.76; 95% CI, 0.33-1.76; I2 = 0%), or primary graft dysfunction (RR 0.87; 95% CI, 0.59-1.29; I2 = 0%). Finally, continuing antifibrotic treatment prior to LT was not significantly associated with decreased 1-year mortality (RR 0.80; 95% CI, 0.41-1.58; I2 = 0%). Our study suggests a similar risk of postoperative complications in ILD patients undergoing LT who received antifibrotic treatment compared to those not on antifibrotic therapy.
Project description:This SuperSeries is composed of the following subset Series: GSE21369: Gene expression profiles of interstitial lung disease (ILD) patients GSE21394: MicroRNA expression profiles of interstitial lung disease (ILD) patients Refer to individual Series
Project description:Interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF) characterises individuals with interstitial lung disease (ILD) and features of connective tissue disease (CTD) who fail to satisfy CTD criteria. Inclusion of myositis-specific antibodies (MSAs) in the IPAF criteria has generated controversy, as these patients also meet proposed criteria for an anti-synthetase syndrome. Whether MSAs and myositis associated antibodies (MAA) identify phenotypically distinct IPAF subgroups remains unclear.A multi-center, retrospective investigation was conducted to assess clinical features and outcomes in patients meeting IPAF criteria stratified by the presence of MSAs and MAAs. IPAF subgroups were compared to cohorts of patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy-ILD (IIM-ILD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and non-IIM CTD-ILDs. The primary endpoint assessed was three-year transplant-free survival. Two hundred sixty-nine patients met IPAF criteria, including 35 (13%) with MSAs and 65 (24.2%) with MAAs. Survival was highest among patients with IPAF-MSA and closely approximated those with IIM-ILD. Survival did not differ between IPAF-MAA and IPAF without MSA/MAA cohorts. Usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) morphology was associated with differential outcome risk, with IPAF patients with non-UIP morphology approximating survival observed in non-IIM CTD-ILDs. MSAs, but not MAAs identified a unique IPAF phenotype characterised by clinical features and outcomes similar to IIM-ILD. UIP morphology was a strong predictor of outcome in others meeting IPAF criteria. Because IPAF is a research classification without clear treatment approach, these findings suggest MSAs should be removed from the IPAF criteria and such patients should be managed as an IIM-ILD.
Project description:Chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is considered the "gold" standard radiological method in interstitial lung disease (ILD) patients. The objectives of our study were to evaluate the correlation between two transthoracic lung ultrasound (LUS) scores (total number of B-lines score = the total sum of B-lines in 10 predefined scanning sites and total number of positive chest areas score = intercostal spaces with ≥3 B-lines) and the features in HRCT simplified scores, in different interstitial disorders, between LUS scores and symptoms, as well as between LUS scores and pulmonary function impairment. We have evaluated 58 consecutive patients diagnosed with ILD. We demonstrated that there was a good correlation between the total number of B-lines score and the HRCT simplified score (r = 0.784, p < 0.001), and also a good correlation between the total number of positive chest areas score and the HRCT score (r = 0.805, p < 0.005). The results confirmed the value of using LUS as a diagnostic tool for the assessment of ILD compared to HRCT. The use of LUS in ILD patients can be a useful, cheap, accessible and radiation-free investigation and can play a complementary role in the diagnosis and monitoring of these patients.
Project description:Introduction:Besides invasive or non-invasive ventilation, treatment of severe forms of interstitial lung diseases (ILD) includes immunosuppressive medication. In case of refractory organ- or life-threatening courses of disease, cyclophosphamide pulse therapy can serve as a rescue treatment option. Objectives:To investigate therapeutic and prognostic effects of cyclophosphamide for the treatment of severe forms of ILD on intensive care unit (ICU) we performed this analysis. Methods:Between 2009 and 2017 we identified 14 patients, who were treated on intensive care unit (ICU) with severe forms of ILD. Retrospectively, clinical, radiologic and prognostic data were collected and evaluated. Results:Our analysis demonstrated a prognostic impact of cyclophosphamide on the ILD in general. Whereas pulmonary manifestations of both systemic sclerosis (SSc) and ANCA-associated vasculitis had an improved outcome, a reduced overall survival was found for Goodpasture syndrome (GPS), dermatomyositis (DM), cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS; p=0.040, logrank test). Besides, additional plasmapheresis and initiation of cyclophosphamide within ten days following initial diagnosis of ILD were associated with improved prognosis. Conclusion:Positive prognostic effects of cyclophosphamide pulse therapy in ICU treated patients suffering from severe respiratory failure due to pulmonary manifestations of both SSc and ANCA-associated-vasculitis were observed. Further prognostic and therapeutic data are needed for cyclophosphamide for this indication in order to prevent patients from its toxic side-effects, who most likely will not benefit from its application.
Project description:Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the most serious pulmonary complications of connective tissue diseases (CTDs) and it is characterized by a deep impact on morbidity and mortality. Due to the poor knowledge of CTD-ILD's natural history and due to the difficulties related to design of randomized control trials, there is a lack of prospective data about the prevalence, follow-up, and therapeutic efficacy. For these reasons, the choice of therapy for CTD-ILD is currently very challenging and still largely based on experts' opinion. Treatment is often based on steroids and conventional immunosuppressive drugs, but the recent publication of the encouraging results of the INBUILD trial has highlighted a possible effective and safe use of antifibrotic drugs as a new therapeutic option for these subjects. Aim of this review is to summarize the available data and recent advances about therapeutic strategies for ILD in the context of various CTD, such as systemic sclerosis, idiopathic inflammatory myopathy and Sjogren syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, mixed connective tissue disease and undifferentiated connective tissue disease, and interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features, focusing also on ongoing clinical trials.