ObjectiveTo summarize the clinical, radiological and pathological characteristics of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) combined with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), so as to improve the clinicians' understanding of the disease. MethodsThe clinical data of 50 AIDS patients combined with PCP admitted between February 2006 and May 2015 were retrospectively analyzed, including medical history, physical signs, laboratory examination, chest high resolution CT (HRCT), pathological characteristics, treatment and prognosis, etc. ResultsThe clinical features of AIDS patients combined with PCP included cough, dyspnea and fever, without obvious positive signs in the lung.The patients were divided as a mild group, a moderate group and a severe group according to the levels of PaO2.There was significant difference among three groups in serum albumin level [(23±3) g/L vs. (30±5) g/L and (28±6) g/L, P < 0.01].There were no significant differences among three groups in CD4+ T lymphocyte and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (P > 0.05).The typical chest radiograph feature of HRCT was ground-glass shadows in both lungs, and may be associated with reticular shadows or "gravel sign" and cyst.Of 50 patients, 16 patients were diagnosed via pathology of transbronchial lung biopsy(TBLB) and only 5 patients were diagnosed via silver staining of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF).The other patients were clinically diagnosed.100% of the patients were treated with sulfamethoxazole (SMZco), 64%with caspofungin, and 72% with glucocorticoid.All the patients relieved with no death in hospital. ConclusionWhen a patient got cough, dyspnea and fever, especially ground glass on HRCT in both lungs, AIDS combined with PCP should be highly considered, and diagnostic treatment with SMZco and CD4+ T lymphocyte measurement should be conducted as soon as possible, so as to reduce misdiagnosis and mortality.
ObjectiveTo highlight the characteristics of secondary pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) associated with malignant hematological diseases. MethodsThe clinical data of three patients with secondary PAP were analyzed and the related literature was reviewed. ResultsThree patients were diagnosed with secondary PAP by exclusion of primary or autoimmune PAP and denied the history of inhalation of occupational dusts. Two patients with secondary PAP were associated with chronic myelocytic leukemia, and the third one was associated with myelodysplastic syndrome. The performance on HRCT of the PAP associated with hematological malignancy was different from the primary PAP. Three patients were pathologically diagonised by brochoalveolar lavage fluid. One patient was successfully treated with inhalation of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). ConclusionsSecondary PAP associated with hematological malignancy is very rare. The untypical HRCT is the main cause of misdiagnosis. Some patients may benefit from GM-CSF theatment.
ObjectiveTo determine the diagnostic value of serum KL-6 level in patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILD). MethodsAll the ILD patients enrolled were hospitalized from April 2013 to April 2014. Patients with other pulmonary diseases and healthy subjects were chosen as control groups simultaneously. Serum KL-6 concentrations were measured by chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay. The association with serum KL-6 level and pulmonary function was analyzed. ResultsThere were 149 ILD patients, 155 patients with other pulmonary diseases, and 64 healthy subjects. The average serum levels of KL-6 were (1 801.86±2 831.36) U/mL, (267.00±124.41) U/mL, (201.28±81.18) U/mL in the patients with ILD, the patients with other pulmonary diseases and the healthy controls, respectively. The sensitivity and the specificity of the serum KL-6 for the diagnosis of ILD was 83.89% and 92.24% respectively when the cut-off level was set at 500 U/mL. The Kappa value was 0.767 (P < 0.001). The best cut-off value of KL-6 was 469.5 U/mL. Serum KL-6 levels in the patients with ILD were significantly higher compared with the patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, tuberculosis, bronchiectasis and the healthy controls, respectively (all P < 0.001). The KL-6 levels in the pulmonary alveolar proteinosis patients were significantly higher compared with the patients with cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP), the patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and the patients with connective tissue disease (CTD-ILD) (all P < 0.001). While the KL-6 concentration in IPF and CTD-ILD were significantly higher than that in COP (P=0.003 and P=0.008, respectively). Significant negative correlations were found between the levels of serum KL-6 and vital capacity as a percentage of the predicted value, forced vital capacity as a percentage of the predicted value, forced expiratory volume in one second as a percentage of the predicted value and carbon monoxide diffusing capacity as a percentage of the predicted value (all P < 0.001). Follow-up study showed the levels of serum KL-6 were consistent with clinical efficacy. ConclusionSerum KL-6 level is a reliable serum marker for ILD, and is related with the severity of disease and clinical efficacy.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical, radiographic characteristics and differential diagnosis of pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH) mimicking metastasis of cancer in radiography. MethodsClinical data of 2 patients with PLCH manifesting as metastatic cancer on HRCT and PET/CT were retrospectively analyzed. Patients reported as PLCH on WanFang Database, China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database and Pubmed were reviewed to screen misdiagnosis literature and further analyzed the clinical and radiographic characteristics. ResultsTwo cases both presented with cough and sputum. 18F-FDG PET/CT showed increased 18F-FDG up-take in both nodules in the lungs. One patient presented with multiple nodules, diffuse multiple cystic changes in lungs and osteoclasia in the right 4th rib on HRCT who was diagnosed by a video-assisted thoracoscopic biopsy of rib biopsy. The other patient presented with diffuse multiple nodules on HRCT who was diagnosed by a video-assisted thoracoscopic biopsy of lung biopsy. The pathological characteristics of both biopsy specimen demonstrated infiltration by Langerhans cells (LC) and eosinophils. The LC were positive for CD1a. Literature review found seven PLCH cases who were misdignosed as depression, eosinophilic pneumonia, interstitial lung disease involvement of autoimmune disorders and malignant tumor. ConclusionWhen clinician faced with a patient suspected as metastatic cancer by HRCT and PET/CT, it is reasonable to consider PLCH as a differential diagnosis and obtain the pathological information as soon as possible so that better prognosis can be achieved through early intervention.
Objective To analyze the risk factors of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in patients with interstitial pneumonia. Methods The clinical data of 770 cases of interstitial pneumonia admitted between December 2010 and August 2015 were collected. Among them, 46 cases were combined with IPA and 724 cases were not ombined with IPA. The clinical data was analyzed to explore the risk factors of IPA in patients with interstitial pneumonia. Results Univariate analysis showed that in the aspects of age (t=3.348, P=0.001), serum albumin level (t=8.381, P < 001), broad-spectrum antibiotic used within 3 months (χ2=87.157, P < 001), long-term administration of glucocorticoid (χ2=57.462, P < 001), long-term administration of immunosuppressive agents (χ2=31.715, P < 001), imaging in UIP type (χ2=20.632, P < 001), diabetes mellitus (χ2=9.737, P=0.002) and heart failure (χ2=9.300, P=0.002), there were significant differences between two groups. After multivariate logistic regression analysis, broad-spectrum antibiotic used within 3 months (OR=4.773, P < 001), long-term administration of glucocorticoid (OR=9.195, P < 001), long-term administration of immunosuppressive agents (OR=2.662, P=0.046), imaging in UIP type (OR=5.725, P < 001), and diabetes mellitus (OR=3.847, P=0.003) were found to be the risk factors of IPA in patients with interstitial pneumonia. Serum albumin level was negatively correlated with the occurrence of IPA in patients with interstitial pneumonia. Conclusions Various factors contribute to the occurrence of IPA in patients with interstitial pneumonia. Miscellaneous appropriate measures should be taken to reduce the incidence of IPA.