[Pulmonary manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease]

Interstitial Lung Disease as an Emerging Contributor to Mortality in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Population-Based Epidemiological Study

INTRODUCTION

We aim to investigate the contribution of interstitial lung disease (ILD) to mortality in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

METHODS

We performed a comprehensive retrospective, population-based epidemiological study across the United States from 2001 to 2020, using the Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research database. Mortality data were classified according to the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision , with the codes J84 for ILD, K50 for Crohn's disease, and K51 for ulcerative colitis. To discern patterns, age-adjusted mortality rates (AMR) were computed, stratified by sex, geographic census region, and racial/ethnic demographics.

RESULTS

From 2001 to 2020, there were 57,967 reported deaths among patients with IBD with an AMR per million significantly rising from 10.989 in 2001-2005 to 11.443 in 2016-2020 ( P < 0.0001). ILD was a contributor to death in 1.19% (692/57,967) of these cases, with AMR rising from 0.092 to 0.143 per million ( P = 0.010). The percentage of ILD-related deaths in the IBD population increased from 1.02% to 1.30% over 2 decades. ILD was a more common cause of death in patients with Crohn's disease than with ulcerative colitis (54.6% vs 45.4%), with a significant increase for both conditions from 2001 to 2020 ( P < 0.05). An upward trend in ILD-related mortality was observed in both sexes ( P < 0.05) and within the White population ( P = 0.010).

DISCUSSION

The observed increase in mortality rates due to ILD among patients with IBD is concerning and highlights a critical need for systematic ILD screening protocols within the IBD patient population to facilitate early detection and management.

Pulmonary manifestations of Crohn’s disease

Crohn’s disease (CD) is a systemic illness with a constellation of extraintestinal manifestations affecting various organs. Of these extraintestinal manifestations of CD, those involving the lung are relatively rare. However, there is a wide array of lung manifestations, ranging from subclinical alterations, airway diseases and lung parenchymal diseases to pleural diseases and drug-related diseases. The most frequent manifestation is bronchial inflammation and suppuration with or without bronchiectasis. Bronchoalveolar lavage findings show an increased percentage of neutrophils. Drug-related pulmonary abnormalities include disorders which are directly induced by sulfasalazine, mesalamine and methotrexate, and opportunistic lung infections due to immunosuppressive treatment. In most patients, the development of pulmonary disease parallels that of intestinal disease activity. Although infrequent, clinicians dealing with CD must be aware of these, sometimes life-threatening, conditions to avoid further impairment of health status and to alleviate patient symptoms by prompt recognition and treatment. The treatment of CD-related respiratory disorders depends on the specific pattern of involvement, and in most patients, steroids are required in the initial management.

Hemidiaphragm paresis and granulomatous pneumonitis associated with adalimumab: a case report

Adalimumab is a fully human monoclonal anti-TNF-alpha antibody. Reported adverse effects have raised a number of safety concerns associated with their prolonged use. A case of granulomatous pneumonitis and hemidiaphragm paresis associated with adalimumab therapy for rheumatoid arthritis is described. In May 2012, a 57 year old male presented with dry cough, dyspnea and orthopnea after 4 months of treatment with adalimumab for rheumatoid arthritis. The patient received adalimumab from November 2011 to February 2012. A right hemidiaphragm elevation was shown on chest radiograph. A right hemidiaphragm paresis was shown on chest fluoroscopy. Bilateral lower lobe interstitial disease was shown on the chest HRCT scan. Open lung biopsy of the right lower lobe showed subacute granulomatous pneumonitis. In July 2013, the patient's respiratory symptoms and the previous restrictive pattern on PFTs resolved. In a same patient, a rare association of hemidiaphragm paresis and granulomatous pneumonitis with adalimumab treatment is herein reported.