Pretreatment mortality risk prediction model in patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis-associated interstitial lung disease

OBJECTIVES

Risk prediction for patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis-associated interstitial lung disease (PM/DM-ILD) is challenging due to heterogeneity in the disease course. We aimed to develop a mortality risk prediction model for PM/DM-ILD.

METHODS

This prognostic study analysed patients with PM/DM-ILD admitted to Nanjing Drum Hospital from 2016 to 2021. The primary outcome was mortality within 1 year. We used a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression model to identify predictive laboratory indicators. These indicators were used to create a laboratory risk score, and we developed a mortality risk prediction model by incorporating clinical factors. The evaluation of model performance encompassed discrimination, calibration, clinical utility and practical application for risk prediction and prognosis.

RESULTS

Overall, 418 patients with PM/DM-ILD were enrolled and randomly divided into development (n=282) and validation (n=136) cohorts. LASSO logistic regression identified four optimal features in the development cohort, forming a laboratory risk score: C reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, CD3+CD4+ T cell counts and PO2/FiO2. The final prediction model integrated age, arthralgia, anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibody status, high-resolution CT pattern and the laboratory risk score. The prediction model exhibited robust discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic: 0.869, 95% CI 0.811 to 0.910), excellent calibration and valuable clinical utility. Patients were categorised into three risk groups with distinct mortality rates. The internal validation, sensitivity analyses and comparative assessments against previous models further confirmed the robustness of the prediction model.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed and validated an evidence-based mortality risk prediction model with simple, readily accessible clinical variables in patients with PM/DM-ILD, which may inform clinical decision-making.

Prognostic Factors of Mortality in Nonchronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Chronic Lung Disease: A Scoping Review

Introduction: Patients with chronic lung disease (CLD) experience a heavy symptom burden at the end of life, but their uptake of palliative care is notably low. Having an understanding of a patient's prognosis would facilitate shared decision making on treatment options and care planning between patients, families, and their clinicians, and complement clinicians' assessments of patients' unmet palliative needs. While literature on prognostication in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been established and summarized, information for other CLDs remains less consolidated. Summarizing the mortality risk factors for non-COPD CLDs would be a novel contribution to literature. Hence, we aimed to identify and summarize the prognostic factors associated with non-COPD CLDs from the literature. Methods: We conducted a scoping review following published guidelines. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science for studies published between 2000 and 2020 that described non-COPD CLD populations with an all-cause mortality risk period of up to three years. Only primary studies which reported associations with mortality adjusted through multivariable analysis were included. Results: Fifty-five studies were reviewed, with 53 based on interstitial lung disease (ILD) or connective tissue disease-associated ILD populations and two in bronchiectasis populations. Prognostic factors were classified into 10 domains, with pulmonary function and disease being the largest. Older age, lower forced vital capacity, and lower carbon monoxide diffusing capacity were most commonly investigated and associated with statistically significant increases in mortality risks. Conclusions: This comprehensive overview of prognostic factors for patients with non-COPD CLDs would facilitate the identification and prioritization of candidate factors to predict short-term mortality, supporting tool development for decision making and to identify high-risk patients for palliative needs assessments. Literature focused on patients with ILDs, and more studies should be conducted on other CLDs to bridge the knowledge gap.

Serum heme oxygenase-1 as a prognostic biomarker in patients with acute exacerbation of interstitial lung disease

Serum heme oxygenase (HO)-1 level has been reported as a clinically reliable diagnostic biomarker for acute exacerbation of interstitial lung disease (ILD); however, its utility for predicting mortality among these patients is unclear. Serum HO-1 levels of patients newly diagnosed with acute exacerbation of ILD were measured at the time of initiating steroid pulse therapy. The relationship between serum HO-1 and various other serum biomarkers, change in HRCT findings, and disease prognosis at 12 weeks after diagnosis of acute exacerbation was evaluated in 51 patients, of whom 17 (33%) had idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Serum HO-1 was higher in patients with acute exacerbation of IPF than in patients with acute exacerbation of other ILDs. Serum HO-1 levels were higher in patients who died within these 12 weeks than in survivors. Among age, sex, comorbidities, IPF diagnosis, HRCT findings, and blood biomarkers, serum HO-1 was a primary predictor of 12-week mortality. In 41 patients who underwent repeat HRCT, serum HO-1 was higher in patients with honeycomb progression than in those without. Serum HO-1 measurement could be useful for evaluating disease mortality and morbidity of patients with acute exacerbation of ILDs.

Utility of Measuring Circulating Bio-Adrenomedullin and Proenkephalin for 30-Day Mortality Risk Prediction in Patients with COVID-19 and Non-COVID-19 Interstitial Pneumonia in the Emergency Department

Background and Objectives: In order to accelerate the risk stratification of patients referred to the Emergency Department (ED) with interstitial pneumonia, it could be useful to provide new and effective laboratory tests for use. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prognostic role of two biomarkers, bio-adrenomedullin (Bio-ADM) and proenkephalin (penKid), in patients with interstitial pneumonia (IP) at ED admission. Materials and Methods: In 153 consecutive patients with IP, both from COVID-19 or non-COVID-19 etiology, we measured, in a prospective observational manner, penKid and Bio-ADM at ED admission and after 24 h. In order to evaluate patient outcomes, 30-day follow-ups were also performed. The endpoints were 24 h, 10-day, and 30-day mortality. Results: Both biomarkers were shown to be good predictors of adverse events at 30 days, with Bio-ADM outperforming penKid. Bio-ADM was linked with 24 h and 10-day patient mortality. Moreover, PenKid was related to parameters defining worsening kidney function. Conclusions: Both in patients with COVID-19 or non-COVID-19 interstitial pneumonia at ED admission, Bio-ADM and penKid were good predictors of patient mortality. To evaluate these two biomarkers could be considered to be useful during the first evaluation in the ED when integrated with clinical scores.

Collagen 1a1 Expression by Airway Macrophages Increases In Fibrotic ILDs and Is Associated With FVC Decline and Increased Mortality

Within the Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILD), patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and a subset of those with non-IPF fibrotic ILD have a distinct clinical phenotype of progression despite management. This group of patients has been collectively termed the progressive fibrotic phenotype (PFP). Their early recognition may facilitate access to antifibrotic therapies to prevent or slow progression. Macrophages/monocytes within the lung orchestrate the progression and maintenance of fibrosis. A novel role for monocyte-derived macrophages during tissue damage and wound healing is the expression of collagens. We examined Collagen 1a1 expression in airway macrophages from ILD patients at diagnosis. COL1A1 mRNA levels from BAL cells were elevated in IPF and Non-IPF patients. The presence of a UIP pattern and a subsequent progressive phenotype were significantly associated with the higher BAL COL1A1 levels. In Non-IPF patients, higher COL1A1 levels were associated with a more than twofold increase in mortality. The intracellular localisation of COL1A1 in airway macrophages was demonstrated by confocal microscopy in CD45 and CD163 co-staining assays. Additionally, airway macrophages co-expressed COL1A1 with the profibrotic SPP1 gene product osteopontin. The levels of SPP1 mRNA and OPN in the BAL were significantly higher in IPF and Non-IPF patients relative to healthy. Our results suggest that profibrotic airway macrophages are increased in the BAL of patients with IPF and other ILDs and co-express COL1A1 and OPN. Importantly, COL1A1 expression by pro-fibrotic airway macrophages could be a marker of disease progression and poor survival in ILDs.

Survival analysis in lung cancer patients with interstitial lung disease

OBJECTIVE

Lung cancer patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) are prone for higher morbidity and mortality and their treatment is challenging. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the survival of lung cancer patients is affected by the presence of ILD documented on CT.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

146 patients with ILD at initial chest CT were retrospectively included in the study. 146 lung cancer controls without ILD were selected. Chest CTs were evaluated for the presence of pulmonary fibrosis which was classified in 4 categories. Presence and type of emphysema, extent of ILD and emphysema, location and histologic type of cancer, clinical staging and treatment were evaluated. Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox regression models were used to assess survival probability and hazard of death of different groups. P value < 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

5-year survival for the study group was 41% versus 48% for the control group (log-rank test p = 0.0092). No significant difference in survival rate was found between the four different categories of ILD (log-rank test, p = 0.195) and the different histologic types (log-rank test, p = 0.4005). A cox proportional hazard model was used including presence of ILD, clinical stage and age. The hazard of death among patients with ILD was 1.522 times that among patients without ILD (95%CI, p = 0.029).

CONCLUSION

Patients with lung cancer and CT evidence of ILD have a significantly shorter survival compared to patients with lung cancer only. Documenting the type and grading the severity of ILD in lung cancer patients will significantly contribute to their challenging management.

New Parvoviruses and Picornavirus in Tissues and Feces of Foals with Interstitial Pneumonia

Six foals with interstitial pneumonia of undetermined etiology from Southern California were analyzed by viral metagenomics. Spleen, lung, and colon content samples obtained during necropsy from each animal were pooled, and nucleic acids from virus-like particles enriched for deep sequencing. The recently described equine copiparvovirus named eqcopivirus, as well as three previously uncharacterized viruses, were identified. The complete ORFs genomes of two closely related protoparvoviruses, and of a bocaparvovirus, plus the partial genome of a picornavirus were assembled. The parvoviruses were classified as members of new ungulate protoparvovirus and bocaparvovirus species in the Parvoviridae family. The picornavirus was classified as a new species in the Salivirus genus of the Picornaviridae family. Spleen, lung, and colon content samples from each foal were then tested for these viral genomes by nested PCR and RT-PCR. When present, parvoviruses were detected in both feces and spleen. The picornavirus, protoparvovirus, and eqcopivirus genomes were detected in the lungs of one animal each. Three foals were co-infected with the picornavirus and either a protoparvovirus, bocaparvovirus, or eqcopivirus. Two other foals were infected with a protoparvovirus only. No viral infection was detected in one animal. The complete ORFs of the first equine protoparvoviruses and bocaparvovirus, the partial ORF of the third equine picornavirus, and their detection in tissues of foals with interstitial pneumonia are described here. Testing the involvement of these viruses in fatal interstitial pneumonia or other equine diseases will require larger epidemiological and/or inoculation studies.

Prevalence, incidence and cause-specific mortality of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease among older rheumatoid arthritis patients

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate the prevalence, incidence and cause-specific mortality of RA-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) among older US patients with RA.

METHODS

We performed a nationwide cohort study using Medicare claims data (parts A, B and D for 2008-2017). RA was identified with a validated algorithm using RA diagnosis codes and DMARD prescription. RA-ILD was identified with a validated algorithm using ILD diagnosis codes by a rheumatologist/pulmonologist. RA-ILD was categorized as prevalent or incident relative to the initial RA observation (baseline/index date). We compared the total mortality of RA-ILD to RA without ILD using multivariable Cox regression, adjusting for baseline covariates. For cause-specific mortality, Fine and Gray subdistribution hazard ratios (sdHRs) were estimated to handle competing risks of alternative mortality causes.

RESULTS

Among 509 787 RA patients (mean age 72.6 years, 76.2% female), 10 306 (2.0%) had prevalent RA-ILD at baseline. After baseline, 13 372 (2.6%) developed RA-ILD during 1 873 127 person-years of follow-up (median 3.0 years/person). During follow-up, 38.7% of RA-ILD patients died compared with 20.7% of RA patients without ILD. After multivariable adjustment, RA-ILD had an HR of 1.66 (95% CI 1.60, 1.72) for total mortality. Accounting for competing risk of other causes of death, RA-ILD had an sdHR of 4.39 (95% CI 4.13, 4.67) for respiratory mortality and an sdHR of 1.56 (95% CI 1.43, 1.71) for cancer mortality compared with RA without ILD.

CONCLUSIONS

RA-ILD was present or developed in nearly 5% of patients in this nationwide study of older patients with RA. Compared with RA without ILD, RA-ILD was associated with excess total, respiratory and cancer mortality that was not explained by measured factors.

Clinical characteristics of non-idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases: A single-center retrospective study

Progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease (PF-ILD) is a progressive phenotype of fibrosing ILDs with varying definitions and elusive clinical characteristics. We aimed to clarify the clinical features and prognosis of PF-ILD cases based on the deterioration of pulmonary function. Altogether, 91 consecutive ILD patients who underwent at least 2 pulmonary function tests (PFTs) with an interval of at least 24 months, as the screening period, between January 2009 and December 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. The deterioration of forced vital capacity (FVC) and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLco) was calculated based on PFT data and screening period. The definition of PF-ILD was 1. relative decline of 10% or more in FVC per 24 months or 2. relative decline in FVC of 5% or more with decline in DLco of 15% or more per 24 months. Medical records of 34 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), 11 patients with non-IPF, PF-ILD, and 46 patients with non-IPF, non-PF-ILD were retrospectively analyzed. Patient characteristics, pharmacologic or non-pharmacologic treatment status, and prognosis were compared between the IPF and non-IPF groups and between the non-IPF, PF-ILD and non-IPF, non-PF-ILD groups. Eleven patients (19.3%) showed a progressive phenotype in the non-IPF group. The pulmonary function data at the first PFT were worse in non-IPF, PF-ILD patients than in non-IPF, non-PF-ILD patients. There were no differences in the proportion of patients who were observed without pharmacologic treatment or of those receiving pharmacologic treatment between the non-IPF, PF-ILD and non-IPF, non-PF-ILD groups. Low %FVC at the first PFT and the usual interstitial pneumonia-like fibrotic pattern on high-resolution computed tomography were risk factors for PF-ILD in the non-IPF group. The mortality in the non-IPF, PF-ILD group was significantly worse than that of the non-IPF, non-PF-ILD group and was as poor as that of the IPF group. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that aging and low %DLco at the first PFT were risk factors for mortality within the non-IPF group. The prognosis of non-IPF, PF-ILD patients was as poor as that of IPF patients. Non-IPF, PF-ILD patients require more intensive treatment before disease progression.

Interstitial lung disease in a veterans affairs regional network; a retrospective cohort study

Background

The epidemiology of Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILD) in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is presently unknown.

Research question

Describe the incidence/prevalence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of ILD patients within the Veteran’s Administration Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN6).

Study design and methods

A multi-center retrospective cohort study was performed of veterans receiving hospital or outpatient ILD care from January 1, 2008 to December 31^st, 2015 in six VISN6 facilities. Patients were identified by at least one visit encounter with a 515, 516, or other ILD ICD-9 code. Demographic and clinical characteristics were summarized using median, 25th and 75th percentile for continuous variables and count/percentage for categorical variables. Characteristics and incidence/prevalence rates were summarized, and stratified by ILD ICD-9 code. Kaplan Meier curves were generated to define overall survival.

Results

3293 subjects met the inclusion criteria. 879 subjects (26%) had no evidence of ILD following manual medical record review. Overall estimated prevalence in verified ILD subjects was 256 per 100,000 people with a mean incidence across the years of 70 per 100,000 person-years (0.07%). The prevalence and mean incidence when focusing on people with an ILD diagnostic code who had a HRCT scan or a bronchoscopic or surgical lung biopsy was 237 per 100,000 people (0.237%) and 63 per 100,000 person-years respectively (0.063%). The median survival was 76.9 months for 515 codes, 103.4 months for 516 codes, and 83.6 months for 516.31.

Interpretation

This retrospective cohort study defines high ILD incidence/prevalence within the VA. Therefore, ILD is an important VA health concern.

Associations of ω-3 Fatty Acids With Interstitial Lung Disease and Lung Imaging Abnormalities Among Adults

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, attenuates interstitial lung disease (ILD) in experimental models, but human studies are lacking. We examined associations of circulating levels of DHA and other polyunsaturated fatty acids with hospitalization and death due to ILD over 12 years in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA; n = 6,573). We examined cross-sectional associations with CT lung abnormalities in MESA (2000-2012; n = 6,541), the Framingham Heart Study (2005-2011; n = 3,917), and the Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility-Reykjavik Study (AGES-Reykjavik) (2002-2006; n = 1,106). Polyunsaturated fatty acid levels were determined from fasting blood samples and extracted from plasma phospholipids (MESA and AGES-Reykjavik) or red blood cell membranes (Framingham Heart Study). Higher DHA levels were associated with a lower risk of hospitalization due to ILD (per standard-deviation increment, adjusted rate ratio = 0.69, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.48, 0.99) and a lower rate of death due to ILD (per standard-deviation increment, adjusted hazard ratio = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.47, 0.98). Higher DHA was associated with fewer interstitial lung abnormalities on computed tomography (per natural log increment, pooled adjusted odds ratio = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.46, 0.91). Higher DHA levels were associated with a lower risk of hospitalization and death due to ILD and fewer lung abnormalities on computed tomography in a meta-analysis of data from population-based cohort studies.

The role of interleukin-6 as a prognostic biomarker for predicting acute exacerbation in interstitial lung diseases

BACKGROUND

Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are chronic, parenchymal lung diseases with a variable clinical course and a poor prognosis. Within various clinical courses, acute exacerbation (AE) is a devastating condition with significant morbidity and high mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) to predict AE and prognosis in patients with ILD.

METHODS

Eighty-three patients who were diagnosed with ILD from 2016 to 2019 at the Haeundae Paik Hospital, Busan, South Korea, were included and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

The median follow-up period was 20 months. The mean age was 68.1 years and 65.1% of the patients were men with 60.2% of patients being ever-smokers. Among ILDs, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis was the most common disease (68.7%), followed by connective tissue disease-associated ILD (14.5%), cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (9.6%), and nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (6.0%). The serum levels of IL-6 were measured at diagnosis with ILD and sequentially at follow-up visits. During the follow-ups, 15 (18.1%) patients experienced an acute exacerbation (AE) of ILD and among them, four (26.7%) patients died. In the multivariable analysis, high levels of IL-6 (OR 1.014, 95% CI: 1.001-1.027, p = 0.036) along with lower baseline saturations of peripheral oxygen (SpO2) were independent risk factors for AE. In the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the area under the curve was 0.815 (p < 0.001) and the optimal cut-off value of serum IL-6 to predict AE was 25.20 pg/mL with a sensitivity of 66.7% and specificity of 80.6%. In the multivariable Cox analysis, a high level of serum IL-6 (HR 1.007, 95% CI: 1.001-1.014, p = 0.018) was only an independent risk factor for mortality in ILD patients.

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, a high level of serum IL-6 is a useful biomarker to predict AE and poor prognosis in patients with ILD.

Risk prediction model in rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

RA-ILD has a variable clinical course, and its prognosis is difficult to predict. Moreover, risk prediction models for prognosis remain undefined.

METHODS

The prediction model was developed using retrospective data from 153 patients with RA-ILD and validated in an independent RA-ILD cohort (n = 149). Candidate variables for the prediction models were screened using a multivariate Cox proportional hazard model. C-statistics were calculated to assess and compare the predictive ability of each model.

RESULTS

In the derivation cohort, the median follow-up period was 54 months, and 38.6% of the subjects exhibited a UIP pattern on HRCT imaging. In multivariate Cox analysis, old age (≥60 years, HR: 2.063), high fibrosis score (≥20% of the total lung extent, HR: 4.585), a UIP pattern (HR: 1.899) and emphysema (HR: 2.596) on HRCT were significantly poor prognostic factors and included in the final model. The prediction model demonstrated good performance in the prediction of 5-year mortality (C-index: 0.780, P < 0.001); furthermore, patients at risk were divided into three groups with 1-year mortality rates of 0%, 5.1% and 24.1%, respectively. Predicted and observed mortalities at 1, 2 and 3 years were similar in the derivation cohort, and the prediction model was also effective in predicting prognosis of the validation cohort (C-index: 0.638, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that a risk prediction model based on HRCT variables could be useful for patients with RA-ILD.

Fatal Interstitial Pneumonia Associated with Bovine Coronavirus in Cows from Southern Italy

An outbreak of winter dysentery, complicated by severe respiratory syndrome, occurred in January 2020 in a high production dairy cow herd located in a hilly area of the Calabria region. Of the 52 animals belonging to the farm, 5 (9.6%) died with severe respiratory distress, death occurring 3–4 days after the appearance of the respiratory signs (caught and gasping breath). Microbiological analysis revealed absence of pathogenic bacteria whilst Real-time PCR identified the presence of RNA from Bovine Coronavirus (BCoV) in several organs: lungs, small intestine (jejunum), mediastinal lymph nodes, liver and placenta. BCoV was therefore hypothesized to play a role in the lethal pulmonary infection. Like the other CoVs, BCoV is able to cause different syndromes. Its role in calf diarrhea and in mild respiratory disease is well known: we report instead the involvement of this virus in a severe and fatal respiratory disorder, with symptoms and disease evolution resembling those of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndromes (SARS).

Prognostic importance of Kidney, Heart and Interstitial lung diseases (KHI triad) in PH: A machine learning study

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a heterogeneous, severe and progressive disease with an impact on quality of life and life-expectancy despite specific therapies.

AIMS

(i) to compare prognosis significance of each PH subgroup in a cohort from a referral center, (ii) to identify phenotypically distinct high-risk PH patient using machine learning.

METHODS

Patients with PH were included from 2002 to 2019 and routinely followed-up. We collected clinical, laboratory, imaging and hemodynamic variables. Four-year survival rate of each subgroups was then compared. Next, phenotypic domains were imputed with 5 eigenvectors for missing values and filtered if the Pearson correlation coefficient was>0.6. Thereafter, agglomerative hierarchical clustering was used for grouping phenotypic variables and patients: a heat map was generated and participants were separated using Penalized Model-Based Clustering. P<0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

328 patients were prospectively included (mean age 63±18 yo, 46% male). PH secondary to left heart disease (PH-LHD) and lung disease (PH-LD) had a significantly increased mortality compared to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients: HR=2.43, 95%CI=(1.24-4.73) and 2.95, 95%CI=(1.43-6.07) respectively. 25 phenotypic domains were pinpointed and 3 phenogroups identified. Phenogroup 3 had a significantly increased mortality (log-rank P=0.046) compared to the others and was remarkable for predominant pulmonary disease in older male, accumulating cardiovascular risk factors, and simultaneous three major comorbidities: coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease and interstitial lung disease.

CONCLUSION

PH-LHD and PH-LD has 2-fold and 3-fold increase in mortality, respectively compared with PAH. PH patients with simultaneous kidney-cardiac-pulmonary comorbidities were identified as having high-risk of mortality. Specific targeted therapy in this phenogroup should be prospectively evaluated.

GBD Chronic Respiratory Disease Collaborators. Prevalence and attributable health burden of chronic respiratory diseases, 1990-2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

BACKGROUND

Previous attempts to characterise the burden of chronic respiratory diseases have focused only on specific disease conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma. In this study, we aimed to characterise the burden of chronic respiratory diseases globally, providing a comprehensive and up-to-date analysis on geographical and time trends from 1990 to 2017.

METHODS

Using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2017, we estimated the prevalence, morbidity, and mortality attributable to chronic respiratory diseases through an analysis of deaths, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and years of life lost (YLL) by GBD super-region, from 1990 to 2017, stratified by age and sex. Specific diseases analysed included asthma, COPD, interstitial lung disease and pulmonary sarcoidosis, pneumoconiosis, and other chronic respiratory diseases. We also assessed the contribution of risk factors (smoking, second-hand smoke, ambient particulate matter and ozone pollution, household air pollution from solid fuels, and occupational risks) to chronic respiratory disease-attributable DALYs.

FINDINGS

In 2017, 544·9 million people (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 506·9-584·8) worldwide had a chronic respiratory disease, representing an increase of 39·8% compared with 1990. Chronic respiratory disease prevalence showed wide variability across GBD super-regions, with the highest prevalence among both males and females in high-income regions, and the lowest prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia. The age-sex-specific prevalence of each chronic respiratory disease in 2017 was also highly variable geographically. Chronic respiratory diseases were the third leading cause of death in 2017 (7·0% [95% UI 6·8-7·2] of all deaths), behind cardiovascular diseases and neoplasms. Deaths due to chronic respiratory diseases numbered 3 914 196 (95% UI 3 790 578-4 044 819) in 2017, an increase of 18·0% since 1990, while total DALYs increased by 13·3%. However, when accounting for ageing and population growth, declines were observed in age-standardised prevalence (14·3% decrease), age-standardised death rates (42·6%), and age-standardised DALY rates (38·2%). In males and females, most chronic respiratory disease-attributable deaths and DALYs were due to COPD. In regional analyses, mortality rates from chronic respiratory diseases were greatest in south Asia and lowest in sub-Saharan Africa, also across both sexes. Notably, although absolute prevalence was lower in south Asia than in most other super-regions, YLLs due to chronic respiratory diseases across the subcontinent were the highest in the world. Death rates due to interstitial lung disease and pulmonary sarcoidosis were greater than those due to pneumoconiosis in all super-regions. Smoking was the leading risk factor for chronic respiratory disease-related disability across all regions for men. Among women, household air pollution from solid fuels was the predominant risk factor for chronic respiratory diseases in south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, while ambient particulate matter represented the leading risk factor in southeast Asia, east Asia, and Oceania, and in the Middle East and north Africa super-region.

INTERPRETATION

Our study shows that chronic respiratory diseases remain a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, with growth in absolute numbers but sharp declines in several age-standardised estimators since 1990. Premature mortality from chronic respiratory diseases seems to be highest in regions with less-resourced health systems on a per-capita basis.

FUNDING

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Prophylactic antibiotic treatment with TMP-SMX decreased the incidence of interstitial pneumonia in patients with B-cell lymphoma on chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

Several studies have reported the incidence of interstitial pneumonia (IP) among patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that are undergoing combination chemotherapy plus rituximab; however, the effective prophylactic treatment for IP remains unclear. This study aims to explore the prophylactic effect of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) on IP and identify IP-associated risk factors in NHL patients.

METHODS

Between March 2013 and April 2018, 498 patients (264 males, 53%) with B-cell NHL undergoing first-line RCHOP-like chemotherapy treatment with rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone were enrolled in this study.

RESULTS

These patients had a median age of 56 years, and 311 of the 498 patients (62.4%) were administered once daily with the prophylactic treatment of TMP-SMX. IP occurred in 65 patients (13.1%), indicating a significant reduction in the IP incidence rate (21.4% vs. 8.0%; p < 0.001). Among patients treated with TMP-SMX, 2 (1.2%) exhibited rashes, 38 (12.2%) suffered from nausea and vomiting, 52 (16.7%) showed signs of neutropenia, and 18 (5.8%) suffered from kidney dysfunction. Both univariate and multivariate analysis showed that gender (male), history of diabetes, and absence of prophylactic TMP-SMX treatment were significant risk factors associated with IP. Disease progression was observed in 55/311 (17.7%) patients that underwent prophylactic TMP-SMX treatment and in 63/187 (33.7%) patients that did not (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed that the occurrence of IP was common in B-cell NHL patients undergoing combined chemotherapy plus rituximab treatment. IP could be reduced with prophylactic treatment of once-daily oral TMP-SMX.

Pneumothorax in connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease

Background

Spontaneous pneumothorax is a complication that occurs in patients with connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD); however, few studies on the clinical implications of pneumothorax for patients with CTD-ILD have been performed.

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the incidence and prognostic significance of pneumothorax and the risk factors for its onset in patients with CTD-ILD.

Methods

This study included 140 consecutive patients with CTD-ILD. Clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, pulmonary function test results, and chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) images were retrospectively evaluated.

Results

A total of 18 patients (12.9%) developed pneumothorax during their clinical course. The cumulative incidence of pneumothorax from the time of CTD-ILD diagnosis was 6.5%, 8.7%, and 11.3% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. The 10-year survival rate was significantly lower in patients with pneumothorax (29.6%) than that in those without pneumothorax (81.3%). The development of pneumothorax was significantly associated with poor prognosis (HR 22.0; p < 0.010). Furthermore, a lower body mass index, greater extent of reticular abnormalities on HRCT, and administration of methylprednisolone pulse therapy were significantly associated with the development of pneumothorax.

Conclusion

Pneumothorax is a serious complication in the clinical course of patients with CTD-ILD and the onset of pneumothorax predicts a poor outcome.

Impact of interstitial lung disease and simultaneous lung cancer on therapeutic possibilities and survival

BACKGROUND

Fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are associated with poor survival and an increased risk of developing lung cancer (LC). Patient and LC characteristics, therapeutic possibilities and survival in this rare patient population are not well established.

METHODS

Fibrosing ILD patients treated at the Department of Pulmonology Semmelweis University were reviewed retrospectively between 2012-2018 (N = 160). All patients with concomitant LC (N = 23) underwent detailed pulmonary evaluation. Cancer characteristics including driver mutation data, as well as therapy and survival were analyzed.

RESULTS

ILD-LC patients (56% men, mean age 73 ± 6 years) had mild-moderate lung functional impairment (forced vital capacity [FVC]: 80 ± 24%ref., forced expiratory volume in one second [FEV1]: 76 ± 27%ref.; transfer factor of the lung for carbon monoxide [TLCO]: 62 ± 25% reference). In 56% of cases histology confirmed adenocarcinoma followed by squamous cell carcinoma in 26%. Lobectomy could only be performed in one case; driver mutation was present in one patient. Chemotherapy was most commonly administered; however, 26% could only receive supportive palliative care. Four idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients received concomitant nintedanib to their LC treatment. Median survival of ILD-LC patients was only 321 days.

CONCLUSIONS

Diagnosis and therapy of ILD-LC is challenging and patients have a very limited survival. A significant proportion of patients could only receive palliative care indicating the need for better management strategies in this special patient population. The evaluation of the effect of cotreatment with antifibrotics needs further study.

KEY POINTS

Interstitial lung diseases are often associated with lung cancer Diagnosis is challenging and therapy often limited due to underlying lung disease. Patients received platinum based chemotherapy or only supportive care.

Mechanical Ventilation and Predictors of In-Hospital Mortality in Fibrotic Interstitial Lung Disease With Acute Respiratory Failure: A Cohort Analysis Through the Paradigm of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

OBJECTIVES

Prior studies report significant mortality in fibrotic interstitial lung disease patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. Little is known about baseline characteristics or ventilator strategies that might improve outcomes. We analyzed the ventilator characteristics of a large cohort of fibrotic interstitial lung disease patients from the perspective of an acute respiratory distress syndrome paradigm to see if any specific mechanical ventilation strategies might improve in-hospital mortality.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Single-center, multihospital medical ICUs.

PATIENTS

Consecutive fibrotic interstitial lung disease patients who experienced mechanical ventilation for acute respiratory failure.

INTERVENTIONS

Interstitial lung disease characteristics, demographics, and ventilator variables were analyzed for univariable and multivariable predictors of in-hospital mortality, adjusted for confounding with an a priori causation model.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

A total of 111 patients accounted for 114 admissions. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis comprised 34% with idiopathic acute exacerbation (65%) being the most common admission type. Ninety-five percent were initiated on mandatory volume-control ventilation with only 50% achieving a low tidal volume strategy (plateau pressure ≤ 30 cm H2O) within 3 hours of intubation. Unadjusted clinical predictors of in-hospital mortality included age (unit odds ratio, 1.05; 1.01-1.10; p = 0.015), time from admission to intubation (hr) (unit odds ratio, 1.01; 1.01-1.03; p = 0.017), and use of paralytics (relative risk, 1.54; 1.26-1.90, p < 0.001). Adjusted mechanical ventilation-related predictors of in-hospital mortality included achieving early targeted plateau pressures (odds ratio, 0.23; 0.07-0.76; p = 0.016), PaO2/FIO2 ratio at 3 (unit odds ratio, 0.98; 0.96-0.99, p = 0.002) and 48 hours (unit odds ratio, 0.98; 0.97-0.99, p = 0.018), initial mean airway pressure (unit odds ratio, 1.13; 1.02-1.28, p = 0.019), and total net fluid status (mL) (unit odds ratio, 1.01; 1.001-1.02, p = 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Several factors predict in-hospital mortality in fibrotic interstitial lung disease-associated mechanical ventilation when viewed through an acute respiratory distress syndrome model. Further research is needed to refine strategies that may perhaps improve survival if mechanical ventilation is pursued in this set of patients.

Protective role of chronic treatment with direct oral anticoagulants in elderly patients affected by interstitial pneumonia in COVID-19 era

• Elderly COVID-19 patients with chronic heart disease have a worse prognosis. • Cardio-active treatment has a protective role in COVID-19 pneumonia. • Anticoagulant chronic assumption in elderly with heart disease reduce mortality.

Evaluation of usefulness in surfactant protein D as a predictor of mortality in myositis-associated interstitial lung disease

Objective

Surfactant protein D (SP-D) is considered a serum biomarker of various forms of interstitial lung disease (ILD). In this study, we examined the utility of SP-D as a predictive biomarker for mortality in patients with ILD associated with polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM) using large-scale multicentre cohort data.

Methods

We enrolled 381 patients with incident PM/DM-associated ILD in a multicentre retrospective cohort based on the availability of serum SP-D at the baseline. Demographic and clinical characteristics as well as the presence of autoantibodies to melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) and aminoacyl tRNA synthetase were measured at the time of diagnosis, and follow-up survival data were collected prospectively.

Results

Seventy-eight patients died during the median observation period of 18 months, and the majority of patients died of ILD. The SP-D levels at baseline were significantly lower (P = 0.02) in a non-survivor subset than in a survivor subset among the entire enrolled patients. However, the SP-D levels were higher in the non-survivor subset than in the survivor subset based on the stratification by anti-MDA5-positive, anti-ARS-positive and, double-negativity, although there was an only statistically significant difference (P = 0.01) in the double-negative group. Surprisingly, the SP-D levels were within the upper limit of normal, 110 ng/mL, in 54 (87%) of 62 anti-MDA5-positive patients who died. In the double-negative group, the mortality rates were significantly higher (P = 0.002) in a subset with SP-D ≥127.6 ng/mL, the cut-off value for mortality calculated by the receiver operating characteristic curve, than the other subset. All of patients with SP-D <127.6 ng/mL survived.

Conclusion

Serum SP-D levels behave differently among patients with stratified by anti-MDA5 antibody, anti-ARS antibody and both negativity in PM/DM-associated ILD. Its use in clinical practice should be applied with caution on the basis of the presence or absence of anti-MDA5 antibody or anti-ARS antibody.

[The clinical features and prognosis of interstitial lung disease patients with positive anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody]

Objective: To investigate the clinical features and prognosis of interstitial lung disease patients with positive anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody. Methods: The patients with interstitial lung disease who visited Peking Union Medical College Hospital from March 2006 to March 2016 were divided into three groups: interstitial lung disease with ANCA-positive(ANCA-ILD), connective tissue disease associated interstitial lung disease and interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (CTD-ILD/IPAF) and idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP). The three groups were analyzed in terms of clinical manifestations, serology, lung function, imaging, survival and recurrence. Results: Two hundred and seventy four patients were enrolled and 38 (14%) were ANCA-positive of whom 16 were male and 22 were female. The age of 38 ANCA-positive patients was (59±10) years and the follow-up time was (52±31) months. Seven among the 38 ANCA-positive patients died and the death rate is 18.42%. The ANCA-positive patients with interstitial lung disease have higher onset age (ANCA-ILD:59±10,CTD-ILD/IPAF:52±10,IIP:53±11,H=19.29, P<0.001), lower hemoglobin (ANCA-ILD: 129±21, CTD-ILD/IPAF: 138±15, IIP: 140±19, H=8.17, P=0.017), higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ANCA-ILD:45±35, CTD-ILD/IPAF:26±24,IIP:19±22,H=19.73, P<0.001), lower lung function improvement rate after treatment (ANCA-ILD:31%,CTD-ILD/IPAF:59%,IIP: 39%,χ(2)=11.74,P=0.003), lower absorption rate of CT lesion (ANCA-ILD:61%,CTD-ILD/IPAF:82%,IIP:67%, χ(2)=9.23,P=0.010) and higher death rate(ANCA-ILD:18%,CTD-ILD/IPAF:6%,IIP:12%, χ(2)=7.16,P=0.028). Conclusions: There are significant differences in clinical characteristics between ANCA-positive patients and other types of pulmonary interstitial disease. And both the treatment effect and the prognosis is poor for the ANCA-positive patients.

Prognosis and causes of death of patients with acute exacerbation of fibrosing interstitial lung diseases

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics, causes of death and factors impacting on the prognosis of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and other fibrosing interstitial lung disease (FILD) with a history of acute exacerbation (AE) of IPF or FILD.

METHODS

Retrospective data of hospital treatment periods caused by AE-IPF and AE-FILD were collected from medical records. Clinical features and survival data of IPF and non-IPF cases were evaluated and compared. The underlying and immediate causes of death were gathered from death certificates.

RESULTS

A total of 128 patients fulfilled the criteria for inclusion. IPF (n=79/62%), rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD; n=17/14%) and asbestosis (n=11/8.6%) were the most common FILD subgroups in the study. The median survival after hospitalisation in AE-IPF was 2.6 months compared with 21 months in other AE-FILDs (p<0.001). The survival difference was not explained by age, gender or pulmonary function test results at the time of hospitalisation. Patients with non-specific interstitial pneumonia and RA-ILD had the most favourable prognosis. ILD was the most common underlying cause of death in both patients with IPF and with other FILD accounting for 87% and 78% of deaths, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

We detected a significantly longer survival in AE of patients with non-IPF compared with that of AE-IPFs. The prognosis of patients was affected by the underlying lung disease since pulmonary fibrosis was the underlying cause of death in the majority of all patients with FILD having experienced an AE.

Diagnostic and prognostic predictive values of circulating KL-6 for interstitial lung disease: A PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Past investigations showed inconsistent results for diagnostic and prognostic predictive values of Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) for interstitial lung disease (ILD).

METHODS

Web of Science and PubMed were systematically searched on for articles exploring the association of KL-6 and ILDs published between September 1993 and March 2019. For comparisons between-groups, the standard mean difference and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed as the effect sizes. For diagnostic studies, a summary of sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratios, negative likelihood ratios, and diagnostic odds ratio, which indicated the accuracy of KL-6 in the differentiation of ILDs and no ILDs, were calculated from the true positive, true negative, false positive, and false negative of each study. In addition, the summary receive-operating characteristics curve was constructed to summarize the TP and FP rates. For follow-up study, we computed hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for mortality. ILD patients showed elevated concentrations of KL-6, compared to healthy controls and patients without ILD.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis showed a sensitivity (0.85 [95% CI: 0.77-0.91]) and specificity (0.97 [95% CI: 0.90-0.99]) of KL-6 for ILDs. In addition, it showed elevated baseline circulating levels of KL-6 in subsequent active ILD, compared to subsequent inactive ILD. Moreover, there was a significant association between baseline levels of circulating KL-6 and mortality of ILD (HR 2.95, 95% CI 2.45-3.55, I = 65.9%, P = .032).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the study suggested that circulating KL-6 showed diagnostic and prognostic predictive values for ILDs.

Prognostic role of blood KL-6 in rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease

Rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) has a variable clinical course for which predicting prognosis is difficult. However, the role of blood biomarkers in RA-ILD is ill-defined. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) levels in RA-ILD patients. The medical records of 84 patients with RA-ILD were retrospectively reviewed. Plasma KL-6 levels were measured by Nanopia KL-6 assay (SEKISUI MEDICAL, Tokyo), using latex-enhanced immunoturbidimetric assay. The median follow-up period was 61 months. Mean age was 61.4 years, 45.2% were men, 44.0% were ever-smokers, and 35.7% showed a usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern on high-resolution computed tomography. The median KL-6 level at baseline was 741.2 U/mL (interquartile range, 439.7-1308.9 U/mL). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, a high KL-6 level (≥ 640 U/mL) was an independently associated with a UIP pattern (odds ratio [OR], 5.173; P = 0.005) with old age (OR, 1.104, P = 0.005). On multivariate Cox analysis, a high KL-6 level (≥ 685 U/mL) was an independent prognostic factor for the mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 2.984; P = 0.016) with a older age (HR, 1.061; P = 0.030), male sex (HR, 3.610; P = 0.001), lower forced vital capacity (HR, 0.957; P = 0.002), and a UIP pattern (HR, 4.034; P = 0.002). Our results suggest that high KL-6 levels might be useful as a biomarker for the presence of a UIP pattern and prognosis in patients with RA-ILD.

Interstitial lung disease in advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients treated with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel combination therapy: a retrospective analysis

PURPOSE

Gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel (GnP) combination therapy is a standard regimen for advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) worldwide; however, concerns regarding the unexpectedly high incidence of interstitial lung disease (ILD) have emerged. We investigated the incidence and predictive factors of ILD in PDAC patients who were treated with GnP combination therapy.

METHODS

Thirty-seven patients treated with GnP therapy as either 1st or 2nd line treatment were included, among whom seven developed ILD (18.9%). The clinical characteristics (age, etc.) were compared between patients with and without ILD. The diagnostic yield of the markers to predict the presence of ILD was calculated. The clinical course of the seven patients with ILD was summarized. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test.

RESULTS

The median age was higher in patients with ILD (73.0 vs. 65.0 years old, p = 0.03), while no differences were observed in the other clinical characteristics. Among the three investigated markers, SP-D showed the best diagnostic yield (AUC = 0.94) for diagnosing ILD. Though one patient required steroid therapy and the discontinuation of GnP therapy, all patients could undergo subsequent treatment. In the survival analysis, the median survival time of PDAC patients with ILD was comparable to that of patients without ILD (25.1 vs. 24.5 months, p = 0.98).

CONCLUSION

ILD was observed in 18.9% of PDAC patients treated with GnP therapy. With appropriate management, no prognostic influence was observed.

Impact of radiological honeycombing in rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease

BACKGROUND

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is the most common and important pulmonary manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A radiological honeycomb pattern has been described in diverse forms of ILD that can impact survival. However, the clinical course and sequential radiological changes in the formation of the honeycomb pattern in patients with RA-ILD is not fully understood.

METHODS

We evaluated the sequential changes in computed tomography findings in 40 patients with chronic forms of RA-ILD without the honeycomb pattern at initial diagnosis. We classified the patients into the Non-honeycomb group and Honeycomb group, and then analyzed the characteristics and prognosis of the two groups. The term "honeycomb formation" indicated a positive finding of honeycombing on any available follow-up CT.

RESULTS

Our RA-ILD cohort included patients with probable usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) (35%), nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) (20%), and mixed NSIP/UIP (45%). Among all RA-ILD patients, 16 (40%) showed honeycomb formation on follow-up CT (median time between initial and last follow-up CT was 4.7 years). Patient characteristics and prognosis were not significantly different between the Non-honeycomb and Honeycomb groups. However, Kaplan-Meier survival curve for the time from the date of honeycomb formation to death showed a poor median survival time of 3.2 years.

CONCLUSIONS

A certain number of patients with RA-ILD developed a honeycomb pattern during long-term follow-up, regardless of whether they had UIP or NSIP. Prognosis in the patients with characteristics of both progressive ILD and honeycomb formation could be poor. Although radiological findings over the disease course and clinical disease behavior in RA-ILD are heterogenous, clinicians should be alert to the possibility of progressive disease and poor prognosis in patients with RA-ILD who form a honeycomb pattern during follow-up observation.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the prognosis and prognostic factors of interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features

OBJECTIVE

To clarify the prognosis and prognostic factors of interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF) in comparison to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), the most common idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, and connective tissue disease-associated interstitial pneumonia (CTD-IP).

DESIGN

A systematic review and meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCES

Electronic databases such as Medline and Embase were searched from 2015 through 6 September 2019.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES

Primary studies that comparatively investigated the prognosis or prognostic factors of IPAF were eligible.

DATA EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS

Two reviewers extracted relevant data and assessed the risk of bias independently. A meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects model. The quality of presented evidence was assessed by the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system.

RESULTS

Out of a total of 656 records retrieved, 12 studies were reviewed. The clinical features of IPAF were diverse between studies, which included a radiological and/or pathological usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern of between 0% and 73.8%. All studies contained some risk of bias. There was no significant difference of all-cause mortality between IPAF-UIP and IPF in all studies, although the prognosis of IPAF in contrast to IPF or CTD-IP varied between studies depending on the proportion of UIP pattern. Among the potential prognostic factors identified, age was significantly associated with all-cause mortality of IPAF by a pooled analysis of univariate results with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.06 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04 to 1.07). The adjusted effect of age was also significant in all studies. The quality of presented evidence was deemed as very low.

CONCLUSION

There was no significant difference of all-cause mortality between IPAF-UIP and IPF. Age was deemed as a prognostic factor for all-cause mortality of IPAF. The findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the low quality of the presented evidence.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42018115870.

Imaging Patterns Are Associated with Interstitial Lung Abnormality Progression and Mortality

Rationale: Interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA) are radiologic abnormalities on chest computed tomography scans that have been associated with an early or mild form of pulmonary fibrosis. Although ILA have been associated with radiologic progression, it is not known if specific imaging patterns are associated with progression or risk of mortality. Objectives: To determine the role of imaging patterns on the risk of death and ILA progression. Methods: ILA (and imaging pattern) were assessed in 5,320 participants from the AGES-Reykjavik Study, and ILA progression was assessed in 3,167 participants. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with ILA progression, and Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess time to mortality. Measurements and Main Results: Over 5 years, 327 (10%) had ILA on at least one computed tomography, and 1,435 (45%) did not have ILA on either computed tomography. Of those with ILA, 238 (73%) had imaging progression, whereas 89 (27%) had stable to improved imaging; increasing age and copies of MUC5B genotype were associated with imaging progression. The definite fibrosis pattern was associated with the highest risk of progression (odds ratio, 8.4; 95% confidence interval, 2.7-25; P = 0.0003). Specific imaging patterns were also associated with an increased risk of death. After adjustment, both a probable usual interstitial pneumonia and usual interstitial pneumonia pattern were associated with an increased risk of death when compared with those indeterminate for usual interstitial pneumonia (hazard ratio, 1.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-2.4; P = 0.001; hazard ratio, 3.9; 95% confidence interval, 2.3-6.8;P < 0.0001), respectively. Conclusions: In those with ILA, imaging patterns can be used to help predict who is at the greatest risk of progression and early death.

Influence of Pulmonary Hypertension on Intrahospital Mortality in Lung Transplantation for Interstitial Lung Disease

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a comorbidity associated with interstitial lung disease (ILD). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of PH on intrahospital mortality in lung transplantation (LT) for ILD.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 66 patients who underwent LT for ILD at the 12 de Octubre University Hospital (Madrid, Spain) from October 2008 to June 2014. PH was defined as mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) ≥25 mmHg on right-sided heart catheterization and intrahospital mortality as any death taken place after the transplantation of patients not being discharged.

RESULTS

We retrospectively analyzed data of 66 patients; they were stratified by the presence or absence of PH before LT. Twenty-seven patients (41%) had PH. The PH group had a lower diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO), carbon monoxide transfer coefficient (KCO), and 6-minute walk distance test (6MWT) and a higher total lung capacity (TLC), modified medical research council dyspnea scale (mMRC), and lung allocation score (LAS) than the non-PH group. Patients with PH more often underwent double lung transplantation (DLT; 59%) than single lung transplantation (SLT). Intrahospital mortality was 13% (9/66). No significant differences were observed in Kaplan-Meier survival curves for the PH and non-PH groups with a median survival time of 46 days versus 33 days (IQR 26-74; log-rank P = .056); however, the postoperative length of stay in the hospital was greater in the PH group.

CONCLUSIONS

In our cohort, pulmonary hypertension was not related to early mortality in lung transplantation recipients for interstitial lung diseases.

Outcomes of lung disease-associated pulmonary hypertension and impact of elevated pulmonary vascular resistance

BACKGROUND

The clinical characteristics, hemodynamic changes and outcomes of lung disease-associated pulmonary hypertension (LD-PH) are poorly defined.

METHODS

A prospective cohort of PH patients undergoing initial hemodynamic assessment was collected, from which 51 patients with LD-PH were identified. Baseline characteristics and long-term survival were compared with 83 patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (iPAH).

RESULTS

Mean age (±standard deviation) of LD-PH patients was 64 ± 10 years, 30% were female and 78% were New York Heart Association class III-IV. The LD-PH group was older than the iPAH group (64 ± 10 vs 56 ± 18 years, respectively, P = 0.003) with a lower percentage of women (30% vs 70%, P = 0.007). LD-PH patients had smaller right ventricular sizes (P = 0.02) and less tricuspid regurgitation (P = 0.03) by echocardiogram, and lower mean pulmonary arterial pressures (mPAP) (P = 0.01) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) (P = 0.001) at catheterization. Despite these findings, mortality was equally high in both groups (P = 0.16). 5-year survival was lower in patients with interstitial lung disease compared to those with obstructive pulmonary disease (P = 0.05). Among the LD-PH population, those with mild to moderately elevated mPAP and those with PVR <7 Wood units demonstrated significantly improved survival (P = 0.04 and P = 0.001, respectively). Vasoreactivity was not associated with improved survival (P = 0.64). A PVR ≥7 Wood units was associated with increased risk of mortality (hazard ratio (95% confidence interval), 3.59 (1.27-10.19), P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite less severe PH and less right heart sequelae, LD-PH has an equally poor clinical outcome when compared to iPAH. A PVR ≥7 Wood units in LD-PH patients was associated with 3-fold higher mortality.

Serious adverse events in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in the placebo arms of 6 clinical trials

BACKGROUND

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal interstitial lung disease characterized by irreversible loss of lung function and an unpredictable course of disease progression.

METHODS

The safety data for patients with IPF who received placebo in 6 clinical trials were pooled to examine the categories and frequencies of serious adverse events (SAEs) in this population.

RESULTS

In 1082 patients with IPF who received placebo, 673 SAEs were reported. Of these, 93 SAEs resulted in death (8.6% of patients). Respiratory-related conditions were the most frequently reported SAE (225 events, 16.33 per 100 patient-exposure years [PEY]), followed by infections and infestations (136 events, 9.87 per 100 PEY) and cardiac disorders (79 events, 5.73 per 100 PEY); these categories also had the most fatal outcomes (60, 10, and 10 deaths, respectively). The most frequently reported fatal respiratory-related SAEs were IPF and respiratory failure (38 and 11 patients, respectively), and the most frequently reported fatal infections and infestations and cardiac disorders were pneumonia (5 patients) and myocardial infarction (3 patients), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This pooled analysis has value as a comparator for safety in future studies of IPF and provides insights in the natural evolution of both IPF and common comorbidities.

Clinical characteristics associated with occurrence and poor prognosis of interstitial lung disease in rheumatoid arthritis

BACKGROUND/AIMS

To analyze clinical characteristics of interstitial lung disease (ILD) associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), especially in patients with poor prognosis.

METHODS

Seventy-seven RA patients with ILD and 231 age, sex, and disease duration-matched RA patients without ILD were enrolled in this retrospective study. Epidemiologic, clinical, and laboratory information were obtained through a medical chart review. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the risk of mortality in RA patients with ILD.

RESULTS

Compared to the RA without ILD group, the RA with ILD group had significantly higher titers of rheumatoid factor and the anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (p = 0.001 for both), higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) at the time of RA diagnosis (p = 0.014), and a higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p = 0.022) and CRP levels (p < 0.001) throughout the 10-year follow-up period. These patients also received a higher mean daily dose of corticosteroids (p < 0.001). In the subgroup analysis of RA patients with ILD, 28 patients (36.4%) died during follow-up. Multivariate analysis revealed that older age at the time of ILD diagnosis was significantly associated with mortality. Usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) subtype on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) was also suggested as a poor prognostic factor.

CONCLUSION

The survival of RA patients with ILD is adversely affected by age at the time of ILD diagnosis. RA-ILD patients diagnosed after age 65 or with a UIP subtype on HRCT may have a poor prognosis.

REgistry-based randomized controlled trial of treatment and Duration and mortality in long-term OXygen therapy (REDOX) study protocol

OBJECTIVE

Long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) during 15 h/day or more prolongs survival in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and severe hypoxemia. No randomized controlled trial has evaluated the net effects (benefits or harms) from LTOT 24 h/day compared with 15 h/day or the effect in conditions other than COPD. We describe a multicenter, national, phase IV, non-superiority, registry-based, randomized controlled trial (R-RCT) of LTOT prescribed 24 h/day compared with 15 h/day. The primary endpoint is all-cause-mortality at 1 year. Secondary endpoints include cause-specific mortality, hospitalizations, health-related quality of life, symptoms, and outcomes in interstitial lung disease.

METHODS/DESIGN

Patients qualifying for LTOT are randomized to LTOT 24 h/day versus 15 h/day during 12 months using the Swedish Register for Respiratory Failure (Swedevox). Planned sample size in this pragmatic study is 2126 randomized patients. Clinical follow-up and concurrent treatments are according to routine clinical practice. Mortality, hospitalizations, and incident diseases are assessed using national Swedish registries with expected complete follow-up. Patient-reported outcomes are assessed using postal questionnaire at 3 and 12 months.

DISCUSSION

The R-RCT approach combines the advantages of a prospective randomized trial and large clinical national registries for enrollment, allocation, and data collection, with the aim of improving the evidence-based use of LTOT.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinical Trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov , Title: REgistry-based Treatment Duration and Mortality in Long-term OXygen Therapy (REDOX); ID: NCT03441204.

Life-threatening complications after pulmonary resection for lung cancer in patients on chronic hemodialysis

PURPOSE

The morbidity and mortality associated with lung cancer surgery in patients on chronic hemodialysis (CHD) is high; however, the relationship between the severity of postoperative complications and clinicopathological features is unclear.

METHODS

Among 1214 consecutive patients who underwent pulmonary resection for primary lung cancer in our institute between 2004 and 2015, we identified 21 patients on CHD, who were the subjects of this study. Life-threatening postoperative complications were defined as grade 4 and 5 per the Clavien-Dindo classification.

RESULTS

Fourteen (67%) of these 21 patients suffered postoperative complications, which were life threatening in 5. There was a higher frequency of interstitial pneumonia (IP) in the patients with life-threatening postoperative complications than in those with complications that were not life threatening (p = 0.032). The rates of acute exacerbation and 90-day mortality in the patients with IP were 50% and 75%, respectively. The overall survival (OS) rate of the patients with life-threatening postoperative complications was significantly lower than that of those with complications that were not life threatening (1- and 3-year OS rates: 40% and 0% vs. 80% and 57%, respectively, p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative mortality and morbidity were high in patients on CHD who underwent pulmonary resection, especially if they had coexisting IP. Although IP is not a contraindication to pulmonary resection, the surgical strategy for CHD patients with IP should be considered carefully.

Rising stars of DPLD survival: FVC and exercise desaturation (a single-center study)

Background/aim

Diffuse parenchymal lung diseases (DPLDs) comprise a broad, heterogeneous group of diseases with common functional characteristics and a common final pathway, usually leading to irreversible fibrosis. We investigated the effects of the physiological and functional parameters and of pulmonary hypertension (PH) on survival in DPLDs.

Materials and methods

The study included 158 patients with DPLDs. Patient data were examined retrospectively, and survival status was obtained through phone calls.

Results

Patients were divided into five groups according to their diagnosis: idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), non-IPF idiopathic interstitial pneumonias, connective tissue diseases, sarcoidosis, and other DPLDs. Median survival was 42.9 months. The significant negative effects of older age, presence of delta saturation (DeltaSat; difference between oxygen saturation at rest and after the 6-min walking test), 6-min walking distance (<350 m), systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP; ≥50 mmHg), and baseline percentage of diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (<80%) with percentage of forced vital capacity (FVC%; <80%) were detected on survival (P < 0.05). A one-unit decrease in FVC% was related to a 6% increase in mortality. Another unique finding indicated that higher DeltaSat (>10%) correlated strongly with sPAP (>50 mmHg) and thus with a worse survival rate.

Conclusion

The current study determined that FVC% is important in the prediction of mortality. Moreover, it demonstrated a strong relationship between exercise desaturation and PH.

Outcomes and Mortality Prediction Model of Critically Ill Adults With Acute Respiratory Failure and Interstitial Lung Disease

BACKGROUND

We aimed to examine short- and long-term mortality in a mixed population of patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) with acute respiratory failure, and to identify those at lower vs higher risk of in-hospital death.

METHODS

We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study of 126 consecutive adults with ILD admitted to an ICU for respiratory failure at a tertiary care hospital between 2010 and 2014 and who did not undergo lung transplantation during their hospitalization. We examined associations of ICU-day 1 characteristics with in-hospital and 1-year mortality, using Poisson regression, and examined survival using Kaplan-Meier curves. We created a risk score for in-hospital mortality, using a model developed with penalized regression.

RESULTS

In-hospital mortality was 66%, and 1-year mortality was 80%. Those with connective tissue disease-related ILD had better short-term and long-term mortality compared with unclassifiable ILD (adjusted relative risk, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.3-0.9; and relative risk, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.4-0.9, respectively). Our prediction model includes male sex, interstitial pulmonary fibrosis diagnosis, use of invasive mechanical ventilation and/or extracorporeal life support, no ambulation within 24 h of ICU admission, BMI, and Simplified Acute Physiology Score-II. The optimism-corrected C-statistic was 0.73, and model calibration was excellent (P = .99). In-hospital mortality rates for the low-, moderate-, and high-risk groups were 33%, 65%, and 96%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

We created a risk score that classifies patients with ILD with acute respiratory failure from low to high risk for in-hospital mortality. The score could aid providers in counseling these patients and their families.

Assessing Mortality Models in Systemic Sclerosis-Related Interstitial Lung Disease

PURPOSE

The gender, age, and lung physiology (GAP) model, interstitial lung diseases-GAP (ILD-GAP) model, and the smoking history, age, and diffusion capacity of the lung (SADL) model were compared using a systemic sclerosis-ILD (SSc-ILD) cohort to evaluate which best determined prognosis.

METHODS

The models were applied to a cohort of 179 patients with SSc seen at a tertiary care center within 1 year of ILD diagnosis. Demographics, clinical characteristics, and mortality were recorded. The performance of the models was assessed using standardized mortality ratios (SMR) of observed versus predicted outcomes for calibration and concordance (c)-statistics for discrimination.

RESULTS

SSc-ILD patients with usual interstitial pneumonia (31, 17%) had a higher mortality than those with non-specific interstitial pneumonia (147, 83%) (hazard ratio 2.27; 95%CI 1.03-4.97). All 3 models had comparable discrimination (c = 0.72, 0.72, and 0.71, respectively). Regarding calibration, the ILD-GAP model underestimated mortality (SMR 1.50; 95%CI 1.05-2.14). Calibration was acceptable for SADL (SMR 1.00; 95%CI 0.70-1.44) and GAP (SMR 0.90; 95%CI 0.63-1.29). The SADL model underestimated mortality in Stage I ILD.

CONCLUSIONS

The ILD-GAP model underestimated mortality, and the SADL model underestimated mortality in certain subgroups. However, the GAP model performed well in this cohort, providing the best prognostic information for SSc-ILD.

Trends and Patterns of Differences in Chronic Respiratory Disease Mortality Among US Counties, 1980-2014

IMPORTANCE

Chronic respiratory diseases are an important cause of death and disability in the United States.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate age-standardized mortality rates by county from chronic respiratory diseases.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Validated small area estimation models were applied to deidentified death records from the National Center for Health Statistics and population counts from the US Census Bureau, National Center for Health Statistics, and Human Mortality Database to estimate county-level mortality rates from 1980 to 2014 for chronic respiratory diseases.

EXPOSURE

County of residence.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Age-standardized mortality rates by county, year, sex, and cause.

RESULTS

A total of 4 616 711 deaths due to chronic respiratory diseases were recorded in the United States from January 1, 1980, through December 31, 2014. Nationally, the mortality rate from chronic respiratory diseases increased from 40.8 (95% uncertainty interval [UI], 39.8-41.8) deaths per 100 000 population in 1980 to a peak of 55.4 (95% UI, 54.1-56.5) deaths per 100 000 population in 2002 and then declined to 52.9 (95% UI, 51.6-54.4) deaths per 100 000 population in 2014. This overall 29.7% (95% UI, 25.5%-33.8%) increase in chronic respiratory disease mortality from 1980 to 2014 reflected increases in the mortality rate from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (by 30.8% [95% UI, 25.2%-39.0%], from 34.5 [95% UI, 33.0-35.5] to 45.1 [95% UI, 43.7-46.9] deaths per 100 000 population), interstitial lung disease and pulmonary sarcoidosis (by 100.5% [95% UI, 5.8%-155.2%], from 2.7 [95% UI, 2.3-4.2] to 5.5 [95% UI, 3.5-6.1] deaths per 100 000 population), and all other chronic respiratory diseases (by 42.3% [95% UI, 32.4%-63.8%], from 0.51 [95% UI, 0.48-0.54] to 0.73 [95% UI, 0.69-0.78] deaths per 100 000 population). There were substantial differences in mortality rates and changes in mortality rates over time among counties, and geographic patterns differed by cause. Counties with the highest mortality rates were found primarily in central Appalachia for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pneumoconiosis; widely dispersed throughout the Southwest, northern Great Plains, New England, and South Atlantic for interstitial lung disease; along the southern half of the Mississippi River and in Georgia and South Carolina for asthma; and in southern states from Mississippi to South Carolina for other chronic respiratory diseases.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Despite recent declines in mortality from chronic respiratory diseases, mortality rates in 2014 remained significantly higher than in 1980. Between 1980 and 2014, there were important differences in mortality rates and changes in mortality by county, sex, and particular chronic respiratory disease type. These estimates may be helpful for informing efforts to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Prognostic factors and outcomes in Japanese lung transplant candidates with interstitial lung disease

Objective

Young patients with advanced interstitial lung disease (ILD) are potential candidates for cadaveric lung transplantation. This study aimed to examine clinical features, outcomes, and prognostic factors in Japanese ILD patients awaiting lung transplantation.

Methods

We investigated the clinical features and outcomes of 77 consecutive candidates with ILD who were referred to Kyoto University Hospital and subsequently actively listed for lung transplant in the Japan Organ Transplant Network between 2010 and 2014.

Results

Of the 77 candidates, 33 had idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and 15 had unclassifiable ILD. During the observational period, 23 patients (30%) received lung transplantations and 49 patients (64%) died before transplantation. Of the 33 patients with IPF, 13 (39%) had a family history of ILD and 13 (39%) had an “inconsistent with usual interstitial pneumonia pattern” on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). The median survival time from registration was 16.7 months, and mortality was similar among patients with IPF, unclassifiable ILD, and other ILDs. Using a multivariate stepwise Cox proportional hazards model, 6-min walking distance was shown to be an independent prognostic factor in candidates with ILD (per 10 m, hazard ratio (HR): 0.97; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.95–0.99, p<0.01), while lower body mass index (HR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.72–0.95, p < 0.01) independently contributed to mortality in patients with IPF.

Conclusions

Japanese patients with ILD awaiting transplantation had very poor outcomes regardless of their specific diagnosis. A substantial percentage of IPF patients had an atypical HRCT pattern. 6-min walking distance in ILD patients and body mass index in IPF patients were independent predictors of mortality.

Clinical characteristics of Japanese candidates for lung transplant for interstitial lung disease and risk factors for early death while on the waiting list

BACKGROUND

Lung transplants have produced very favorable outcomes for patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) in Japan. However, because of the severe donor lung shortage, patients must wait approximately 2.5 years before they can undergo transplantation and many candidates die before allocation. We reveal the clinical characteristics of Japanese patients with ILD who are candidates for lung transplants and the risk factors for early death while on the waiting list.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of patients registered in the Japan Organ Transplant Network from Okayama University Hospital who are candidates for cadaveric lung transplants for ILD between 1999 and 2015.

RESULTS

Fifty-three patients with ILD were included (24 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and 29 others). They had severe pulmonary dysfunction and low exercise tolerability. The median waiting time for transplantation was 462 days, and 22 patients died before allocation. Patients who died before 462 days without undergoing transplantation had more severe dyspnea, shorter 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), and lower performance status than those who waited ≥462 days.

CONCLUSIONS

Japanese candidates for cadaveric lung transplants for ILD have severe pulmonary dysfunction. Severe dyspnea, short 6MWD, and low performance status are risk factors for early death while on the waiting list.

[Perioperative Management of Patients with Pulmonary Comorbidities Undergoing Lung Resection]

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) are 2 major pulmonary comorbidities of primary lung cancer patients. The COPD patients are at risk for respiratory failure after a major lung resection when lung resection exceeds the patient's pulmonary reserve. It is important to assess a postoperative risk based on the patient's cardiopulmonary function. Cardiac risks are initially evaluated for all the candidates for lung resection, then, ppoFEV1% and ppoDLco% are calculated. If these 2 parameters are not satisfactory, cardiopulmonary exercise test is required to assess the risk. Adequate treatment for COPD should be given to the patients through the perioperative period. ILD is another major comorbidity of lung cancer patients, and its acute exacerbation (AE) is the leading cause of postoperative death. The Japanese Association of Chest Surgery proposed a risk scoring system for predicting postoperative AE. Currently there is no reliable management to prevent or ameliorate postoperative AE. Methylprednisolone pulse therapy is empirically performed as a treatment for AE with controversial evaluation. Pirfenidone and some other drugs are expected to reduce the occurrence of postoperative AE, however, further studies will be needed to confirm the efficacy and the safety.

Association of serum levels of laminin, type IV collagen, procollagen III N-terminal peptide, and hyaluronic acid with the progression of interstitial lung disease

Noninvasive and convenient tests to assess pulmonary fibrosis and disease progression in interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are currently unavailable. The extracellular matrix molecules, laminin (LN), type IV collagen (IVC), procollagen III N-terminal peptide (PIIINP), and hyaluronic acid (HA) are involved in ILD development and progression. This study aims to investigate the association of disease progression and serum levels of LN, IVC, PIIINP, and HA in patients with ILD. This retrospective study included 323 patients (162 cases of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis [IPF] and 161 cases of connective tissue diseases ILD [CTD-ILD]) treated in Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital between January 2013 and January 2015 and 160 healthy controls. Serum LN, IVC, PIIINP, and HA were analyzed by radioimmunoassay. Data of the percentage of forced vital capacity in the prediction value (FVC%pred), the percentage of diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide in the prediction value (DLCO%pred), high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) score, and patient mortality were collected. Serum LN, IVC, PIIINP, and HA were significantly increased in the patients with IPF or CTD-ILD compared with the healthy controls (all P < .05) and were further elevated in the acute exacerbation cases (all P < .05). Serum LN, IVC, PIIINP, and HA positively correlated with HRCT score and negatively correlated with FVC%pred and DLCO%pred significantly in the patients (all P < .05). The survived patients had significantly lower serum LN, IVC, PIIINP, and HA than the dead patients (all P < .05). Serum levels of LN, IVC, PIIINP, and HA may reflect ILD progression and may be indicators for the severity of ILDs.

High resolution computed tomography pattern of usual interstitial pneumonia in rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease: Relationship to survival

PURPOSE

Interstitial lung disease is a common extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA-ILD) and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. However, limited data exist regarding predictors of mortality. We sought to examine the prognostic value of the high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) patterns in patients with RA-ILD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RA-ILD patients with HRCT patterns of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) or nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) were identified among a longitudinal cohort of individuals evaluated at National Jewish Health. A total of 158 subjects were included in the study. For each subject, the earliest available HRCT was reviewed independently by two expert thoracic radiologists blinded to clinical data. HRCT patterns were classified as demonstrating definite UIP, possible UIP, or NSIP. Kaplan-Meier curves were generated and survival was compared among the three patterns using a log rank test for trend.

RESULTS

One hundred subjects (63%) had HRCT findings classified as definite UIP, 23 (15%) as possible UIP and 35 (22%) as NSIP. No difference in survival was seen between subjects with definite UIP versus those with possible UIP. The combined group of subjects with either definite- or possible UIP had significantly worse survival than those with NSIP (log-rank p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with RA-ILD, patients with either definite UIP or possible UIP have equally poor survival when compared to those with an NSIP pattern.

Interstitial Lung Disease Associated With Crizotinib in Patients With Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Independent Review of Four PROFILE Trials

INTRODUCTION

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a rare, but potentially serious, side effect associated with crizotinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor for anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive (ALK⁺) advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Our objective was to determine the incidence and nature of ILD associated with crizotinib in 4 PROFILE trials (ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers, NCT00585195, NCT00932451, NCT00932893, and NCT01154140).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Grade ≥ 3 respiratory adverse events (AEs) and serious AEs (SAEs) and any grade AEs/SAEs reported as pneumonitis, ILD, or radiation pneumonitis in trials PROFILE 1001, PROFILE 1005, PROFILE 1007, and PROFILE 1014 were evaluated by an expert independent review committee that included a pulmonologist, medical oncologist, and radiologist. Events were designated as disease progression, de novo ILD possibly or probably related to crizotinib, exacerbation or recurrence of pre-existing ILD, concurrent illness, other toxicity not thought to be related to ILD, or inconclusive.

RESULTS

The independent review committee evaluated 446 events (in 368 of 1669 patients who had received crizotinib therapy). They classified these events as follows: progressive disease, 77; de novo ILD, 20; pre-existing ILD, 3; concurrent illness, 9; other toxicities, 310; and inconclusive, 27. The incidence of de novo ILD was 1.2% overall, 1.3% in whites, and 1.2% overall in Asians, but greater at 3.7% in Japanese patients. The median onset of ILD from the initiation of crizotinib therapy was 23 days (range, 3-763 days). The mortality rate due to ILD was 50%. Survival was improved if crizotinib was discontinued on presentation of ILD (9 of 14 patients) compared with discontinued later or continued (1 of 6 patients).

CONCLUSION

ILD associated with crizotinib, although rare, can occur at any time and requires close monitoring.

The Value of Biomarkers as Predictors of Outcome in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis-Associated Usual Interstitial Pneumonia

BACKGROUND

Because of the highly variable clinical course of rheumatoid arthritis-associated usual interstitial pneumonia (RA-UIP), the prediction of patient prognosis is important.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of blood biomarkers as prognostic predictors in the patients with RA-UIP.

METHODS

The blood levels of biomarkers (Krebs von den Lungen-6 [KL-6], surfactant protein-A [SP-A], matrix metalloproteinase-7 [MMP-7], interleukin-6 [IL-6], and interleukin-32 [IL-32]) were retrospectively compared with the clinical courses of 62 patients with RA-UIP.

RESULTS

The median follow-up period was 33.4 months. RA-UIP progressed in 15 patients (45.2%) during one year of follow-up. We found that KL-6 and IL-6 were significant predictors of short-term (1 year) prognosis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the odds ratio (OR) for KL-6 was 1.001 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.000-1.003, p = 0.077) and that the OR for IL-6 was 1.040 (95% CI: 1.002-1.080, p = 0.039) for short-term disease progression. The addition of KL-6 and IL-6 to the clinical parameters (concordance index [C-index]: 0.958, p = 0.053) predicted short-term disease progression better than the clinical parameter alone (C-index: 0.853). In addition, patients with high levels of KL-6 (≥933 U/mL) had shorter survival than those with low levels of KL-6 (<933 U/mL) (median survival: 51 vs. 96 months, p = 0.019).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this retrospective study suggested that KL-6 and IL-6 could be used as predictors of short-term disease progression. In addition, high levels of KL-6 could be used as a predictor of mortality. Additional studies involving a larger patient cohort are warranted.

HMGB1 May Be a Biomarker for Predicting the Outcome in Patients with Polymyositis /Dermatomyositis with Interstitial Lung Disease

Objective

To investigate the significance of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) levels in polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) patients with interstitial lung disease and whether HMGB1 levels could predict disease outcome.

Methods

HMGB1 levels were measured in sera from 34 patients with PM/DM and from 34 healthy controls by ELISA.

Results

Significantly higher serum levels of HMGB1 were found in patients with PM [12.75 ng/ml (4.34–25.07 ng/ml), p < 0.001] and DM [20.75 ng/ml (3.80–124.88 ng/ml), p < 0.001] than in healthy controls [5.64 ng/ml (2.71–8.71 ng/ml)]. Importantly, the average HMGB1 level in PM/DM patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) was 25.84 ng/ml, which is significantly higher than that in PM/DM patients without ILD [12.68 ng/ml] (p < 0.05). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed that the serum HMGB1 cutoff value that best discriminated PM/DM patients with ILD from those without ILD was 14.5ng/ml. The area under the curve was 0.87±0.05, and the 95% Confidence interval (CI) was 0.77–0.98. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of this serum HMGB1 cutoff level was 84.6% and 89% respectively. Patients with higher levels of HMGB1 expression had lower overall survival rates and disease-free survival rates, whereas patients with lower levels of HMGB1 expression had higher survival rates.

Conclusion

Multivariate analysis showed that HMGB1 expression is a prognostic indicator for patient survival. These data support the notion that HMGB1 overexpression is involved in PM/DM progression for patients with ILD and is relative to its poor clinical outcomes.

The Utility of Open Lung Biopsy in Patients With Diffuse Pulmonary Infiltrates as Related to Respiratory Distress, Its Impact on Decision Making by Urgent Intervention, and the Diagnostic Accuracy Based on the Biopsy Location

Patients with diffuse pulmonary infiltrates (DPI), especially those who present with respiratory distress (RD), may benefit from early open lung biopsy (OLB) to guide management. Benefits of urgent OLB would be expected by saving the time to reach accurate specific diagnoses. The objectives of this study were (1) to evaluate the impact of OLB between patients presenting with and without RD, (2) to focus on the impact of an urgent OLB as compared to an elective OLB, and (3) to compare the different yields of specific diagnoses in the middle lobe or lingula as compared to the other lobes. Thirty-four patients (17 patients presented with RD and 17 patients did not) with an average age of 43 years who presented with DPI were selected to undergo an OLB. An urgent OLB was performed in 11unselected patients. Twelve specimens from the middle lobe or lingula were compared to 25 specimens from the other lobes. The impact of the OLB results on decision making did not differ significantly between patients with and without RD. Patients with RD suffered a higher in-hospital mortality rate, OLB-related complications, and longer mechanical ventilation requirements than the patients without RD. The impact on decision making and complications between urgent OLB and elective OLB was comparable. The diagnostic yield from biopsy sites in the middle lobe or lingula resembled those specimens from the other lobes. The authors conclude that OLB may play a role in decision making for patients with DPI. However, OLB makes no difference in decision making between patients with and without RD. Patients with RD undergoing OLB procedures may suffer a poorer outcome. Urgent OLB may not benefit patients with DPI in decision making. The biopsy site does not appear to affect the accuracy of the diagnostic yield from an OLB procedure.

Elective Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Lung Biopsy for Interstitial Lung Disease

Lung biopsy is often required for the definitive subtype classification of interstitial lung disease. The video-assisted thoracoscopic approach has been advocated as an alternative to standard open lung biopsy because it is less invasive; however, whether it makes a positive contribution to treatment strategy remains contentious. We investigated the safety and efficacy of the video-assisted approach in a retrospective review of 30 consecutive patients who underwent the procedure in an elective setting after being diagnosed with interstitial lung disease by chest radiography and computed tomography. The mean age of the patients was 56.7 years. The preoperative vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 second were 80.0% and 83.6%, respectively. There was no operative mortality, but 2 cases of respiratory failure and 1 of prolonged air leak occurred. The diagnostic yield was 100%, and treatment was changed in 57% of the cases as a result of the histological diagnosis. The rate of treatment change was higher for patients with nonspecific interstitial pneumonia than for those with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. We conclude that video-assisted biopsy is effective in the subtyping of interstitial lung disease and is a safe procedure when performed electively at the early stage of the disease.