1/19. Serosal complications of single-agent low-dose methotrexate used in gestational trophoblastic diseases: first reported case of methotrexate-induced peritonitis.methotrexate (MTX) is a folate antagonist widely used both as an anticancer drug and as an immunosupressant. Administration of an 8-day methotrexate and folinic acid regime may be associated with pleuritic chest pain and pneumonitis. We have reviewed the toxicity seen in 168 consecutive patients treated with low-dose MTX for persistent trophoblastic disease. Twenty-five per cent of patients developed serosal symptoms, pleurisy was the commonest complaint. The majority of patients had mild to moderate symptoms which were controlled with simple analgesia and did not necessitate a change in treatment; 11.9% had severe symptoms which necessitated a change in treatment. One patient developed a pericardial effusion and a second patient developed severe reversible peritoneal irritation. The possible aetiology and pathophysiology of methotrexate-induced serosal toxicity is discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = pneumonitis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/19. Pulmonary migratory infiltrates and pachypleuritis in a patient with Crohn's disease.Crohn's disease can be associated with several respiratory manifestations. We report here a case of pulmonary migratory infiltrates associated with bilateral pleural thickening and peripheral eosinophilia. The histopathological findings show an association of necrotizing nodules, eosinophilic infiltration in the non-abscessed lung tissue, areas of non-caseating epithelioid granulomas, and an extensive pleural fibrosis. The different histopathological findings are detailed and the responsibility of either Crohn's disease or treatment by mesalazine is discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.01552334550705keywords = fibrosis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/19. Pleuropericarditis and disseminated intravascular coagulation in ulcerative colitis.We report a 30-year-old woman with pleuropericarditis, cardiac tamponade, and disseminated intravascular coagulation complicating active ulcerative colitis (UC). Other autoimmune diseases were not present. She responded to pulsed steroid therapy and anticoagulant with resolution of the complication and UC. We reviewed the literature and found 27 cases of pleuropericarditis associated with idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It has been reported that pleuropericarditis associated with IBD responds well to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, as well as steroids. The causes of cardiac involvement in IBD remain unclear, but the pleuropericarditis must be recognized as a potential extraintestinal manifestation of IBD.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.014076129952066keywords = idiopathic (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/19. Bilateral massive pleural effusions caused by uremic pleuritis.A 61-year-old man was started on hemodialysis in June 1998. Just after the commencement of dialysis, a chest x-ray film revealed bilateral pleural effusions. The effusions were hemorrhagic and exudative, and did not respond to dialysis. He was transferred to our university hospital on October 8,1998. Repeated thoracentesis demonstrated hemorrhagic and exudative characteristics without any diagnostic evidence. Pleural biopsies showed fibrosis and lymphocyte infiltration. The effusions were massive and did not respond to treatments including hemodialysis, repeatedly performed pleurodesis and the administration of antituberculous drugs. He died of respiratory failure on December 30, 1998. The autopsy confirmed bilateral fibrinous pleuritis without any underlying infections or malignancy. We diagnosed this case as uremic pleuritis from this clinical course and the autopsy findings. The clinical entity of uremic pleuritis was recognized as a complication of patients with hemodialysis in 1969. Uremic pleuritis generally responds to continued hemodialysis and the prognosis is usually good. However, some case reports demonstrated that surgical decortication is only indicated in cases with a severe clinical course. The clinical course of the present case was progressive and fatal. Uremic pleuritis is a serious complication of hemodialysis, which may lead to death.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.01552334550705keywords = fibrosis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/19. Fibrothorax and severe lung restriction secondary to lupus pleuritis and its successful treatment by pleurectomy.Pleural disease is a common pulmonary manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) that usually responds to corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive agents. In the present report, a new approach, pleural decortication, was used in a patient with medically refractory chronic pleuritis secondary to severe SLE. A 26-year-old woman with known SLE developed progressive dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain over several months. The other systemic manifestations of her lupus were controlled with cyclophosphamide and prednisone. A computed tomography scan revealed a persistent, small, loculated right pleural effusion; pleural thickening; and atelectasis of the right middle and lower lobes. Pulmonary function tests showed a severe restrictive defect. The patient was disabled by her severe dyspnea despite maximal medical therapy, and, therefore, surgery was considered. A right thoracotomy revealed entrapment of the right lung by dense visceral pleura. Decortication was performed. On pathology, pleuritis with vascular pleural adhesions was found. No lupus pneumonitis was noted. Postoperatively, a significant clinical improvement in dyspnea was evident within several weeks. On a 6 min walk test, the patient achieved 384 m with a Borg dyspnea scale rating of 2 compared with 220 m and a Borg dyspnea scale rating of 4 preoperatively. Her forced vital capacity improved from 24% predicted to 47% predicted, and her total lung capacity improved from 35% predicted to 54% predicted. Medical therapy of systemic lupus erythematosus has been proven to be effective in controlling pleuritis in most cases. However, in the event of refractory pleuritis or pleural thickening, decortication may be a viable alternative.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = pneumonitis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/19. Severe hemorrhagic complication of talc pleurodesis for idiopathic pleural effusion.talc is a commonly used sclerosing agent for pleurodesis. However, there have been recent reports of a number of complications associated with the use of talc. Although there is significant data regarding the respiratory complications associated with talc, reports of bleeding complications are extremely rare. We present the case of a 78 year-old man who was treated with talc pleurodesis for recurrent pleural effusion and subsequently developed a massive hemothorax, a rare complication.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.056304519808264keywords = idiopathic (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/19. Immunosuppressant-responsive idiopathic lymphocytic pleuritis.Lymphocyte-dominant pleural inflammation is seen in tuberculous, malignant and immune-mediated pleural disease. We describe two male patients who presented with chest pain and dyspnoea, in whom radiological and histological investigations showed idiopathic lymphocytic pleuritis that responded to immunosuppressive therapy with corticosteroids and/or azathioprine. Corticosteroid-responsive pleuritis has been described in association with many conditions, but little is known of idiopathic lymphocytic pleuritis. The authors suggest that patients with idiopathic pleural thickening undergo early thoracoscopic pleural biopsy, and that immunosuppressant therapy be considered for patients with idiopathic lymphocytic pleuritis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.11260903961653keywords = idiopathic (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/19. Metal fume fever presenting as aseptic meningitis with pericarditis, pleuritis and pneumonitis.BACKGROUND: Metal fume fever (MFF) is a well-known complication of zinc oxide fume inhalation. Prompt recognition of this condition is essential for the proper medical management of this self-limited disease. AIM: To present a unique and unusual case of MFF. RESULTS: Our patient is a 25-year-old male welder who had MFF and presented with aseptic meningitis with pericarditis, pleuritis and pneumonitis. To our knowledge, this is the first case of MMF presenting with these signs and symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: MFF can present with a systemic inflammatory response causing a multi-organ serositis. Our case highlights the utmost importance of obtaining an occupational history on all our patients, even if they are critically ill.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = pneumonitis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/19. Spontaneous pulmonary interstitial emphysema in a term unventilated infant.Pulmonary interstitial emphysema (PIE) is a form of air block most frequently seen in ventilated preterm infants with severe lung disease; it is rarely reported in spontaneously breathing term infants. We report on an infant previously diagnosed with laryngomalacia and congestive heart failure and with evidence of antenatal stroke before the onset of pulmonary disease. He presented at 6 weeks of age with spontaneous pneumothorax. Focal cystic changes were seen on imaging studies of the lungs. There was no prior history of mechanical ventilation. Prior chest x-rays did not show cystic changes. He subsequently underwent resection of the affected lung areas. Pathologic examination revealed persistent PIE with cystic expansion, pleural blebs, and reactive pleuritis, as well as subpleural air-space enlargement. The patient did well postoperatively and was discharged home without further problems. This case demonstrates that PIE can occur in an infant without any history of mechanical ventilation, suggesting the need for a high index of suspicion for PIE, even in nonventilated and spontaneously breathing term neonates. PIE should be included in the differential diagnosis of cystic lung lesions in all young infants.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.31099664172701keywords = interstitial (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/19. Bilateral exudative pleuritis, an unusual pulmonary onset of mixed connective tissue disease.In mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) pulmonary involvement has been reported. In most patients diffuse interstitial pulmonary abnormalities are present. We describe an unusual pulmonary onset of MCTD in an 18-year-old woman. She presented with a bilateral pleural exudate containing many granulocytes (95%) and only a few monocytes (5%). High titers of antinuclear antibodies were found. One week after hospitalization, an erythema on both hands and forearms developed. skin biopsy demonstrated discrete IgM-C3 depositions along the basal membrane of the epidermis, antinuclear antibodies in the nuclei of the keratocytes in the dermis and granular depositions of IgM in the blood vessel walls of the upper dermis. Lung function tests improved without corticosteroid treatment and diffusing capacity remained normal.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.062199328345403keywords = interstitial (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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