老年冠心病和扩张型心肌病心率变异性改变对比分析

目的了解冠心病（CAD）和扩张型心肌病（DCM）心率变异性（HRV）改变特点,探讨HRV在评估CAD和DCM病情、预后方面的作用及意义。方法所有121例CAD患者、49例DCM患者及62例正常对照组均行冠状动脉造影和超声心动图检查确定和排除CAD、DCM,所有病例均行24小时动态心电图检查并计算HRV时域各指标：SDNN、SDANNind、SDNNind、rMSSD、PNN50。结果CAD、DCM患者的HRV均比正常对照组明显降低（分别为SDNN：98．8±28．9,75．7±18．9VS137．3±34．2;SDANNind：88．8±27．9,67．3±17．8VS125．6±34．6：SDNNind：39．6±15．1,30．9±8．7VS55．7±18．9;rMSSD：23．4±11．7,22．8±9．8VS33．1±19．7：PNN50：4．4±5．9,3．2±3．9VS10.3±12．9）;DCM患者HRV降低最显著,且显著低于CAD患者;当CAD患者合并高咀压病和糖尿病时,HRV进一步下降,与DCM患者下降程度相同。结论CAD和DCM患者均有不同程度的自主神经功能损害;DCM患者、CAD合并高血压病和糖尿病患者的HRV下降更显著,其自主神经损害更显著。     

Association between fluorescent antinuclear antibodies, capillary patterns, and clinical features in scleroderma spectrum disorders

Antinuclear antibody and in vivo capillary patterns were studied in 33 patients with Raynaud's phenomenon only and in 68 patients with scleroderma spectrum disorders; the results were correlated with clinical and laboratory findings. In addition, antinuclear antibody results in the groups with Raynaud's phenomenon only and scleroderma spectrum disorders were compared with those found in 70 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Distinct antinuclear antibody profiles were observed in the three diagnostic groups. Comparison of patients with anticentromere antibodies with others in the group with scleroderma spectrum disorders demonstrated that anticentromere antibody-positive patients tended to have a milder disease: less skin and visceral involvement, less frequent presence of hypertension, anemia, and elevated sedimentation rate. These differences did not, however, reach statistical significance. Comparison of patients with scleroderma spectrum disorders according to in vivo capillary patterns revealed that those with an "active" pattern had significantly more extensive skin involvement than those with a "slow" pattern. Visceral involvement tended to be greater in all organ systems in the group with an "active" pattern and reached statistical significance for muscle and kidney. Hypertension was also significantly more frequent in the group with an "active" pattern than in the group with a "slow" one. The latter was positively correlated with the presence of anticentromere antibody.     

慢性乙型肝炎、肝硬化和肝衰竭患者肠道菌群变化研究*

目的 探讨慢性乙型肝炎（CHB）、肝硬化(LC)和肝衰竭(LF)患者肠道菌群的结构差异。方法 纳入CHB患者23例,失代偿期LC患者20例,LF患者6例和成年健康人9例,采用粪便细菌基因组DNA提取试剂盒提取粪便肠道菌群DNA,应用16SrDNA测序技术检测肠道菌群。应用相关生物学软件和统计学软件对测序结果进行分析。结果 肠道菌群门分类水平分析显示,每个样本均以拟杆菌门为主,其次为变形菌门;CHB组拟杆菌门丰度 （617.83）显著高于LC组（343.16）、LF组（182.15）和健康组（236.66）,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;LC组变形菌门丰度（183.16）多于CHB组（35.86）、LF组（18.87）和健康组（53.40,P<0.05）;属分类水平显示,CHB组、LC组和LF组均以拟杆菌属为主,其次为普氏菌属、梭菌属;CHB组普氏菌属丰度（345.28）较LC组（46.75）、LF组（5.63）和健康组（20.14）明显增多,LC组拟杆菌属丰度最少（150.28,P<0.05）。结论 CHB、LC和LF患者肠道菌群结构有显著性差异。拟杆菌为肠道优势菌群,在各样本中菌群丰度发生了变化,了解这些变化可能有助于对疾病发生和处理的认识。     

Identification of Potential Regulatory Regions in the Renin Gene

Circadian blood pressure (BP) variation were studied in patients with renovascular hypertension (RVH) and primary aldosteronism (PA). Ambulatory BP (ABP) was monitored every 5 min for 24 hrs in a ward setting in 23 patients with PA and 17 patients with RVH (13 patients with unilateral renal arterial stenosis and 4 with bilateral stenosis). In patients with RVH, ABP was monitored before and after treatment with a converting enzyme inhibitor or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. Plasma renin activity (PRA) was high before percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in almost all patients with RVH and low in those with PA. Ordinary circadian BP variation, i.e. nocturnal fall and diurnal rise in BP, was confirmed in the patients with unilateral or bilateral renal artery stenosis. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty successfully normalized both BP and PRA in those with RVH. Normal circadian BP variation was observed in those with RVH before the treatment with a converting enzyme inhibitor or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty as well as during treatment with the former and after treatment with the latter. Circadian BP variation in the patients with RVH was affected by the pathogenesis of renal artery stenosis alone, i.e, fibromuscular hyperplasia and atherosclerosis; with fibromuscular hyperplasia normal circadian BP variation was observed, while with atherosclerosis, nocturnal BP fall was restricted or eliminated. Circadian BP variation in those with PA before and after excision of adrenal adenoma was essentially similar to that in normal subjects and essential hypertensive patients. From these it seems that in patients with RVH or PA, circadian BP variation is not affected by hypertension per se or by pathogenesis of hypertension.     

阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征合并高血压患者血浆内皮素1、血管性假血友病因子及血栓调节蛋白的水平研究

目的 研究阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征(obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome,OSAHS)及OSAHS合并高血压血浆内皮素1(endothelin-1,ET-1)、血栓调节蛋白(thrombomodulin,TM)、血管性假血友病因子(yon Willebrand factor,vWF)的变化.方法 检测OSAHS、OSAHS合并高血压患者血浆ET-1、TM、vWF含量并与睡眠呼吸监测指标进行相关性分析.结果 单纯OSAHS、OSAHS合并高血压患者与对照组比较,ET-1、TM及vWF水平升高,并与两者病情严重程度有相关性;ET-1、TM、vWF水平的升高在OSAHS合并高血压患者组更明显.结论 OSAHS及OSAHS合并高血压患者均存在血管内皮损伤,内皮功能损伤在OSAHS合并高血压患者中更为明显.血管内皮损伤在OSAHS合并高血压的发病中有重要的作用.     

Role of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in the treatment of unstable angina: Report from the national heart, lung, and blood institute percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and coronary artery surgery study registries

The acute and long-term consequences of PTCA performed in patients with unstable angina was determined in 442 patients with 1-vessel CAD who were enrolled in the NHLBI PTCA Registry. These patients were compared with 214 similar patients in the PTCA Registry with stable angina and with 330 patients with unstable angina from the NHLBI CASS Registry who underwent CABG. The 3 groups had similar baseline characteristics. The immediate angiographic success after PTCA was not different between patients with stable and those with unstable angina. The in-hospital mortality rate was 0.9 % for the PTCA group with unstable angina and 0.47% for the PTCA group with stable angina. The combined 18-month mortality and MI rate was low in both groups (10.8 and 9.5%, respectively). No differences were observed in the mortality and MI rates between patients with unstable angina treated surgically or with PTCA. Both revascularization procedures markedly reduced symptoms of angina. Ninety-two percent of the PTCA group reported improvement in their angina, whereas 80 % of the surgical group had a reduction in angina (p < 0.05). The results from this observational study suggest that PTCA can be performed as safely and successfully in patients with unstable angina as in those with stable angina. PTCA compares favorably with CABG in patients with unstable angina in that the procedure is associated with low mortality and morbidity rates, while marked improvement in symptoms can be expected. Thus, PTCA could be considered an alternative to CABG in patients with unstable angina who have the appropriate anatomic characteristics.     

钼、锌对克山病心肌坏死的保护作用——钼、锌对缺氧性心肌损伤血浆cGMP血清Mg~(++)Ca~(++)含量变化的实验研究

本实验在分别饲以基础饲料,基础饲料加钼、加锌、加钼锌的基础上.用NaNO_2造成大鼠缺氧性心肌损伤,并与空白对照组进行对照。采用放射免疫法和原子吸收分光光度计测定各组大鼠血浆cGMP.血清Mg~(++)、Ca~(++)含量。结果表明基础饲料中加钼、加锌、加钼锌组较饲用基础饲料组大鼠血浆cGMP含量为低,血清Mg~(++)含量为高差异显著,其中基础饲料加钼锌组差异更为显著。分析其发生机理.说明了钼、锌对克山病心肌坏死具有保护作用,钼锌联合作用效果更为显著。     

The DD genotype of the ACE gene polymorphism is associated with diabetic nephropathy in the type-1 diabetics.

Genetic factors are involved in the development of diabetic nephropathy in type-1 diabetes. We are examining the association of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism with the presence of diabetic nephropathy in type-1 diabetic patients. 52 type-1 diabetic patients with diabetic nephropathy (30 with either microalbuminuria or macroalbuminuria and 22 with end stage renal disease on dialysis) were compared with 10 type-1 diabetic patients with normoalbuminuria and duration of disease longer than 15 years and 27 non-diabetic healthy subjects. We found that the D-allele frequency was higher in patients with nephropathy than in the healthy and normoalbuminuric controls. There was an association in the DD polymorphism of the ACE gene with patients with diabetic nephropathy and not with the control subjects. We conclude that the DD genotype of ACE gene polymorphism is associated with diabetic nephropathy in patients with type-1 diabetes mellitus.     

Increased ethane exhalation, an in vivo index of lipid peroxidation, in alcohol-abusers.

Ethane exhalation was measured in 42 control subjects, 52 patients with various non-alcoholic liver diseases, and 89 alcohol abusers who had been admitted to hospital for alcohol withdrawal and assessment of liver disease (six with normal liver tests, 10 with steatosis with or without fibrosis, six with alcoholic hepatitis, 29 with cirrhosis, 34 with both cirrhosis and alcoholic hepatitis, and four with both cirrhosis and a hepatocellular carcinoma). Ethane exhalation was similar in control subjects and in patients with non-alcoholic liver diseases, but was five times higher in alcohol abusers. Ethane exhalation in alcohol abusers was significantly, but very weakly, correlated with the daily ethanol intake before hospital admission, and the histological score for steatosis, but not with the inflammation or alcoholic hepatitis scores. Ethane exhalation was inversely correlated with the duration of abstinence before the test. In nine alcoholic patients, the exhalation of ethane was measured repeatedly, and showed slow improvement during abstinence. Ethane exhalation was significantly but weakly correlated with the Pugh's score in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. It is concluded that the mean ethane exhalation is increased in alcohol abusers. One of the possible mechanisms may be the presence of oxidizable fat in the liver. The weak correlation with the Pugh's score is consistent with the contribution of many other factors in the progression to severe liver disease.     

肝硬化患者血清脂联素与瘦素的相关性

目的测定肝硬化患者血清脂联素与瘦素的水平并探讨二者的相关性。方法测定73例肝硬化患者和30例健康对照的血清脂联素和瘦素及相关的临床生化参数,计算血清脂联素/瘦素比值。结果肝硬化患者血清脂联素、瘦素水平明显高于正常对照组(P<0.05);脂联素/瘦素比值>1;血清脂联素与瘦素水平呈正相关。血清脂联系、瘦素水平与胰岛素、胰岛素抵抗指数呈正相关,与胰岛素敏感指数呈负相关。结论肝硬化患者血清脂联素、瘦素水平和脂联素/瘦素比值明显升高,可能与肝硬化患者胰岛素抵抗有关。     

Heterogeneous changes in electrophysiologic properties in the paroxysmal and chronically fibrillating human atrium

INTRODUCTION: The regional changes in atrial electrophysiologic properties related to atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with paroxysmal AF (PAF) and chronic AF (CAF) remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the regional changes in atrial electrophysiology in patients with AF. METHODS AND RESULTS: We evaluated the atrial electrophysiology at different sites (high right atrium, low right atrium [LRA], and distal coronary sinus [DCS]) in 11 patients with CAF, 8 patients with PAF, and 10 controls. Patients with CAF had significantly prolonged interatrial conduction and corrected sinus node recovery time, and shortened atrial effective refractory period (ERP) with loss of rate-related adaptation in the DCS, but had paradoxic prolongation of atrial ERP in the LRA, as compared with patients with PAF and the controls. As a result, the spatial distribution of atrial ERP that was observed in the controls and in patients with PAF was reversed in patients with CAF, without an increase in the dispersion of atrial refractoriness. Patients with PAF showed intermediate changes in atrial conduction times and atrial refractoriness as compared with patients with CAF and controls. CONCLUSION: There was a regional heterogeneity on the changes of atrial electrophysiology in different parts of the atrium, and the "normal" spatial distribution of atrial refractoriness was reversed in patients with CAF. The electrophysiologic changes observed in patients with PAF appear to behave as if in transition from the control state to CAF, suggesting progressive changes in atrial electrophysiologic properties.     

Antibodies to tissue transglutaminase and Saccharomyces cerevisiae in ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis

OBJECTIVE: Subclinical gut inflammation has been described in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) or psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Joint involvement has also been reported related to celiac disease. We investigated IgA antibodies to bovine tissue tranglutaminase (tTg) and IgA and IgG antibodies to human tTg and to Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ASCA) in patients with AS and PsA. METHODS: We evaluated the frequency of IgA antibodies to bovine tTg, and of IgA and IgG antibodies to human tTg and to ASCA in 43 patients with AS and 75 with PsA. As control groups we considered 79 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 78 healthy blood donors. RESULTS: We detected antibodies as follows: IgA antibodies to bovine tTg in 1/43 patients with AS, 3/75 with PsA, 1/79 with RA, and in 9/78 healthy controls; IgA antibodies to human tTg in 1/43 patients with AS, 1/75 with PsA, 1/79 with RA, and in 3/78 healthy controls; IgG antibodies to human tTg in 1/43 patients with AS, 4/75 with PsA, 5/79 with RA, and in 7/78 healthy controls. IgA ASCA were confirmed in 10/43 patients with AS, 7/75 with PsA, 14/79 with RA, and in 7/78 healthy controls; IgG ASCA were present in 5/43 patients with AS, 4/75 with PsA, 8/79 with RA, and in 8/78 healthy controls. No statistically significant difference was observed in the prevalence of IgA or IgG antibodies to bovine and human tTg and in the frequency and in mean level of IgA or IgG ASCA between the studied groups or between each group and healthy controls. CONCLUSION: Our data fail to show an increased prevalence of autoantibodies associated with celiac and Crohn's disease in patients with AS and PsA.     

High plasma fibrinogen level is associated with poor clinical outcome in DIC patients

We measured the plasma level of fibrinogen in 560 patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and evaluated its relationship with outcome and with other hemostatic markers. Forty-seven percent of patients had >200 mg/dL of plasma fibrinogen and 24% had <100 mg/dl of plasma fibrinogen, suggesting that plasma fibrinogen level is not a sensitive marker for DIC. In our analysis of outcome and plasma fibrinogen levels, the rate of death was high in leukemia/lymphoma patients with high fibrinogen concentration, but no significant difference in outcome was observed in relation to plasma fibrinogen concentration in non-leukemia/lymphoma patients with DIC. Among patients with leukemia/lymphoma, the frequency of organ failure was markedly high in patients with high plasma levels of fibrinogen. Among patients without leukemia/lymphoma, the frequency of organ failure increased concomitantly with the increase in plasma fibrinogen levels. The international normalized ratio was significantly increased in leukemia/lymphoma patients with low fibrinogen. FDP levels were slightly increased in patients with low fibrinogen. Platelet count was significantly low in patients without leukemia/lymphoma with high fibrinogen. DIC score increased concomitantly with the reduction in plasma fibrinogen levels. Plasma levels of thrombomodulin and tissue factor were significantly high in patients with high fibrinogen levels. Plasma levels of antiplasmin and plasminogen were significantly decreased in patients with low fibrinogen. Plasma levels of plasmin plasmin-inhibitor complex and tissue type plasminogen activator/plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 complex (PAI-I) were significantly higher in patients with low fibrinogen than in those with high fibrinogen. Plasma levels of PAI-I and IL-6 were significantly higher in patients with high fibrinogen than in those with low fibrinogen. Patients with high fibrinogen levels showed less activation of secondary fibrinolysis, which might explain the occurrence of organ failure and poor outcome.     

Concentration of hyaluronic acid in pleural fluid as a diagnostic aid for malignant mesothelioma

Hyaluronic acid (HA) was determined with a radiometric assay in the serum and pleural fluid of 85 patients with pleural effusions, including 15 with malignant mesothelioma, 32 with other cancer, 31 with nonmalignant inflammatory diseases, and seven with congestive heart failure. With a cutoff level at 100 mg/L, the pleural fluid concentration of HA was raised in 73 percent of patients (11 of 15) with malignant mesothelioma and in 23 percent with nonmalignant inflammatory diseases, but in none with other cancer and in none with congestive heart failure. The median concentration of pleural fluid HA was significantly higher in patients with mesothelioma than in those with other cancer (p less than 0.005). Determination of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in pleural fluid further helped to differentiate between mesothelioma and other types of cancer; concentrations of CEA above 10 micrograms/L were found in four of 15 (27 percent) patients with mesothelioma, but in 38 percent of the patients with other cancer. We concluded that in the differential diagnosis of pleural effusions associated with malignant tumors a high concentration of HA in pleural fluid combined with a low concentration of CEA suggests malignant mesothelioma as opposed to other types of cancer.     

The association of adenocarcinoma and hemosputum in pulmonary malignancies

BACKGROUND: Hemosputum was considered one of the popular symptoms of patients with centrally located carcinoma of the lung, especially squamous cell or small cell type. Recent studies reported a relative increase in adenocarcinoma compared with squamous cell carcinoma, especially in developed countries. OBJECTIVES: The main purpose of this study was to determine the trend of histological type associated with the occurrence of hemosputum in patients with pulmonary malignancy. METHODS: Retrospectively, the data from 1,050 patients with pulmonary malignancy who underwent bronchoendoscopic examination at our institution between May 1993 and May 2000 were analyzed. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-nine out of 1,050 patients had hemosputum. There were 66 patients with adenocarcinoma, 55 with squamous cell carcinoma, 15 with small cell carcinoma, 5 with large cell carcinoma, 3 with other cell type carcinoma and 5 with metastatic carcinoma. On bronchoendoscopic examination, abnormal findings in the segmental or more proximal bronchi were found in 82 patients, including 36 with squamous cell carcinoma, 31 with adenocarcinoma, 12 with small cell carcinoma, 2 with large cell carcinoma and 1 with metastatic carcinoma. On the other hand, 67 patients were diagnosed with pulmonary malignancy in the subsegmental or more distal area, including 35 with adenocarcinoma, 19 with squamous cell carcinoma, 3 with small cell carcinoma, 3 with large cell carcinoma, 3 with other cell type carcinoma and 4 with metastatic carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: The most frequent histological type of malignancy with hemosputum was adenocarcinoma. The number of abnormalities in the peripheral region with hemosputum showed a progressive increase. The number of adenocarcinoma with hemosputum was increased in both central and peripheral regions.     

肺病患者血管紧张素转换酶测定的意义

目的 研究各种肺病患者血管紧张素转换酶（ACE）的测定意义.方法 对55例肺癌、30例肺结核病、45例慢性阻塞性肺病（COPD）、35例肺结节病、50例肺炎、30例肺心病、38例尘肺病和50例健康对照组进行血浆血管紧张素转换酶测定,并进行统计学分析.结果 肺结节病和结核病组ACE显著高于正常对照组（P〈0.01）,慢性阻塞性肺病和肺癌组ACE显著低于正常对照组（P〈0.01）,肺结节病显著高于肺结核病组（P〈0.01）,肺癌患者组显著低于慢性阻塞性肺病组（P〈0.05）.结论 血管紧张素转换酶对各种肺病的诊断和鉴别诊断有重要价值.     

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), prostaglandin E2(PGE2) and active renin in hypertension of adrenal origin

There are limited data regarding the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in arterial hypertension. The aim of the present study was to determine some markers of vascular function, including VEGF, active renin and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in patients with endocrine hypertension. The study comprised: 30 patients with primary aldosteronism; 32 patients with active Cushing's syndrome; 19 patients with pheochromocytoma; 22 patients with essential hypertension and 24 healthy volunteers. VEGF was significantly elevated in all groups of patients as compared to the controls. VEGF levels in patients with Cushing's syndrome were significantly higher than those in patients with essential hypertension and primary aldosteronism. We did not find significant differences in VEGF levels between patients with Conn adenomas and idiopathic aldosteronism as well as between patients with Cushing's disease and Cushing's syndrome. PGE2 levels were not significantly different among the groups. Active renin was significantly the lowest in patients with primary aldosteronism and significantly the highest in those with pheochromocytoma compared to controls. The level of active renin in patients with primary aldosteronism was significantly lower than in patients with Cushing's syndrome and pheochromocytoma. In conclusion, VEGF levels were significantly elevated in patients with endocrine hypertension due to glucocorticoid, mineralocorticoid and/or catecholamine excess. The highest VEGF levels were detected in patients with Cushing's syndrome. The latter is associated with accelerated development of atherosclerosis and increased cardiovascular risk. VEGF might contribute to the cardiovascular risk in this disease. This effect was not likely to be PGE2 mediated.     

A possible role of immunoglobulin E in patients with hyperthyroid Graves' disease.

To investigate the possible participation of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in the autoimmune process of Graves' disease, incidence of elevation of serum IgE level, TSH receptor antibody (TRAb), and thyroid status were studied in 66 patients with hyperthyroid Graves' disease, 54 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 19 patients with bronchial asthma, and 15 patients with pollen allergy. In hyperthyroid Graves' patients, elevation of serum IgE levels (> or = 170 U/mL) was found in 19 of 66 patients (29%), 11 of whom had hereditary and/or allergic conditions. Elevations of serum IgE levels were found in 63% of patients with bronchial asthma and in 40% of patients with pollen allergy. Mean values of serum IgE were the same in patients with hyperthyroid Graves' disease and with bronchial asthma. During methimazole treatment TRAb decreased without fluctuation of IgE levels in both groups. The decrease in TRAb was significantly greater in patients with normal IgE than in patients with IgE elevation. After prednisone administration, reduction in TRAb was greater in patients with normal IgE than that in patients with IgE elevation. High incidence of IgE elevation in hyperthyroid Graves' disease and slower reduction in TRAb in association with IgE elevation suggest a difference in the autoimmune processes in Graves' disease with and without elevation of IgE.     

Abnormal oesophageal function in patients with non-toxic goiter or enlarged left atrium, demonstrated by radionuclide transit measurements

In 10 patients with enlarged atrium and in 29 patients with goiters and neck discomfort dynamic oesophageal scintigraphy was performed. The passage of water and capsules, containing 99mTc-pertechnetate, was studied with the patients in the supine and in the sitting positions. As a reference group we examined 35 healthy, age-matched volunteers. Mean transit time (MTT) was calculated, residual activity was expressed as a percentage of maximum activity, and the number of spikes in the curves was defined by visual analysis. Both in patients with enlarged left atrium and in those with large goiters the studies showed significantly prolonged MTT, increased residual activity, and a higher frequency of spikes, compared with healthy volunteers and with patients with small goiters. There was no relationship between symptoms and abnormal scintigraphic results. The passage of capsules was impaired only in cardiac patients. It is concluded that abnormal oesophageal function is often present in patients with enlarged left atrium and in patients with large, but not with small, goiters. Inhibition of oesophageal transit appears to be dependent on mechanical compression, but the nature of oesophageal impairment may vary with the level of compression. The frequent complaints of neck sensations in patients with goiters are probably not of oesophageal origin.     

Pneumonia associated with lung cancer in the elderly

We investigated the clinical characteristics separating pneumonia as a complication in elderly lung cancer patients into obstructive and non-obstructive pneumonia. Two hundred and five patients with pneumonia as a complication in elderly lung cancer patients were classified into two groups; 64 patients with obstructive pneumonia and 141 patients with non-obstructive pneumonia. Most of the patients in both groups were male. Concerning histological findings, while most of the patients with obstructive pneumonia had squamous cell carcinoma, those with non-obstructive pneumonia had the same proportion of squamous cell carcinoma as all elderly patients with lung cancer. Most of the patients with obstructive pneumonia were in good general condition including their nutritional condition, but the patients with non-obstructive pneumonia were in significantly poor condition. A low percent of microorganisms were isolated from the sputum obtained from the patients with non-obstructive pneumonia, but a high percentage were obtained from those with non-obstructive pneumonia. Frequent involvement of gram-negative bacilli such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae or Staphylococcus aureus containing MRSA was also found in these patients. Regarding treatment, although carbapenem was used either alone or in combination therapy as the regimen of treatment for pneumonia as a complication in elderly lung cancer patients with both the obstructive and non-obstructive pneumonia patients, the efficacy rate was poor in 50% with obstructive pneumonia and in 26% with non-obstructive pneumonia. The mortality rate was 11% in the patients with obstructive pneumonia, while it was 61% in the patients with non-obstructive pneumonia. The prognosis was significantly poorer in the patients with non-obstructive pneumonia. We concluded that although the prognosis was not so poor for patients with obstructive pneumonia if the appropriate treatment was given, in the patients with non-obstructive pneumonia, the treatment for underlying diseases and the improvement of their general condition, including the determination of causative microorganisms, was important.