超声在结缔组织病相关肺间质病变中的应用

肺是结缔组织病(connective tissue disease,CTD)的重要靶器官,可出现肺动脉高压(pulmonary hypertension,PAH)、肺泡出血、肺间质病变(interstitial lung disease,ILD)等多种表现,其中ILD是一类以炎症和不同程度纤维化为主要表现的弥漫性肺损伤。目前有多种方式来评估ILD的类型、范围及严重程度。     

Developing disease activity and response criteria in connective tissue disease-related interstitial lung disease

The interstitial lung diseases (ILD) are a group of heterogeneous diseases that exert significant morbidity and mortality in connective tissue diseases (CTD). There is no consensus on measures of disease activity or therapeutic responsiveness, which hampers effective drug development and regulatory evaluation of candidate therapies. The CTD-ILD Special Interest Group represents an international multidisciplinary effort to identify consensus on criteria to measure disease activity and therapeutic response in CTD-ILD. We summarize the design of the studies we are conducting and progress leading to the OMERACT 10 and 2010 EULAR meetings.     

Comparison of disease progression and mortality of connective tissue disease-related interstitial lung disease and idiopathic interstitial pneumonia

OBJECTIVE: To compare disease progression and mortality between idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) due to connective tissue diseases (CTD) including scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, Sj?gren's syndrome, and mixed CTD. METHODS: A case-control study of patients with CTD-ILD (n = 46) and IIP controls (n = 51), seen at the University of Michigan between July 1,1998 and June 30,1999 and followed until March 30, 2002, was conducted. Survival analysis and Cox regression were performed to estimate survival, accounting for demographic and clinical parameters, including pulmonary function tests and high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) diagnosis and scoring. RESULTS: Median followup time was 4.4 person-years. Five-year survival in the IIP group was 51.9% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 30.8-69.4) versus 43.4% (95% CI 21.1-63.9) in the CTD-ILD group. There were no significant differences among HRCT diagnostic categories between IIP and CTD-ILD. A fibrotic score > or = 2 was associated with decreased survival among the entire group. Age at diagnosis and most recent forced vital capacity were significant predictors of mortality when adjusted for IIP versus CTD-ILD diagnosis, sex, and interstitial score. CONCLUSION: Contrary to expectation, CTD-ILD compared with IIP appears to be associated with a worse prognosis when adjusted for age. A higher fibrotic score is suggestive of decreased survival.     

Mycophenolate mofetil is safe, well tolerated, and preserves lung function in patients with connective tissue disease-related interstitial lung disease

BACKGROUND: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) frequently complicates connective tissue diseases (CTDs). Glucocorticoids and immunomodulatory agents are regarded as mainstays of therapy for CTD-related ILD; however, apart from those studies that have evaluated certain medications for patients with scleroderma, few studies have been performed. In this study, our objectives were to examine the safety and tolerability of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and to determine its impact on lung function in patients with CTD-ILD. METHODS: In this retrospective observational study, we analyzed patients at our center who ever received MMF for CTD-ILD. We examined the frequency and severity of side effects associated with MMF and used longitudinal data analytic methods to determine the ability of MMF to maintain lung function over time. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients were treated with MMF over 35.9 patient-years. The most common underlying CTD diagnosis was scleroderma (n = 9). The most common reason for initiating MMF was an adverse effect of a prior immunomodulatory agent. Six patients had clinically significant side effects related to MMF; all resolved with dose reduction. Compared to before MMF, the mean daily prednisone dose while patients were receiving MMF was lower (10 mg/d vs 15 mg/d, p = 0.09). In addition, since starting MMF, the average percentage of predicted forced vital capacity (FVC), average percentage of predicted total lung capacity, and average percentage of predicted diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide for the cohort increased by 2.3%, 4.0%, and 2.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: MMF appears to be safe and well tolerated in patients with CTD-ILD. Larger-scale studies are needed to further evaluate the efficacy of MMF in this patient population.     

以肺部结缔组织病变为首发的间质性肺病1例及文献复习

特发性间质性肺炎（idiopathic interstitial pneumonia,IIP）是一组以肺间质和肺泡腔具有不同形式和程度的炎症和纤维化为主要病理特征的疾病。     

Severe interstitial lung disease in connective tissue disease: rituximab as rescue therapy

In very severe interstitial lung disease associated with connective tissue disease (CTD-ILD), progressing despite maximal conventional immunosuppression, there is no effective medical rescue therapy. The aim of the present study was to test whether rituximab, a monoclonal antibody that depletes peripheral B lymphocytes, is effective as rescue therapy in very severe CTD-ILD, unresponsive to conventional immunosuppression. We performed a retrospective assessment of eight patients with severe and progressive CTD-ILD treated with rituximab. In six patients, change in pulmonary function tests (PFTs) compared with pre-rituximab levels, was assessed at 9-12 months post-treatment. In two patients, who were mechanically ventilated at the time of treatment, clinical and HRCT changes were assessed. Seven out of eight patients had a favourable treatment response to rituximab, while in one patient disease severity did not change. In contrast with previous progression, we observed a median significant improvement of 22% in diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (from a median baseline of 25%; range 16-32%; p=0.04), and a median significant improvement of 18% in forced vital capacity (from a median baseline of 45%; range 37-59%; p=0.03), in the 9-12 months following treatment with rituximab. In very severe CTD-ILD unresponsive to conventional immunosuppression, rituximab may represent an effective, potentially life-saving, therapeutic intervention.     

弥漫性结缔组织病与间质性肺疾病的关系

随着医学的发展,间质性肺疾病(ILD)越来越受到重视,这是因为ILD发病率占呼吸系统疾病的15%[1],远超出以往的估计.     

结缔组织病相关性间质性肺疾病的诊治进展

结缔组织病（CTD）是一组累及全身多系统的自身免疫病,合并间质性肺疾病（ILD）较为常见,导致肺功能障碍、低氧血症,严重影响患者的生活质量和预后。不同CTD显示出异质性的ILD类型。CTD-ILD常见的影像学和组织病理学类型是非特异性间质性肺炎、机化性肺炎和普通型间质性肺炎。大部分CTD-ILD表现为缓慢进展的肺损伤,少数患者短期内急剧进展且预后不良。CTD-ILD目前主要应用糖皮质激素和／或免疫抑制剂治疗,生物制剂显示出临床疗效,尚需随机临床试验证实。部分ILD患者具有自身免疫病的特征,不足以诊断为某种特定的CTD,应予以密切随访。     

几种弥漫性结缔组织病肺间质病变的影像分析

目的了解与弥漫性结缔组织病相关的肺间质病变（CTD—ILD）的发生率、影像学特征及其与病种和临床指标的相关性。方法回顾分析我院几种弥漫性结缔组织病患者（共412例）资料，X线胸片检查或有肺部临床症状患者作胸部高分辨CT（HRCT）进一步检查确诊。了解ILD在不同弥漫性CTD中的发生率，对比X线与HRCT的差异，统计常用CT分类在本组疾病中的分布比例．探讨CT分类与不同病种或临床特征之间的关系。结果在412例弥漫性结缔组织病中，HRCT诊断的ILD共40例，总发生率为9．7％。其中皮肌炎／多肌炎为25％，硬皮病为23．8％，原发性干燥综合征为9．6％，系统性红斑狼疮为6．3％。胸片与CT符合率40％，胸片误诊漏诊率60％。ILDCT分类以两种病变共存最多见，其中毛玻璃样变占40．1％，实变影32．8％，网格影16．4％，蜂窝状影9．8％。呼吸道症状和补体C3，C4水平在毛玻璃样变组及实变影组；C反应蛋白（CRP）水平在蜂窝状影和实变影组较其他对照组明显高，它们之间差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论HRCT发现CTD—ILD的敏感性及准确性明显优于X线，其中以毛玻璃及实变影最多见；影像学改变与呼吸道症状及炎症指标有一定关系，尽早进行HRCT的检查有助ILD的早期诊断及预后判断。     

Evaluation of interstitial lung disease in mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD)

OBJECTIVE: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) may be a characteristic, often serious, manifestation of mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). In this retrospective study, the frequency and clinical picture of ILD were determined in patients with MCTD using two diagnostic tests: high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and inhaled aerosol clearance times of (99m)Tc-labelled diethylene-triamine pentaacetate ((99m)Tc-DTPA). In addition, pulmonary function, effects of therapy and a variety of immunoserological markers were also assessed. METHODS: One hundred and forty-four consecutive patients with MCTD were selected from the clinic, irrespective of the presence or absence of ILD. All patients underwent a detailed clinical assessment, chest HRCT scanning, chest radiography, inhaled aerosol of (99m)Tc-DTPA clearance times, and all pulmonary function tests. Patients who had active ILD received corticosteroid (CS) or CS in combination with cyclophosphamide (CPH). All investigations were repeated after 6 months of immunosuppressive therapy. RESULTS: Ninety-six out of 144 MCTD patients (66.6%) had active ILD, 75 of this group (78.1%) showed ground glass opacity, 21 patients (21.8%) ground glass opacity with mild fibrosis with HRCT. Forty-five patients with active ILD received 2 mg/kg/day CS for 6-8 weeks alone and 51 patients CS in combination with CPH (2 mg/kg/day). Six months later, after therapy, 67 out of 96 MCTD patients with ILD (69.8%) showed a negative HRCT pattern, ground glass opacity with mild fibrosis developed in 15 patients (15.6%), and fibrosis was detected in 13 patients (13.5%). Only one patient showed subpleural honeycombing. (99m)Tc-DTPA was rapid in all 96 MCTD patients with active ILD (28.7 +/- 8.2 min, normal value >40 min). After therapy the (99m)Tc-DTPA was normalized, 79 out of 96 patients (82.3%). Carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (DLCO) was reduced in 33 out of 96 MCTD patients with active ILD (34.3%), while there were no significant differences in the pulmonary function tests between the active versus inactive stage of ILD or versus patients without ILD. The sera of 96 MCTD patients with active ILD contained a high level of immune complexes (ICs), and the total haemolytic complement levels (CH50/ml U) decreased. After 6 months of therapy, the IC levels decreased and CH50/ml levels normalized (MCTD patients before and after active ILD: IC optical density = 355 +/- 227 vs 206 +/- 92, P<0.001; CH50/ml, 38.0 +/- 12.6 U vs 64.3 +/- 13.0 U, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: HRCT is the gold standard for diagnosis of ILD. However, we used another method, (99m)Tc-DTPA, in order to compare this technique with HRCT. This latter technique has not been studied previously in MCTD. The elevated levels of IC and increased complement consumption indicated that IC-mediated alveolocapillary membrane damage and tissue injury might play a role in the pathogenesis of ILD in MCTD.     

Treatment of pulmonary hypertension in patients with connective tissue disease and interstitial lung disease

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with connective tissue disease (CTD) can occur in isolation or concomitantly with interstitial lung disease (ILD). Targeted therapies for PH can mitigate clinical deterioration in CTD patients with isolated PH; however, the effect of these therapies in CTD patients with PH and ILD (CTD-PH-ILD) are poorly characterized.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate outcomes following long-term treatment of PH in patients with CTD-PH-ILD.

METHODS

A retrospective evaluation of 13 CTD-PH-ILD patients who were treated with bosentan, sildenafil or bosentan plus sildenafil, was conducted. Immunosuppressants were prescribed as indicated. Patients underwent pulmonary function testing and assessment of 6 min walk distance at the time of treatment initiation and during follow-up. Patients were followed until time of death, lung transplantation or the end of the study. Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival were calculated and log-rank testing was used to analyze survival differences according to CTD subtype.

RESULTS

Thirteen patients (seven with systemic sclerosis [SSc], four with overlap syndrome, and two with rheumatoid arthritis) were followed for a mean (± SD) duration of 33.8±21.7 months. The survival estimate at a median duration of 34 months was 85%; two patients with SSc died. Mortality rates were greater among patients with SSc versus other CTD subtypes (P=0.04). No changes from baseline to follow-up in mean forced vital capacity or exercise capacity, and no treatment-related toxicity, were observed.

CONCLUSION

Treatment using PH-specific therapies in patients with CTD, PH and ILD was well tolerated. Further studies to investigate the efficacy of PH-specific therapies in CTD-PH-ILD patients are warranted.     

高分辨率CT及积分在结缔组织病并发间质性肺炎及预后中的价值

目的 比较不同结缔组织病(CTD)并发间质性肺炎(ILD)的肺高分辨率CT(HRCT)影像学特征,探讨肺HRCT积分对判断患者预后的预测价值.方法 回顾性收集117例各类CTD 临床资料和影像学资料以及随访结果,对肺HRCT病变进行评分,研究肺HRCT积分与患者预后的关系.结果 117例CTD患者中有95例在肺HRCT上显示有ILD,其中,系统性红斑狼疮(SLE)34%,类风湿关节炎(RA)31%,多发性肌炎/皮肌炎(PM/DM)9%,成人斯蒂尔病(AOSD)9%,干燥综合征(SS)5%,系统性硬化症(SSc)7%,混合性结缔组织病(MCTD)5%.CTD并发ILD肺HRCT最常见的表现是小叶间隔增厚,其次为毛玻璃样变,之后依次为不规则线状影或胸膜下线、网格影、支气管血管束增厚、马赛克灌注、蜂窝肺、薄壁囊肿、结节灶、大片实变病变、肺大泡.AOSD和SSc患者纤维化积分显著高于渗出积分(P＜0.05);CTD并发ILD患者5年生存率为48.5%(95%可信区间为22.4%～67.9%),纤维化积分≥2分是预测患者预后不良的危险因素(P=0.032),其敏感性为82%,特异性为87%.结论 不同CTD并发的ILD有不同的影像学特征,肺HRCT可以较好地发现并鉴别,肺HRCT纤维化积分可以判断患者的预后.     

Mortality in diabetes: a retrospective analysis from a tertiary care hospital in North India

Cause(s) of death in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) admitted to a tertiary care hospital in North India was analysed from classified information in patients' death records and case file. Of the 306652 total admissions from 1991 to 1999, 21584 patients died (7.04%), 592 of whom (355 men and 237 women) had DM (2.7%). Information from 92 patients with diabetes could not be retrieved and six patients with hyperglycemia of short duration (two with gestational DM, three with post-transplant diabetes and one with stress hyperglycemia) were excluded. Of the 494 patients, 456 (92.3%) had T2DM and 38 (7.7%) had T1DM. Four hundred and forty patients had diabetes related mortality: infections (230, 46.5%), cardiovascular events (86, 17.4%), chronic renal failure (CRF) (48, 9.7%), stroke (30, 6%), diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) (15, 3%), hyperosmolar coma (11, 2.2%), and hypoglycemia (5, 1%), while others (54 patients) had diabetes unrelated deaths. Cause of death could not be ascertained in six patients (1.2%). Death was attributed to a single cause in 301 (60.9%), to two causes in 175 (35.4%) and to three or more causes in 12 (2.4%) patients. Analysis of the cause of death in DM versus hospital in-patients in general, showed infection (P<0.02), coronary artery disease (CAD) (P<0.001), and CRF (P<0.001) to be more frequent in diabetes.     

TH17在结缔组织病相关性间质性肺病中的意义

目的探讨外周血Th17及IL-17在结缔组织病相关性间质性肺疾病的表达及意义。方法收集23例正常对照组及28例病理类型为非特异性间质性肺炎(NSIP)的结缔组织病相关性间质性肺疾病(CTD-ILD)患者的外周血单个核细胞及血浆,分别检测PBMC中Th17的比例及血浆中IL-17的表达情况,并收集入组患者肺功能指标TLC(pre/ref%)及DLco(pre/ref%)数据。结果与正常对照组相比,CTD-ILD患者组Th17比例明显增加,差别具有统计学意义(P0.05),CTD-ILD患者IL-17细胞因子的浓度较正常对照组的血浆浓度明显增加(P0.01)。但CTD-ILD患者外周血Th17及IL-17与患者肺功能指标TLC(pre/ref%)及DLco(pre/ref%)之间均无显著相关性。结论在CTD-ILD患者体内Th17及其细胞因子IL-17明显升高,可能参与疾病的发生。