Pulmonary cryptococcosis in solid organ transplant recipients: clinical relevance of serum cryptococcal antigen.

BACKGROUND: The role of serum cryptococcal antigen in the diagnosis and determinants of antigen positivity in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients with pulmonary cryptococcosis has not been fully defined. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, multicenter study of SOT recipients with pulmonary cryptococcosis during 1999-2006. RESULTS: Forty (83%) of 48 patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis tested positive for cryptococcal antigen. Patients with concomitant extrapulmonary disease were more likely to have a positive antigen test result (P=.018), and antigen titers were higher in patients with extrapulmonary disease (P=.003) or fungemia (P=.045). Patients with single nodules were less likely to have a positive antigen test result than were those with all other radiographic presentations (P=.053). Among patients with isolated pulmonary cryptococcosis, lung transplant recipients were less likely to have positive cryptococcal antigen test results than were recipients of other types of SOT (P=.003). In all, 38% of the patients were asymptomatic or had pulmonary cryptococcosis detected as an incidental finding. Nodular densities or mass lesions were more likely to present as asymptomatic or incidentally detected pulmonary cryptococcosis than as pleural effusions and infiltrates (P=.008). CONCLUSIONS: A positive serum cryptococcal antigen test result in SOT recipients with pulmonary cryptococcosis appears to reflect extrapulmonary or more advanced radiographic disease.     

A case of secondary pulmonary cryptococcosis showing various radiographic changes during its natural course without antifungal treatment]

A 58-year-old man who had been prescribed corticosteroids for rheumatoid arthritis in another hospital was admitted to our hospital for examination of an abnormal chest shadow. We obtained a positive result for cryptococcal antigen in the serum, in a measurement done as a screening test for abnormal chest shadows. We diagnosed secondary pulmonary cryptococcosis through a transbronchial biopsy. He showed various radiographic changes, including multiple nodular shadows, cavities and partial resolution during the natural course without antifungal treatment. This case taught us that secondary pulmonary cryptococcosis causes a more varied range of radiographic changes than its primary form, that measurement of cryptococcal antigen in serum is useful as a screening test of pulmonary cryptococcosis, and that it is important to consider whether a particular patient should be treated or not.     

Pulmonary cryptococcosis: comparison of clinical and radiographic characteristics in immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients

STUDY OBJECTIVES: We compared the clinical characteristics and imaging findings between immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients in whom pulmonary cryptococcosis had been diagnosed to define the role of serum cryptococcal antigen (sCRAG) and radiographs during a follow-up period of up to 1 year. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS: The clinical records, chest radiographs, and CT scan findings of 13 immunocompetent and 16 immunocompromised patients with a diagnosis based on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture, sCRAG titers, and cytologic or histologic confirmation of the presence of pulmonary cryptococcosis were reviewed during the course of the study. Two thoracic radiologists reviewed chest radiographs and CT scans for morphologic characteristics and the distribution of parenchymal abnormalities, and a final reading was reached by consensus. The correlation between serial radiographs and sCRAG titers was examined in 9 immunocompetent and 10 immunocompromised patients. MEASUREMENTS: Serum or CSF cryptococcal antigen. RESULTS: The most common clinical symptom was cough, which was present in 24 patients (82.8%). Pulmonary nodules were the most frequent radiologic abnormality. Cavitation within nodules and parenchymal consolidation were significantly less common in immunocompetent patients compared to immunocompromised patients (p = 0.02 and p = 0.05, respectively). Immunocompromised patients tended to have a larger extent of pulmonary involvement than immunocompetent patients, the changes seen on their serial radiographs were more variable, and their corresponding sCRAG titers were higher (> 1:256). In the immunocompetent patients, the radiographic characteristics of lesions usually improved with a corresponding decrease in sCRAG titers over time. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that pulmonary cryptococcosis usually follows a benign clinical course in immunocompetent patients. Immunocompromised patients often undergo an evolution to cavitary lesions that represent a more aggressive disease nature. Serial radiographic changes and changes in sCRAG titers reliably reflect disease progression and the response to therapy.     

血清乳胶凝集试验诊断肺隐球菌病的临床对照研究

目的 评价乳胶凝集试验检测血清隐球菌荚膜多糖抗原对肺隐球菌病的临床诊断价值.方法 选择2000年7月至2007年7月北京大学第一医院收治的、疑诊为肺部隐球菌感染患者27例,均行血清乳胶凝集试验和肺活检组织病理检查.结果 经病理证实的肺隐球菌病9例,乳胶凝集试验均阳性;非隐球菌感染患者18例,乳胶凝集试验均阴性.乳胶凝集试验的敏感度和特异度均为100%.结论 血清乳胶凝集试验对肺隐球菌病具有很高的诊断价值.     

非获得性免疫缺陷综合征患者肺隐球菌病42例影像学特征及诊断方法

目的 提高非AIDS肺隐球菌病(PC)的临床诊断水平.方法 收集2003-2008年复旦大学附属中山医院呼吸科确诊的42例非AIDS的PC资料,总结分析其临床表现、胸部CT征象和诊断方法 .结果 42例非AIDS的PC患者均无禽鸟或其粪便接触史,免疫健全者占71.4%(30/42).影像学以多发性结节病灶(67.9%)最常见,胸膜下分布为主(67.9%),可伴空洞形成(50%).亦可见团块和(或)实变(31.4%)或斑片(2.9%)病灶.无创检查如痰、支气管肺泡灌洗液(BALF)、支气管镜吸出物阳性检出率分别为4.3%、8.3%、6.3%,有创检查包括经支气管镜肺活检、经皮细针穿刺肺活检、手术切除肺组织活检阳性检出率则分别达64.7%、64.3%、100%.14例经病理或培养确诊的PC,同时行血清乳胶凝集试验,结果均阳性.结论 PC在免疫健全者中常见.禽鸟或其粪便接触史对此病的鉴别诊断意义不大.影像学表现多样化且变化较慢,除胸膜下多发性结节外,尤其应警惕团块和(或)实变或斑片表现.创伤性检查如经支气管镜或经皮肺穿刺活检可提高非手术病例的临床诊断率.血清隐球菌抗原检测是PC较理想的早期无创性诊断及病情随访和疗效评价的重要手段之一.     

A clinicopathological study of pulmonary cryptococcosis--chest CT and pathologic correlation]

We reviewed the clinicopathological features in 12 patients (7 males and 5 females; mean age 54 yr) with pulmonary cryptococcosis. Eleven of the patients were asymptomatic and the disease was detected by chest radiograph abnormalities. The underlying systemic disease had been diagnosed as diabetes mellitus in two. Chest CT scans showed a solitary nodule in 9 of the 12 patients, multiple nodules in 2, and infiltration in 1. The nodular diameter was less than 2 cm in 10 of the 12. All nodules were located in the subpleural region. On the chest CT, cavitary nodules, scattered nodules, or both, and spiculated nodules were difficult to distinguish from pulmonary tuberculosis and primary lung cancer, respectively. According to McDonnell's pathological classification of pulmonary cryptococcosis, the resected 8 lungs revealed peripheral pulmonary granuloma in 5 and granulomatous pneumonia in 3. It is important to perform a pathological examination for the diagnosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis to avoid misdiagnosis as lung cancer or pulmonary tuberculosis.     

非免疫缺陷患者肺隐球菌病的临床特征及疗效分析

目的 分析非免疫缺陷患者肺隐球菌病的临床特征及疗效.方法 回顾性分析陆军特色医学中心2017年1月至2020年6月确诊肺隐球菌病患者的病历资料39例,人口学资料,基础疾病,临床表现,影像学特征,病理检查结果,治疗方案和临床结局.收集患者肺组织病理学检测结果和痰液样本,分析是否存在隐球菌感染,对部分患者进行了隐球菌抗原检...     

Clinical investigation of 15 patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis--clinical comparison of HTLV-I carriers and non-carriers]

We investigated 15 pulmonary cryptococcosis patients. The group had a mean age of 51.7 years, and 6 (40%) of the patients were women. Cryptococcosis was primary in 13 patients and secondary in 2 (diabetes mellitus and smoldering adult T-cell leukemia). Eight patients were asymptomatic and 9 patients were detected by medical examinations. Dry cough was the most common symptoms. On chest radiographs, 5 patients showed solitary nodules, 4 patients showed infiltrative shadows, and 4 patients showed multiple nodules. The right lower lobe was the predominant location of solitary nodules, and the left upper and middle lung fields were the predominant locations of infiltrative shadows. Transbronchial lung biopsy was the method of diagnosis for 9 patients, and open lung biopsy for the others. Eleven patients were treated with fluconazole, and the mean treatment period was 7 months. Four patients underwent, resection procedures only, and experienced no recurrence. Five patients were positive for HTLV-I (one had smoldering ATL) and 5 were negative. Eighty percent of the HTLV-I positive patients had some symptoms and 80% of the HTLV-I negative patients were asymptomatic. HTLV-I positive patients showed various pulmonary shadows and 80% of the HTLV-I negative patients showed solitary nodules. The pulmonary lesions in HTLV-I positive patients were more extensive than those in HTLV-I negative patients (p < 0.05). We postulate the possible existence of subtle immunological abnormalities, including abnormalities of cellular immunity, in HTLV-I carriers.     

Clinical features and high-resolution CT findings of pulmonary cryptococcosis in non-AIDS patients

The objective of this study was to clarify clinical and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) characteristics in non-AIDS patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis. We analyzed the medical records and HRCT scans in 22 patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis from 1988 to 2003. Thirteen patients (59%) were immunocompetent and nine (41%) were immunosuppressed, seven of whom had diabetes mellitus. No patients exhibited extrapulmonary involvement. Nineteen patients (86%) were asymptomatic. Radiography revealed incidental chest abnormality in all but two patients. The typical HRCT findings were solitary or multiple nodules in the subpleural area. Cavitation was present in 30% of the patients who had nodules. The most frequently applied and reliable diagnostic procedure was video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Treatment included antifungal therapy alone in 11 patients, surgery alone in eight including four treated by VATS, surgery plus antifungal therapy in two and none in one. Patients who underwent surgery alone did not develop any relapse. The majority of non-AIDS patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis present with incidental chest radiographic abnormalities. The most common HRCT findings are solitary or multiple nodules with or without cavitation in the subpleural areas of the lung. VATS is a useful tool for both diagnosis and treatment of isolated pulmonary cryptococcosis.     

免疫功能正常宿主肺隐球菌病的临床表现及影像学特点分析

目的分析免疫功能正常宿主患肺隐球菌病的临床症状及影像学特点，提高该病的早诊、早治率。 方法选择2006年1月至2018年10月空军军医大学唐都医院收治的经手术或活检后病理证实的47例免疫正常肺隐球菌病患者的临床资料，对其临床症状及影像学表现进行回顾性分析。 结果免疫功能正常的肺隐球菌病患者好发于40～60岁(85.10%)中老年人，临床症状无明显特异性，影像学表现主要包括单发结节肿块型(48.94%)，多发结节肿块型(19.15%)，肺炎型(23.40%)，混合型(6.38%)和不典型者(2.13%)。典型CT征象常伴"晕征"、"边缘平直征"、"胸膜凹陷征"、"细小毛刺征""蘑菇兄弟征"和"近端支气管充气征"；在单发结节肿块型、多发结节肿块型和肺炎型三者中，"晕征"、"边缘平直征"、"胸膜凹陷症"和"细小毛刺征"多见于前两者，三者比较差异有统计学意义(78.26%、66.67%、27.27%，P＝0.019；82.61%、77.78%、18.18%，P＝0.001；56.52%、44.44%、0%，P＝0.003；39.13%、33.33%、0%，P＝0.037)；"近端支气管充气征"多见于后者，三者比较差异有统计学意义(34.78%、33.33%、81.82%，P＝0.029)；"蘑菇兄弟征"主要见于多发结节肿块型(77.78%)。与HIV感染等免疫抑制宿主相比较，免疫功能正常宿主肺隐球菌病CT征象伴空洞和胸腔积液者少见。 结论免疫功能正常宿主肺隐球菌病临床症状无明显特异性，其影像学表现与HIV感染等免疫抑制宿主不尽相同，但易与肺炎、肺结核、肺癌等混淆，其中"晕征"、"蘑菇兄弟征"和"近端支气管充气征"具有一定特异性。     

348例HIV/AIDS病人血清隐球菌抗原筛查的结果分析

目的分析在艾滋病病毒(HIV)感染者/艾滋病(AIDS)病人(简称HIV/AIDS病人)中,应用血清隐球菌抗原筛查隐球菌感染的结果,为开展相关研究提供依据。方法对2012年10月至2013年7月,在贵阳市第五人民医院住院的348例HIV/AIDS病人进行血清隐球菌抗原检查,同时检查病人的CD+4T淋巴细胞(简称CD4细胞)计数;对血清隐球菌抗原阳性病人进行血培养、脑脊液(CSF)隐球菌抗原检查、墨汁染色及培养。结果 348例病人中,男256例,女92例,年龄19~77岁,平均(40.50±13.05)岁。血清隐球菌抗原阳性34例,阳性率9.77%(34/348),CD4细胞计数为0~1097个/mm3,中位数56个/mm3。CD4细胞计数≤50个/mm3组146例,50个/mm3组202例。CD4细胞计数≤50个/mm3和50个/mm3组病人阳性例数分别为24例和10例,阳性率为16.44%(24/146)和4.95%(10/202),两组间差异有统计学意义(u=3.56,P0.01)。血清隐球菌抗原阳性病人血培养阳性3例,CSF隐球菌抗原阳性27例,墨汁染色阳性22例,CSF培养阳性15例;34例病人中最后确认隐球菌感染33例。所有诊断隐球菌感染的病人血清隐球菌抗原均为阳性。结论 HIV/AIDS病人血清隐球菌抗原阳性率高,血清隐球菌抗原筛查有助于及时诊断隐球菌病,特别是CD4细胞计数≤50个/mm3的病人,推荐普遍检查。     

肺隐球菌病临床分析

目的　了解肺隐球菌病临床特点及治疗方法。方法　回顾分析北京协和医院 1 986～2 0 0 1年隐球菌病临床资料 ,并对肺隐球菌病例的性别、发病年龄、基础病、免疫状况、呼吸道症状、确诊方法、影像学资料、抗真菌药物及疗程、疗效及随诊经过进行分析。结果　隐球菌病共 30例 ,其中肺隐球菌病 7例 ,1例合并隐球菌脑膜炎 ,而隐球菌脑膜炎 1 8例 ;肺隐球菌病 :男 /女 =4/ 3 ,平均年龄41 8岁 ;均可排除人类免疫缺陷病毒 (HIV)感染 ,6例免疫功能正常 ,1例有乙状结肠癌病史 ,并曾接受泼尼松治疗 ;均在起病后 1～ 2个月通过病理学及细菌学检查明确诊断 ;均接受了不同的抗真菌药物治疗 ,预后良好。结论　 (1 )临床诊断的肺隐球菌病远少于隐球菌脑膜炎 ;(2 )痰隐球菌培养、手术标本显微镜检粘卡染色、高碘酸希夫反应、六胺银染色是确诊依据 ;(3)免疫功能正常的肺隐球菌病患者预后良好 ;(4)治疗肺隐球菌病的药物及疗程值得进一步研究     

肺隐球菌病九例分析

目的探讨肺隐球菌病临床特点、CT表现、病理所见及治疗方法。方法收集浙江大学附属邵逸夫医院自2002年1月至2004年8月经CT引导下经皮肺穿刺活检或手术病理证实的肺隐球菌病相关资料，进行回顾分析。结果本组病例共9例，男7例、女2例，年龄28～69岁，平均年龄44岁。人类免疫缺陷病毒抗体(HIV—Ab)均阴性。胸部CT扫描：8例表现为多发或单发的肺部结节和(或)肿块，1例表现为片状实变影。4例手术切除治疗，经手术病理证实；5例经CT引导下经皮肺穿刺活检病理证实。病理镜检均呈肉芽肿性改变，苏木精-伊红(HE)染色多核巨细胞内外可见大量隐球菌。5例单予抗真菌药物(氟康唑)治疗2．5～3．5个月，经半年至1年随访，肺部病灶基本吸收。结论肺隐球菌病CT表现主要为多发或单发的肺部结节和(或)肿块。经皮肺穿刺活检是很有价值的确诊手段。隐球菌肉芽肿为其病理特征。氟康唑具有良好抗新型隐球菌的活性，是合适的治疗选择。     

病理确诊的肺隐球菌病38例临床分析

目的 探讨肺隐球菌病的临床特点、影像学表现、病理特征、治疗方法及预后。方法收集南京军区福州总医院2003年3月至2010年2月经病理确诊的38例肺隐球菌病患者的临床资料,并对相关资料进行分析。结果 38例均为社区获得性肺炎,其中男29例,女9例,年龄21～70岁,平均(47±13)岁。38例中伴基础疾病者9例。流式细胞分析CD4细胞正常20例。影像学表现：35例病变靠近胸膜,以下肺部受累多见,其中左下肺21例,右下肺23例;单发结节影11例,多发结节影16例,多发斑片状影3例,肿块伴多发结节5例,弥漫性肺实质浸润影3例;4例患者行18F-脱氧葡萄糖正电子发射计算机断层显像(PET-CT)检查,病灶均有较高的标准化摄取值（SUV值）。经皮肺穿刺活检确诊33例,开胸手术确诊1例,胸腔镜手术确诊3例,淋巴结活检确诊1例。治愈34例,显效3例,死亡1例。结论 在门诊就诊的肺部阴影患者中,肺隐球菌病应作为诊断及鉴别诊断的疾病之一。肺隐球菌病的影像学表现具有病灶多发、靠近胸膜及多位于下肺部等特点,但临床表现无特异性。经皮肺穿刺活检是确诊的有效方法之一。     

原发性肺隐球菌病12例临床分析

目的探讨免疫功能无异常的原发性肺隐球菌病患者cT征象及CT引导下经皮肺穿刺活检在诊断中的价值。方法回顾性分析浙江大学医学院附属邵逸夫医院经病理证实的12例原发性肺隐球菌病患者的临床资料。结果（1）12例患者的CT征象均为单肺叶发病,其中单发结节4例,局限性多发混杂的结节和（或）肿块和（或）肺实变8例,此外还可见支气管充气征／小泡征（9例）、空洞（2例）和“晕”征（4例）。（2）9例行CT引导下经皮肺穿刺活检,其中7例病理学确诊。（3）12例患者中7例行手术切除,术后2例行氟康唑治疗,余5例未用药,其中1例术后5个月发生隐球菌性脑膜炎;另5例用氟康唑治疗。结论免疫功能无异常者时有发生肺隐球菌病的可能;肺隐球菌病的临床症状与影像学表现明显不相称;大多数肺隐球菌病的CT主要征象为局限性多发混杂的结节和（或）肿块和（或）肺实变,如同时有支气管充气征／小泡征、晕征,则具有特征性;尽早采用CT引导下经皮穿刺活检将有助于该病的早期诊断;氟康唑治疗该病效果好,有助于预防严重并发症的发生。     

Pulmonary cryptococcosis in non-AIDS patients

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical features, management, and prognosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis in non-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients.Method24 cases of pulmonary cryptococcosis with accurate pathological diagnosis were retrospectively studied.Results15 male patients and nine female patients were diagnosed at the first affiliated hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from November 1999 to November 2011. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 44.2 ± 11.3 years (range: 24 to 65 years). Among these patients, 13 had other comorbidities. 15 were symptomatic and the other nine were asymptomatic. The most common presenting symptoms were cough, chest tightness, expectoration, and fever. None had concurrent cryptococcal meningitis. The most frequent radiologic abnormalities on chest computed tomography (CT) scans were solitary or multiple pulmonary nodules, and masses or consolidations, and most lesions were located in the lower lobes. All patients had biopsies for the accurate diagnosis. Among the 24 patients, nine patients underwent surgical resections (eight had pneumonectomy via thoracotomy and one had a pneumonectomy via thoracoscopy). Five of the patients who underwent surgery also received antifungal drug therapy (fluconazole) for one to three months after the surgery. The other 15 only received antifungal drug therapy (fluconazole or voriconazole) for three to six months (five patients are still on therapy). The follow-up observation of 19 patients who had already finished their treatments lasted from two to 11 years, and there was no relapse, dissemination, or death in any of these patients.ConclusionNon-AIDS patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis have a good prognosis with appropriate management.     

肺隐球菌病的外科治疗

目的探讨肺隐球菌病的临床特点、诊断、手术治疗及疗效。方法分析27例外科手术治疗的肺隐球菌病患者,其中男22例,女5例;年龄25～67岁,平均(47.5±7.9)岁。其中标准剖胸手术17例,采用胸腔镜或胸腔镜辅助下小切口开胸手术10例;肺叶切除16例,肺局部楔形切除9例,胸腔镜活检术2例。结果病灶彻底切除25例,2例胸腔镜活检。无手术死亡病例,术后无胸腔内出血,切口愈合良好,无切口感染,无脓胸以及支气管胸膜瘘等。随访2～5年,25例治愈、无复发,1例复发且伴有隐球菌脑膜炎,1例失访。结论肺隐球菌病的临床表现和影像学检查缺乏特征性表现,外科手术是诊断及治疗局限性肺隐球菌病非常有效的手段,胸腔镜或胸腔镜辅助小切口手术具有创伤小、恢复快的特点。     

Pulmonary cryptococcosis in nonimmunocompromised patients

BACKGROUND: Cryptococcus neoformans can cause serious systemic infections requiring systemic antifungal therapy in immunocompromised hosts. However, isolated pulmonary cryptococcosis in nonimmunocompromised hosts has been reported to resolve spontaneously without treatment. STUDY OBJECTIVE:s: To determine the role of antifungal therapy in the management of isolated pulmonary cryptococcosis in nonimmunocompromised hosts. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Tertiary care, referral medical center PATIENTS: Thirty-six nonimmunocompromised subjects with isolated pulmonary cryptococcosis who received diagnoses at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) from 1976 to 2001. INTERVENTIONS: None. Measurements and results: Of 42 nonimmunocompromised subjects with cryptococcal infections, 36 (86%) had isolated pulmonary cryptococcosis. The mean (+/- SD) age of these 36 patients was 61 +/- 15 years (range, 14 to 88 years), and the groups included 17 men (47%) and 19 women (53%). Twenty-four patients (67%) were symptomatic, and 12 patients (33%) were asymptomatic. The most common presenting symptoms were cough, dyspnea, and fever. Cultures of sputum and bronchial washings most commonly yielded the diagnosis. Cerebrospinal fluid examination was performed in 11 patients (31%) and was negative in all of them. Follow-up information was available on 25 patients (69%) with a median duration of 19 months (range, 1 to 330 months). Twenty-three of these patients (92%) had resolution of their disease (no treatment, 8 patients; surgical resection only, 6 patients; and antifungal therapy, 9 patients). The condition of the two remaining patients had improved. There was no documented treatment failure, relapse, dissemination, or death in any of these 25 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that an initial period of observation without the administration of antifungal therapy is a reasonable option for nonimmunocompromised subjects with pulmonary cryptococcosis in the absence of systemic symptoms or evidence of dissemination, as well as after surgical resection for focal cryptococcal pneumonia.     

Clinical studies of sixteen cases with pulmonary cryptococcosis mainly with respect to serum level of cryptococcal antigen

Clinical studies of sixteen cases with pulmonary cryptococcosis, during the past six years between 1998 and 2004, were peformed mainly with respect to serum cryptococcal antigen titer. Serum cryptococcal antigen was positive in twelve of 16 cases, the other three cases were diagnosed by VATS, the other one by positive culture of cryptococcus in BALF. In these twelve cases, the serum cryptococcal antigen titer was continuously tested after treatment. The serum cryptococcal antigen titer decreased from half to 6 months after treatment. And the cryptococcal Ag changed to negative in six of the 12 cases by antifungal agents from 5 to 19 months. But four cases whose pneumonia was severe tended to have a high titer level of cryptococcal antigen and were positive for a long period. In the Chest CT of four pulmonary cryptococcosis case with negative cryptococcal antigen, all of the maximum nodule size was less than or equal to 15mm in diameter.     

Pulmonary infections in patients with rheumatoid arthritis]

We studied 149 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients (mean age 68.0 years; 68 men, 81 women) with pulmonary infections. The mean age at the onset of RA and the duration of RA was 57.2 +/- 15.2 years and 10.9 +/- 11.5 years, respectively. Pulmonary infections included nontuberculous mycobacteriosis in 59 patients (Mycobacterium avium complex infection, 50 cases : Mycobacterium kansasii infection, 4 cases; others, 5 cases), pneumonia in 46 patients, pulmonary tuberculosis in 28 patients, pulmonary aspergillosis in 12 patients, pulmonary cryptococcosis in 5 patients, Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia in 5 patients, lung abscess in 9 patients, exacerbation of bronchiectasis in 7 patients, and empyema in 4 patients. One hundred percent of patients with exacerbation of bronchiectasis, 91.7% of patients with pulmonary aspergillosis, 87% of patients with pneumonia, and 81.4% of patients with nontuberculous mycobacteriosis had underlying lung diseases. The pulmonary infections during therapy with steroids were pulmonary tuberculosis (78.6%), pneumonia (65.2%), and pulmonary aspergillosis (58.3%), while the pulmonary infections during methotrexate treatment were Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (80%), pulmonary cryptococcosis (40%), and pulmonary tuberculosis (28.6%). Pulmonary infections in RA patients who were taking TNFalpha inhibitors included 1 patient each with nontuberculous mycobacteriosis, pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis, and Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia. Among the RA patients with lung abscess, malignancy was noted in 55.6%, and diabetes mellitus in 22.2%. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the second-most-common cause of pneumonia and cause of all exacerbations of bronchiectasis. As well as immunosuppressive medications (steroids, methotrexate, TNFalpha inhibitors) and systemic comorbid diseases, underlying lung diseases could be one of the risk factor for pulmonary infections in patients with RA. The dominant risk factor for each pulmonary infection in patients with RA might be different.