Current opinion in pulmonary medicine
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Hypersensitity pneumonitis, caused by inhalation of various antigens, is characterized by interstitial mononuclear cell infiltration, nonnecrotizing granulomas, cellular bronchiolitis, and fibrosis. The pathological picture of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis is, however, complicated; it is sometimes difficult to differentiate chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis/usual interstitial pneumonia, nonspecific interstitial pneumonia, and connective-tissue-related lung disease. The clinical, radiological, and pathological features of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis have recently been described. This study reviews the previously reported information and provides new insights into the pathological features of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis. ⋯ The present review focuses on the pathological features of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis and presents that centrilobular fibrosis and bridging fibrosis are the important hallmarks of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis, even with a usual interstitial pneumonia-like pattern.
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To examine recent advances in the understanding of the prevalence, pathophysiology, natural history, diagnosis, and treatment of pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease. ⋯ Pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease is now frequently recognized and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Various new pharmacotherapies as well as lung transplantation are increasing the treatment options for these disorders, although timing of advanced therapies and long-term benefits and toxicities remain uncertain.
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Review Case Reports
Diffuse pulmonary ossification: an unusual interstitial lung disease.
Diffuse pulmonary ossification is a rare disease characterized by diffuse small bone fragments in the lung tissue. It can be idiopathic or associated with underlying chronic pulmonary or heart diseases. The majority of cases had been diagnosed on autopsy. This review collects present knowledge of diffuse pulmonary ossification with the purpose of understanding and considering the entity in the differential diagnosis of interstitial lung diseases better. ⋯ Diffuse pulmonary ossification is still underrecognized during life. Its relevance concerning the increasing age of population and longer survival of patients with chronic diseases is underrated. A timely diagnosis will enable a better understanding of pathogenesis and natural course of disease thus paving the way to new therapeutic strategies.
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This paper reviews recently described prognostic prediction rules (the Geneva score, the Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index, the Spanish score, the Davies criteria, and the HOme Management Exclusion criteria) for patients with acute symptomatic pulmonary embolism, and discusses their usefulness in decision-making regarding the appropriate initial therapy and treatment setting. ⋯ Predictive models identify patients with acute symptomatic pulmonary embolism who are at low risk of fatal and nonfatal adverse outcomes. Clinicians should incorporate predictive models into treatment algorithms for patients with acute symptomatic pulmonary embolism diagnosed in the emergency department.
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To examine recent advancements in the clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis of diffuse parenchymal disease and pulmonary hypertension due to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, scleroderma and sarcoidosis. ⋯ Lung fibrosis by any cause can be a debilitating disease. Not all current medical options are equally effective under randomized-controlled trials. Further studies with novel therapies are needed to control symptoms. The compounding presence of pulmonary hypertension will further limit the patient activity, quality of life and survival. As it has been reviewed, not all pulmonary hypertension-specific agents effectively work in these three subset groups.