Concurrent Interstitial Lung Disease Research Articles

Interstitial Lung Diseases and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Particularities in Pathogenesis and Expression of Driver Mutations.

Interstitial lung diseases are a varied group of diseases associated with chronic inflammation and fibrosis. With the emerging and current treatment options, survival rates have vastly improved. Having in mind that the most common type is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and that a significant proportion of these patients will develop lung cancer as the disease progresses, prompt diagnosis and personalized treatment of these patients are fundamental. The scope of this review is to identify and characterize molecular and pathogenetic pathways that can interconnect Interstitial Lung Diseases and lung cancer, especially driver mutations in patients with NSCLC, and to highlight new and emerging treatment options in that view. Common pathogenetic pathways have been identified in sites of chronic inflammation in patients with interstitial lung diseases and lung cancer. Of note, the expression of driver mutations in EGFR, BRAF, and KRAS G12C in patients with NSCLC with concurrent interstitial lung disease is vastly different compared to those patients with NSCLC without Interstitial Lung Disease. NSCLC in patients with Interstitial Lung Disease is a challenging diagnostic and clinical entity, and a personalized medicine approach is fundamental to improving survival and quality of life. Newer anti-fibrotic medications have improved survival in IPF/ILD patients; thus, the incidence of lung cancer is going to vastly increase in the next 5-10 years.

Predictors and prognosis of pulmonary hypertension complicating interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis.

To identify those with concurrent pulmonary hypertension (PH) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and determine their disease severity, therapeutic approach, and survival. Consecutive SSc patients enrolled in the Australian Scleroderma Cohort Study (ASCS) who were diagnosed on right heart catherisation with pulmonary hypertension were included. Logistic regression was used to determine the associations of ILD with PH hemodynamic parameters and therapeutic approach. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to estimate survival. Of 1,883 SSc patients, 164 (8.7%) developed incident PH over a median follow up of 4.3 (1.7-7.9) years. Of these, 43.9% had concurrent ILD at PH diagnosis (PH-ILD) and 56.1% had Group 1 PAH. Extensive ILD was present at PH diagnosis in 40.3%. Despite these distinct PH cohorts, a similar frequency of each PH cohort was treated with vasodilatory therapy at PH diagnosis, regardless of the presence or severity of ILD. The majority (87.5%) of those with extensive ILD and PH received upfront vasodilatory therapy at PH diagnosis with no difference in its tolerability or therapy cessation compared with Group 1 PAH. Although vasodilator therapy was not associated with a survival advantage in those with extensive ILD, its use was associated with an improvement in symptoms, physical function, and quality of life (QoL). Despite vasodilator therapy, survival in SSc-PH is poor, with the presence of concurrent ILD associated with worse survival. Although vasodilator therapy commenced at PH diagnosis does not portray an improved survival in PH with extensive ILD, it appears well tolerated and may improve symptoms, physical function, and QoL.

Selection of the appropriate treatment for the combination of interstitial lung disease and lung cancer: A retrospective observational study.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) independently heightens the risk of lung cancer (LC), often necessitating chemoradiotherapy (CRT) due to advanced disease stages. However, CRT may compromise survival through complications such as ILD exacerbation or radiation pneumonitis. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal surgical or nonsurgical treatment approaches for patients with concurrent ILD and LC. Over a 10-year period, a retrospective evaluation was conducted on 647 patients with confirmed diagnoses of LC and ILD from a total of 4541 patients examined in the polyclinic. This assessment included a comprehensive review of demographic, treatment, and survival records. Study groups included those treated for both ILD and LC with surgical treatment (ST), chemotherapy (CT), radiotherapy (RT), or CRT. A control group comprised ILD-only cases. In the whole sample of 647 patients with complete data, the length of stay in hospital and respiratory intensive care unit was significantly shorter in the ST group and longer in the CT group. Significant differences in discharge status (P < .001) were observed, with higher recovery rates in the ST and RT groups. The CT group showed an increased rate of transfer to other centers, in-hospital mortality was determined to be higher in the CRT group, and the control group exhibited no change in discharge. No statistically significant difference was determined between the groups with respect to the 24- and 48-month survival rates (P = .100). Although no disparity was found in 2- and 4-year survival rates, there were seen to be advantages in survival and quality of life with the addition of radiotherapy to regions aligning with surgical margins for LC patients with ILD, evaluated as radiological N0, undergoing wedge resection. This underscores the need for personalized treatment strategies to balance effective cancer control and to minimize ILD-related complications.

Connective tissue disease-associated pulmonary hypertension: A comprehensive review.

Connective tissue diseases (CTDs) can be associated with various forms of pulmonary hypertension, including pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), pulmonary veno-occlusive disease, pulmonary venous hypertension, interstitial lung disease-associated pulmonary hypertension, chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, and sometimes a combination of several processes. The prevalence of PAH varies among the different CTDs, with systemic sclerosis (SSc) having the highest at 8%-12%. The most recent European Society of Cardiology/European Respiratory Societyguidelines recommend routine annual screening for PAH in SSc and CTDs with SSc features. As CTDs can be associated with a myriad of presentations of pulmonary hypertension, a thorough evaluation to include a right heart catheterization to clearly delineate the hemodynamic profile is essential in developing an appropriate treatment plan. Treatment strategies will depend on the predominant phenotype of pulmonary vasculopathy. In general, management approach to CTD-PAH mirrors that of idiopathic PAH. Despite this, outcomes of CTD-PAH are inferior to those of idiopathic PAH, with those of SSc-PAH being particularly poor. Reasons for this may include extrapulmonary manifestations of CTDs, including renal disease and gastrointestinal involvement, concurrent interstitial lung disease, and differences in the innate response of the right ventricle to increased pulmonary vascular resistance. Early referral for lung transplant evaluation of patients with CTD-PAH, particularly SSc-PAH, is recommended. It is hoped that in the near future, additional therapies may be added to the armamentarium of effective treatments for CTD-PAH. Ultimately, a better understanding of the pathogenesis of CTD-PAH will be required to develop targeted therapies for this morbid condition.

B Cell Lymphocytosis in Juvenile Dermatomyositis.

In this study, we determined if B lymphocytosis may serve as a JDM biomarker for disease activity. Children with untreated JDM were divided into two groups based on age-adjusted B cell percentage (determined through flow cytometry): 90 JDM in the normal B cell group and 45 in the high B cell group. We compared through T-testing the age, sex, ethnicity, duration of untreated disease (DUD), disease activity scores for skin (sDAS), muscle (mDAS), total (tDAS), CMAS, and neopterin between these two groups. The patients in the high B cell group had a higher tDAS (p = 0.009), mDAS (p = 0.021), and neopterin (p = 0.0365). Secondary analyses included B cell values over time and BAFF levels in matched patients with JM (juvenile myositis) and concurrent interstitial lung disease (ILD); JM alone and healthy controls Patient B cell percentage and number was significantly higher after 3-6 months of therapy and then significantly lower on completion of therapy (p =< 0.0001). The JM groups had higher BAFF levels than controls 1304 vs. 692 ng/mL (p = 0.0124). This study supports B cell lymphocytosis as a JDM disease-activity biomarker and bolsters the basis for B cell-directed therapies in JDM.

Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors of Polymyositis and Dermatomyositis Combined with Interstitial Lung Disease in Patients Residing in the Northeast Sichuan Province of China.

Polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) are non-suppurative and autoimmune inflammatory diseases of striated muscle. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a group of heterogeneous diseases that mainly involve the pulmonary interstitium, alveoli, and/or bronchioles, also known as diffuse parenchymal lung disease (DPLD). A significant cause of death in persons with polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) is concurrent interstitial lung disease (ILD). However, research on the clinical characteristics and associated influencing factors of PM/DM combined with ILD (PM/DM-ILD) is currently scarce in China. The study aimed to probe the clinical features and risk factors of PM/DM-ILD. The data of 130 patients with PM/DM were gathered. General medical status, clinical symptoms, laboratory parameters, high-resolution CT, therapeutic outcomes, and prognoses were retrospectively reviewed in patients with PM/DM with (ILD group) and without (NILD) ILD. The age of the ILD group (n=65) was more than the NILD group (n=65), and the difference was statistically significant; there were no significant between-group variations in the PM/DM ratio, sex, or duration of the disease. The initial symptoms were arthritis and respiratory symptoms in the ILD group, and myasthenia symptoms in the NILD group. Incidences of Raynaud's phenomenon, dry cough, expectoration, dyspnea on exertion, arthritis, fever, total globulin (GLOB), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and anti-Jo-1 antibody rate were higher for ILD; however, albumin (ALB), creatine kinase aspartate aminotransferase activity ratio (CK/AST) and CK levels were significantly lower in the ILD group. Bivariate logistic regression analysis showed age, dry cough, arthritis, dyspnea on exertion, anti-Jo-1 antibody, and elevated GLOB to be independent risk factors for ILD among patients with PM/DM. Advanced age, dry cough, arthritis, dyspnea on exertion, anti-Jo-1 antibody positivity, and elevated GLOB level are risk factors for PM/DM-ILD. This information could be utilized to carefully monitor changing lung function in these patients.

Prevalence and risk factors of non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary isolates and infection in interstitial lung disease associated with systemic autoimmune disease.

Non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease (NTM-LD) prevalence is increasing worldwide. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of NTM pulmonary isolates (NTM-PI) and NTM-LD in patients with systemic autoimmune disease (SAD) who had a concurrent interstitial lung disease (ILD) diagnosis. We retrospectively identified patients with SAD who had a concurrent ILD diagnosis (SAD-ILD) and from whom clinically indicated sputum specimens were collected for NTM culture between 2003 and 2018 at a tertiary referral hospital. We analysed the prevalence and risk factors of NTM pulmonary isolates (NTM-PI; ≥1 positive culture) and NTM-LD (≥2 positive cultures). This study included 258 patients. Rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren's syndrome were the most common SADs (32.2% and 26.7%, respectively). The NTM-negative subgroup had 204 patients (79.1%) and the NTM-PI subgroup had 54 patients (20.9%). In the NTM-PI subgroup, 33 patients had one NTM positive set of specimens (NTM 1+, 12.8% of the entire sample) and 21 had NTM-LD (8.1% of the entire sample). In a multivariable analysis, chronic kidney disease (CKD; adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 3.10 [1.53, 6.29]) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; aOR: 2.59 [1.16, 5.78]) were significantly associated with NTM-PI. For NTM-LD, CKD (aOR: 2.79 [1.00, 7.76]) and COPD (aOR: 3.70 [1.23, 10.72]) remained significant risk factors. In patients with SAD-ILD, the NTM-PI and NTM-LD prevalence rates were 20.9% and 8.1%, respectively. COPD and CKD were independent risk factors of both NTM-PI and NTM-LD. Previous use of biological agents was associated with NTM-PI.

A retrospective comparison of respiratory events with JAK inhibitors or rituximab for rheumatoid arthritis in patients with pulmonary disease

Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) are an exciting option for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but little is known about their safety and tolerability in patients with existing respiratory disorders. The objective was to compare pulmonary safety of JAKi versus rituximab in patients with concurrent interstitial lung disease (ILD) or bronchiectasis. We performed a retrospective electronic patient record review of patients with known ILD or bronchiectasis commencing JAKi or rituximab for the treatment of RA. Patients initiating treatment from January 2016 to February 2020 were included. Respiratory events (hospitalization or death from a respiratory cause) were compared using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. We analysed patients who received JAKi (n = 28) and rituximab (n = 19) for a mean (SD) of 1.1 (0.62) and 2.14 (1) years respectively. Patients were predominantly female (68%), anti-CCP antibody positive (94%) and non-smoking (89%) with a median (IQR) percentage predicted FVC at baseline of 100% (82–115%) and percentage predicted TLCO of 62% (54.5–68%). Respiratory events occurred in five patients treated with JAKi (18%; 5 hospitalizations, 2 deaths) and in four patients treated with rituximab (21%; 3 hospitalizations, 1 death). Respiratory event rates did not differ between groups (Cox-regression proportional hazard ratio = 1.38, 95% CI 0.36–5.28; p = 0.64). In this retrospective study, JAKi for the treatment of RA with existing ILD or bronchiectasis did not increase the rate of hospitalization or death due to respiratory causes compared to those treated with rituximab. JAK inhibition may provide a relatively safe option for RA in such patients.

Factors associated with refractory autoimmune necrotizing myopathy with anti-signal recognition particle antibodies

BackgroundAutoimmune necrotizing myopathy with anti-signal recognition particle antibodies (ANM-SRP) is regarded as refractory myositis, whereby some patients respond poorly to conventional immunosuppression and require B cell depletion treatment. This study aimed to evaluate factors associated with refractory ANM-SRP.ResultsClinical and pathological data from 48 patients with ANM-SRP were collected. We followed up clinical symptoms and image changes over 12 months. Univariate and multivariate analyses were undertaken to determine the associations between variables of interest and poor response to therapy. Refractory ANM-SRP appeared in 32.5% of patients who showed no or minimal improvement after 12 months of steroid therapy. The clinical risk factors for refractory patients were being male (OR, 19.57; P < 0.001), severe muscle weakness (OR, 7.51; P < 0.001) and concurrent interstitial lung disease (OR, 39.70; P < 0.001). The imaging refractory-related factor was the fatty infiltration rate of thigh muscles over 3 months (P = 0.022) and the pathological factor associated with refractory ANM-SRP was the high expression of B cell activating factor receptor (BAFF-R) in muscle (P = 0.036).ConclusionBeing male, severe muscle weakness, concurrent interstitial lung disease, quick development of muscle fatty infiltration and more BAFF-R and B lymphocyte infiltration in muscle indicate a poor response to immunosuppressive therapy in patients with ANM-SRP.

CPAP Adherence, Mortality, and Progression-Free Survival in Interstitial Lung Disease and OSA

OSA, a common comorbidity in interstitial lung disease (ILD), could contribute to a worsened course if untreated. It is unclear if adherence to CPAP therapy improves outcomes. Does adherence to CPAP therapy improve outcomes in patients with concurrent interstitial lung disease and OSA? We conducted a 10-year retrospective observational multicenter cohort study, assessing adult patients with ILD who had undergone polysomnography. Subjects were categorized based on OSA severity into no/mild OSA (apnea-hypopnea index score< 15) or moderate/severe OSA (apnea-hypopnea index score≥ 15). All subjects prescribed and adherent to CPAP were deemed to have treated OSA. Cox regression models were used to examine the association of OSA severity and CPAP adherence with all-cause mortality risk and progression-free survival (PFS). Of 160 subjects that met inclusion criteria, 131 had OSA and were prescribed CPAP. Sixty-six patients (41%) had no/mild untreated OSA, 51 (32%) had moderate/severe untreated OSA, and 43 (27%) had treated OSA. Subjects with no/mild untreated OSA did not differ from those with moderate/severe untreated OSA in mean survival time (127 ± 56 vs138 ± 93months, respectively; P= .61) and crude mortality rate (2.9 per 100 person-years vs2.9 per 100 person-years, respectively; P= .60). Adherence to CPAP was not associated with improvement in all-cause mortality risk (hazard ratio [HR], 1.1; 95%CI, 0.4-2.9; P= .79) or PFS (HR, 0.9; 95%CI, 0.5-1.5; P= .66) compared with those that were nonadherent or untreated. Among subjects requiring supplemental oxygen, those adherent to CPAP had improved PFS (HR, 0.3; 95%CI, 0.1-0.9; P= .03) compared with nonadherent or untreated subjects. Neither OSA severity nor adherence to CPAP was associated with improved outcomes in patients with ILD except those requiring supplemental oxygen.

A Phase 2, Randomized, Open-Label, 2-Arm Study Comparing 2 Intermittent Dosing Schedules of Duvelisib in Patients with Indolent Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (iNHL) (TEMPO)

Background Duvelisib, an oral dual PI3K-δ and PI3K-γ inhibitor, is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) follicular lymphoma (FL) after ≥ 2 prior systemic therapies. In multiple phase 1-3 studies that included patients with iNHL, duvelisib was shown to be efficacious, with a favorable risk-benefit profile. This study will evaluate whether duvelisib efficacy at the approved 25 mg twice daily (BID) dose can be achieved and maintained with an acceptable or improved safety profile by the inclusion of prespecified 2-week drug holidays in patients with R/R iNHL. Study Design and Methods TEMPO is a randomized, open-label, multicenter, international, phase 2 study of duvelisib in adult patients with R/R iNHL in whom ≥ 1 line of prior therapy has failed. The primary objective is to evaluate the efficacy of duvelisib administered with prescribed drug holidays, with the primary endpoint of overall response rate (ORR) by the 2007 revised International Working Group criteria. Key secondary endpoints include ORR by the 2014 Lugano criteria, progression-free survival, overall survival, time to treatment failure, duration of response, lymph node response rate, time to the first response, adverse event profile, and determination of pharmacokinetics parameters. Exploratory objectives include assessment of quality of life and biomarkers of treatment response and toxicity. Key inclusion criteria include histologically confirmed FL grades 1 to 3a, marginal zone lymphoma (splenic, nodal, or extranodal) or small lymphocytic lymphoma, radiological evidence of disease progression and ≥ 1 bidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 1.5 cm, adequate organ function, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≤ 2. Key exclusion criteria include prior allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant; previous treatment with a PI3K inhibitor; history of drug-induced colitis or drug-induced pneumonitis; ongoing treatment for systemic infection; central nervous system NHL; prolonged QT interval; history of tuberculosis treatment within the 2 past years; history of stroke, unstable angina, myocardial infarction, or ventricular arrhythmia requiring medication or mechanical control within the past 6 months; history of or concurrent interstitial lung disease of any severity and/or severely impaired lung function; ongoing treatment with chronic immunosuppressants; and any unstable or severe uncontrolled medical condition. A total of 102 patients are planned to be enrolled. Patients will be randomized 1:1 to 2 arms and stratified by number of prior therapies (1 or &gt; 1), bulky disease status (longest diameter of baseline lesion &lt; 5 cm or ≥ 5 cm), and time since last recurrence (≥ 24 months or &lt; 24 months). In arm 1, patients will receive duvelisib 25 mg BID for one 10-week (W) cycle followed by 25 mg BID on W3 and W4 of each subsequent 4-week cycle. In arm 2, patients will receive duvelisib 25 mg BID on W1, W2, W5, W6, W9, and W10 of one 10-week cycle and then on W3 and W4 of each subsequent 4-week cycle. Patients will be treated until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or withdrawal. This study will test the null hypothesis that the ORR in each arm is ≤ 30% against the alternative that the ORR is ≥ 55%. The study has a 2-stage design. In stage 1, 15 patients will be enrolled in each arm, with response assessment after ≥ 3 cycles. If there are fewer than 6 partial or complete responses, consideration may be given to terminating the arm. Otherwise, in stage 2, 36 additional patients will be enrolled, for a total of 51 per arm. Enrollment is planned to be initiated in August 2019. Approximately 50 sites will be open for enrollment across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Disclosures Karmali: Takeda, BMS: Other: Research Funding to Institution; Gilead/Kite; Juno/Celgene: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Astrazeneca: Speakers Bureau. Youssoufian:Verastem Oncology: Consultancy, Equity Ownership. Sprott:SMOC Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership; Verastem Oncology: Employment, Equity Ownership. Weaver:FemtoDx: Consultancy, Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Patents &amp; Royalties: Inventor; Verastem Oncology: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents &amp; Royalties: Inventor; Hillstream Biopharma: Consultancy, Equity Ownership. Narasimhan:Verastem: Employment, Equity Ownership. Lustgarten:Verastem: Employment. Patrick:Verastem Oncology: Employment. Zalutskaya:Verastem Inc: Employment, Equity Ownership. Gordon:Gilead: Other: Advisory Board; Juno/Celgene: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding; Zylem LLC: Other: co-founder; research in nanoparticles in cancer; Bayer: Other: Advisory Board. OffLabel Disclosure: Duvelisib (DUV), a dual PI3K-delta,gamma inhibitor, is US FDA approved at 25 mg twice daily (BID) for the treatment of R/R chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma after at least 2 lines of prior therapy and R/R follicular lymphoma after at least two prior systemic therapies.

THE RISK OF TREATMENT WITH PEMETREXED PLUS PLATINUM FOLLOWED BY MAINTENANCE WITH PEMETREXED FOR PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED NONSQUAMOUS NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER CONCURRENT WITH INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASE

SESSION TITLE: Wednesday Abstract Posters SESSION TYPE: Original Investigation Posters PRESENTED ON: 10/23/2019 09:45 AM - 10:45 AM PURPOSE: Pemetrexed plus platinum followed by pemetrexed maintenance has been one of the standard first-line treatments in advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but little was known regarding its safety and efficacy for patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy profiles of pemetrexed plus platinum with and without pemetrexed maintenance for patients with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC and concurrent ILD. METHODS: 24 patients with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC and preexisting ILD received pemetrexed and platinum doublet therapy with and without pemetrexed maintenance in a first-line setting between December 2009 and June 2016. Their clinical outcomes were retrospectively investigated. RESULTS: Of the 24 patients analyzed, 18 did not progress after 4 cycles of pemetrexed and platinum doublet therapy and 6 received pemetrexed maintenance. The median progression-free survival time was 4.7 months, and the median overall survival time was 9.5 months in the analysis for all patients. The median number of pemetrexed maintenance cycles was 2 (range: 2-4 cycles), but pemetrexed maintenance therapy did not improve the median OS. AE-ILD occurred in 3 cases during the doublet therapy and in 2 cases during the maintenance therapy. Treatment-related deaths occurred in one case during the doublet therapy and in 2 cases during the maintenance. CONCLUSIONS: Combination chemotherapy of pemetrexed plus platinum with pemetrexed maintenance has a high risk of AE-ILD in patients with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC and preexisting ILD. We recommend not administering pemetrexed as maintenance therapy for patients with preexisting ILD. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: We recommend not administering pemetrexed as maintenance therapy for patients with preexisting ILD. DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Hiroyuki Amano, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by TETSUO FUJITA, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Satoshi Hirano, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by TSUGUKO KUROKI, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by makoto nakamura, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by SUKEYUKI NAKAMURA, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by YUKA SHIRAISHI, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Hiroshi Tabeta, source=Web Response

The Association of Anti-Aminoacyl-Transfer Ribonucleic Acid Synthetase Antibodies in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Interstitial Lung Disease.

This study aims to analyze the distribution and clinicopathological characteristics of anti-aminoacyl-transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA) synthetase (ARS) antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis patients. We retrospectively studied the anti-ARS antibody levels in 228 RA patients' (44 males, 184 females; mean age 62.9±14.0 years; range 23 to 88 years) sera from their medical charts. We determined the association with anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody levels, interstitial lung disease (ILD), rheumatoid factor, and methotrexate or biological disease modifying antirheumatic drug treatments. Anti-ARS antibodies were detected in 14 RA patients (6.1%). ILD complications were significantly higher among anti-ARS antibody-positive patients (57.1% vs 22.4%, p<0.05). Levels of anti-threonyl-tRNA-synthetase (anti-PL-7) and anti-alanyl-tRNA-synthetase (anti-PL-12), two anti-ARS antibodies, were higher in RA patients with concurrent ILD (both p<0.05). Myositis and ILD worsening were not observed in three anti-ARS antibody- positive patients despite biological disease modifying antirheumatic drug administration. There was no difference in anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide and rheumatoid factor specificities between patients with or without ARS antibodies. Anti-ARS antibodies were detected in RA patients, with higher prevalence in patients with concurrent ILD. RA patients, specifically those with ILD complications, should be tested for anti-ARS antibodies.

Inflammatory lung disease a potential risk factor for onset of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: results from a pilot study

ObjectivesTo assess the association between inflammatory lung disease and the risk of developing idiopathic inflammatory myopathies.MethodsA population-based case–control study was conducted. Adult myositis cases, identified from the Swedish inpatient registry...

Interstitial Lung Disease in Patients with Hepatopulmonary Syndrome: A Case Series and New Observations

Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is characterized by impaired oxygenation due to pulmonary vascular dilatation in patients with end-stage liver disease. At our center, we identified 29 patients who were listed for liver transplantation (LT) with a model for end-stage liver disease exception for HPS between 2001 and 2012. Five of these patients were found to have concurrent interstitial lung disease (ILD). The chest high-resolution computed-tomography demonstrated ground-glass opacities and subpleural reticulation, most consistent with nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP). All four of our patients who underwent LT experienced prolonged hypoxemia postoperatively, with one surgery-related death. However, the three surviving patients had eventual resolution of their hypoxemia with no evidence of ILD progression. In conclusion, we report a high prevalence of ILD, most consistent with NSIP, among patients with HPS. Although there may be increased perioperative risks, the finding of ILD in patients with HPS should not be considered an absolute contraindication to LT.

Inflammatory myopathies.

To discuss the clinical, laboratory, and histopathologic features and presumed pathogenic mechanisms of the four major categories of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy, namely dermatomyositis, polymyositis, immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy, and inclusion body myositis. Dermatomyositis, polymyositis, necrotizing myopathy, and inclusion body myositis are clinically, histologically, and pathogenically distinct. Polymyositis is a T cell-mediated disorder directed against muscle fibers. The pathogenesis of dermatomyositis, necrotizing myopathy, and inclusion body myositis are unknown. Dermatomyositis, polymyositis, and necrotizing myopathy are generally, but not always, responsive to immunosuppressive therapy, in contrast to inclusion body myositis, which is generally refractory to therapy. The pattern of muscle weakness, other clinical features (eg, rash, concurrent interstitial lung disease), laboratory features (creatine kinase, autoantibodies), and muscle biopsies are useful in distinguishing subtypes of inflammatory myopathy and in guiding treatment. More research is necessary to unravel the exact pathogenic bases of these myopathies and identify better treatments.

Laparoscopic Splenectomy in a Child with Moyamoya Syndrome, Hereditary Spherocytosis, and Interstitial Lung Disease: A Mere Coincidence or Partnership Based on Genetic Similarities

A case of moyamoya syndrome and spherocytosis with concurrent interstitial lung disease who underwent laparoscopic splenectomy is being reported. A theory regarding their coexistence is being forwarded together with their anesthetic management. According to our search, this is the fourth case of moyamoya syndrome and the first case with an associated interstitial lung disease in a 10-year-old child.

Eternacept for the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and concurrent interstitial lung disease

Tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-blocking agents are increasingly used in the management of refractory rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although effective, they are associated with rare but potentially fatal adverse effects, including interstitial lung disease (ILD). In patients with pre-existing ILD, eternacept (ETN) monotherapy is often regarded as a suitable choice. Other anti-TNF-α blockers such as infliximab and adalimumab, are used in combination therapy with methotrexate (MTX) in most of the cases. We report on a case of fatal exacerbation of ILD in a patient given ETN monotherapy and review the literature on ETN-associated ILD. We report on a case of a 75-year-old male with RA who developed severe ILD after the introduction of ETN, and we undertook a literature search to identify other reports of similar cases. We then critically assessed those reports. In addition to our case, 11 other patients have been reported to have developed ILD in association with the use of ETN. Six patients had pre-existing ILD. Although four patients received MTX, eight patients developed severe ILD without MTX. Ten patients recovered after termination of ETN, although two patients died. Although ETN is often regarded as safe for patients with ILD, our case and the literature reports suggest that caution is still required.