Long-term Steroid Treatment Research Articles

Steroid myopathy in patients with myasthenia gravis: a literature review

Steroid myopathy is a common drug-induced non-inflammatory myopathy that affects patients requiring long-term glucocorticoid treatment for various autoimmune, inflammatory and oncological diseases. According to the neurology clinical practice guidelines, non-fluorinated glucocorticoids are the first-line pathogen-directed therapy for a number of dysimmune neuromuscular disorders, including myasthenia gravis. Long-term high-dose steroid treatment regime for myasthenia gravis leads to both acute and chronic development of glucocorticoids-induced proximal muscle weakness and atrophy. Steroid myopathy, along with other undesirable side effects of glucocorticoids therapy, impact health-related quality of life, patient satisfaction and adherence to treatment. Hence, further studies are required to expand our knowledge of clinical evaluation, diagnostic testing and prevention approaches for glucocorticoids-induced myopathy. The aim of this literature review is to analyze existing data on pathogenesis, diagnostic tools and treatment strategies for steroid myopathy.

Context is key: glucocorticoid receptor and corticosteroid therapeutics in outcomes after traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a global health burden, and survivors suffer functional and psychiatric consequences that can persist long after injury. TBI induces a physiological stress response by activating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, but the effects of injury on the stress response become more complex in the long term. Clinical and experimental evidence suggests long lasting dysfunction of the stress response after TBI. Additionally, pre- and post-injury stress both have negative impacts on outcome following TBI. This bidirectional relationship between stress and injury impedes recovery and exacerbates TBI-induced psychiatric and cognitive dysfunction. Previous clinical and experimental studies have explored the use of synthetic glucocorticoids as a therapeutic for stress-related TBI outcomes, but these have yielded mixed results. Furthermore, long-term steroid treatment is associated with multiple negative side effects. There is a pressing need for alternative approaches that improve stress functionality after TBI. Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) has been identified as a fundamental link between stress and immune responses, and preclinical evidence suggests GR plays an important role in microglia-mediated outcomes after TBI and other neuroinflammatory conditions. In this review, we will summarize GR-mediated stress dysfunction after TBI, highlighting the role of microglia. We will discuss recent studies which target microglial GR in the context of stress and injury, and we suggest that cell-specific GR interventions may be a promising strategy for long-term TBI pathophysiology.

A Case of Retinal Edema in Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody-Associated Optic Neuritis

Purpose: To report a case of retinal edema and retinal hemorrhage in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-immunoglobulin G (IgG) positive optic neuritis.Case summary: A 49-year-old male visited the clinic due to decreased vision and eye pain in the left eye after 2 times of right eye and 1 time of left eye optic neuritis. The patient presented with eyelid swelling and retinal hemorrhage as well as optic disc swelling of the left eye. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed parafoveal intraretinal fluid. The patient received the intravenous high-dose steroids and the immune globulin therapy. He was then put on maintenance oral steroids and immunosuppressive agents. After the treatment, the best corrected visual acuity of left eye was improved to 0.2. Retinal hemorrhage and retinal edema of the left eye decreased, and optic nerve pale in both eyes was observed. OCT showed overall atrophy of the retinal nerve fiber layer in both eyes.Conclusions: Some patient with MOG-IgG positive optic neuritis will have eyelid swelling or retinal edema that is necessary to be differentiated from eyelid inflammatory disorder or macular disease such as diabetic retinopathy. Thus, clinician should consider MOG-IgG positive optic neuritis in patients with retinal edema when accompanied by eye pain with severe vision loss or repeated disc swelling. When diagnosed with MOG-IgG positive optic neuritis, a combined treatment of relatively long-term steroid treatment and immunosuppressants may be required.

Chronic exposure to dexamethasone may not affect sugammadex reversal of rocuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade: an in vivo study on rats.

Chronic glucocorticoid exposure is associated with resistance to nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents. Therefore, we hypothesized that sugammadex-induced recovery would occur more rapidly in subjects exposed to chronic dexamethasone compared to those who were not exposed. This study evaluated the sugammadex-induced recovery profile after neuromuscular blockade (NMB) in rats exposed to chronic dexamethasone. Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated to three groups (dexamethasone, control, and pair-fed group) for the in vivo study. The mice received daily intraperitoneal dexamethasone injections (500 μg/kg) or 0.9% saline for 15 days. To achieve complete NMB, 3.5 mg/kg rocuronium was administered on the sixteenth day. The recovery time to a train-of-four ratio ≥ 0.9 was measured to evaluate the complete recovery following the sugammadex injection. Among the groups, no significant differences were observed in the recovery time to a train-of-four ratio ≥ 0.9 following sugammadex administration (P = 0.531). The time to the second twitch of the train-of-four recovery following rocuronium administration indicated that the duration of NMB was significantly shorter in Group D than that in Groups C and P (P = 0.001). Chronic exposure to dexamethasone did not shorten the recovery time of sugammadex-induced NMB reversal. However, the findings of this study indicated that no adjustments to sugammadex dosage or route of administration is required, even in patients undergoing long-term steroid treatment.

Toxoplasma gondii infections in pediatric neurosurgery.

Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite that is estimated to infect one-third of the world's population. It is acquired by ingesting contaminated water and food specially undercooked meat, contact with domestic or wild feline feces, and during pregnancy by transplacental transmission.Immunocompetent hosts are usually asymptomatic, and infection will be self-limited, while those patients whose immune system is debilitated by HIV infection, immunosuppressive therapy, long-term steroid treatment, and fetuses infected during gestation will show evidence of systemic activity which is more severe in the central nervous system and eyes due to insufficient immune response caused by their respective blood barriers. Congenital toxoplasmosis has an estimated incidence of 8% in mothers who were seronegative at the beginning of their pregnancy. Infection in the first trimester may result in spontaneous abortion or stillbirth; however, it is estimated that the highest risk for vertical transmission is during the second and third trimesters when blood flow and placenta thickness favor parasitic transmission.Congenital toxoplasmosis can be detected with periodic surveillance in endemic areas, and with appropriate treatment, the risk of vertical transmission can be reduced, and the severity of the disease can be reversed in infected fetuses.While most infected newborns will show no evidence of the disease, those who suffer active intrauterine complications will present with cerebral calcifications in 8-12% of cases, hydrocephalus in 4-30%, and chorioretinitis in 12-15%. Also, seizure disorders, spasticity, and varying degrees of neurocognitive deficits can be found in 12%.Four distinct patterns of hydrocephalus have been described: aqueductal stenosis with lateral and third ventricle dilatation, periforaminal calcifications leading to foramen of Monro stenosis with associated asymmetrical ventricle dilatation, a mix of aqueductal and foramen of Monro stenosis, and overt hydrocephalus without clear evidence of obstruction with predominant dilatation of occipital horns (colpocephaly).While all patients diagnosed with congenital toxoplasmosis should undergo pharmacological treatment, those presenting with hydrocephalus have traditionally been managed with CSF shunting; however, there are reports of at least 50% success when selected cases are treated with endoscopic third ventriculostomy. Successful hydrocephalus management with appropriate treatment leads to better intellectual outcomes.

Steroid treatment suppresses the CD4+ T-cell response to the third dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease patients

Prolonged steroid treatment has a suppressive effect on the immune system, however, its effect on the cellular response to mRNA vaccine is unknown. Here we assessed the impact of prolonged steroid treatment on the T-cell and humoral response to the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) peptide following the third dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine in systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease patients. We found that CD4 T-cell response to the S peptide in patients on high-dose long-term steroid treatment showed significantly less S-peptide specific response, compare to low-dose or untreated patients. Remarkably, these results were not reflected in their humoral response, since almost all patients in the cohort had sufficient antibody levels. Moreover, S-peptide activation failed to induce significant mRNA levels of IFNγ and TNFα in patients receiving high-dose steroids. RNA-sequencing datasets analysis implies that steroid treatments' inhibitory effect of nuclear factor kappa-B signaling may interfere with the activation of S-specific CD4 T-cells. This reveals that high-dose steroid treatment inhibits T-cell response to the mRNA vaccine, despite having sufficient antibody levels. Since T-cell immunity is a crucial factor in the immune response to viruses, our findings highlight the need for enhancing the efficiency of vaccines in immune-suppressive patients, by modulation of the T-cell response.

Temporal Artery Biopsy Debate: Positive TAB Result Prolongs Steroid Use in Giant Cell Arteritis.

A retrospective chart review garnered patient demographics, symptoms, comorbidities, and steroid treatment duration in patients undergoing TAB at a single center. Steroid treatment was compared between TAB+ and TAB - patients. One hundred seven patients undergoing TAB were included. Patients were predominantly women (70.1%) with a median age of 74 years (46 -91). Of 107 TAB results, 74 (69.2%) were negative, 23 (21.5%) were positive, and 10 (9.3%) were found to be indeterminate. In TAB+ patients, the mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate was not significantly different than TAB - patients (60.2 versus 43.7, P = 0.45), nor was the median C-reactive protein (38.8 versus 18.1, P = 0.17). Regarding steroid use, both TAB+ and TAB - patients had a similarly high rate of prebiopsy steroid initiation (82.6% versus 70.3%, P = 0.32). More TAB+ patients remained on steroids at 6 weeks (95.0% versus 57.4%, P = 0.004), 6 months (95% versus 37.7%, P < 0.001), 1 year (65.0% versus 31.1%, P = 0.024), and 18 months (50.0% versus 19.7%, P = 0.045). By 2 years, the difference no longer met significance (35.0% versus 14.8%, P = 0.12). P = 0.12). TAB positivity does seem to influence maintenance of steroids up to 18 months after biopsy.

Prevalence and Death Rate of COVID-19 in Autoimmune Systemic Diseases in the First Three Pandemic Waves. Relationship with Disease Subgroups and Ongoing Therapies.

Autoimmune systemic diseases (ASD) represent a predisposing condition to COVID-19. Our prospective, observational multicenter telephone survey study aimed to investigate the prevalence, prognostic factors, and outcomes of COVID-19 in Italian ASD patients. The study included 3,918 ASD pts (815 M, 3103 F; mean age 59±12SD years) consecutively recruited between March 2020 and May 2021 at the 36 referral centers of COVID-19 and ASD Italian Study Group. The possible development of COVID-19 was recorded by means of a telephone survey using a standardized symptom assessment questionnaire. ASD patients showed a significantly higher prevalence of COVID-19 (8.37% vs. 6.49%; p<0.0001) but a death rate statistically comparable to the Italian general population (3.65% vs. 2.95%). Among the 328 ASD patients developing COVID-19, 17% needed hospitalization, while mild-moderate manifestations were observed in 83% of cases. Moreover, 12/57 hospitalized patients died due to severe interstitial pneumonia and/or cardiovascular events; systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients showed a significantly higher COVID-19-related death rate compared to the general population (6.29% vs. 2.95%; p=0.018). Major adverse prognostic factors to develop COVID-19 were: older age, male gender, SSc, pre-existing ASD-related interstitial lung involvement, and long-term steroid treatment. Of note, patients treated with conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) showed a significantly lower prevalence of COVID-19 compared to those without (3.58% vs. 46.99%; p=0.000), as well as the SSc patients treated with low dose aspirin (with 5.57% vs. without 27.84%; p=0.000). During the first three pandemic waves, ASD patients showed a death rate comparable to the general population despite the significantly higher prevalence of COVID-19. A significantly increased COVID-19- related mortality was recorded in only SSc patients' subgroup, possibly favored by preexisting lung fibrosis. Moreover, ongoing long-term treatment with csDMARDs in ASD might usefully contribute to the generally positive outcomes of this frail patients' population.

Short- and long-term oral steroid therapy in patients with asthma exacerbation.

Steroids are frequently used for symptom control in cases of asthma exacerbation. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of short-term and long-term oral steroid therapy on symptom control in patients with asthma exacerbation. Patients that received short-term (<10 d) and long-term (≥10 d) oral steroid therapy during asthma exacerbation were compared retrospectively. A visual analog scale (VAS) for symptom severity was administered, and the asthma control test (ACT) and pulmonary function tests were performed before and after treatment. The study included 69 patients and the overall mean duration of steroid treatment was 9.57±3.58 d (range: 5-25 d). Mean duration of short-term and long-term steroid treatment was 6.54±0.99 d and 11.63±3.21 d, respectively. Serious side-effects were not observed following oral steroid therapy. Post the short- and long-term oral steroid therapy there were not any significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of ACT, FEV1 (forced expiratory volume 1), or VAS symptom scores. The findings show that in patients with mild asthma exacerbation short-term oral steroid therapy is as effective as long-term steroid therapy and can be safely used for symptom control during periods of mild asthma exacerbation.

Long-term obesity prevalence and linear growth in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome: is normal growth and weight control possible with steroid-sparing drugs and low-dose steroids for relapses?

Long-term steroid treatment in children is known to cause obesity and negatively affect growth. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of obesity and overweight and analyze linear growth in children with nephrotic syndrome. The study involved 265 children treated with glucocorticoids for nephrotic syndrome for a mean duration of 43months (range: 6-167, IQR: 17, 63.3). Height, weight, and BMI SDS were recorded at each visit. Rate of change between the final and initial height, weight, and BMI was calculated (Δ score). The cumulative steroid dose (mg/kg/day) during follow-up was calculated. Relapses without significant edema were treated with low-dose steroids and steroid-sparing drugs were used in children with steroid dependency/frequent relapses. Mean first BMI SDS was + 1.40 ± 1.30 and final + 0.79 ± 1.30. At initial assessment, 41.4% of the patients were obese (BMI ≥ 95th percentile) and 19.5% were overweight (BMI 85th-95th percentile). At the last clinical visit, 24% were obese and 17% overweight. The children had lower BMI SDS at last clinical visit compared to initial assessment. Mean first height SDS of the cohort was - 0.11 ± 1.22 and final score 0.078 ± 1.14 (p < 0.0001). Almost 85% of patients were treated with steroid-sparing drugs. Our results indicate that children with nephrotic syndrome, despite a need for steroid treatment for active disease, can improve their obesity and overweight and also improve their linear growth from their first to last visit with us.

Exosomes derived from vascular endothelial cells antagonize glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis by inhibiting ferritinophagy with resultant limited ferroptosis of osteoblasts.

High dose and long-term steroid treatment can alter antioxidative ability and decrease the viability and function of osteoblasts, leading to osteoporosis and osteonecrosis. Ferroptosis, a new type of cell death characterized by excessive lipid peroxidation due to the downregulation of GPX4 and system Xc- , is involved in glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. Endothelial cell-secreted exosomes (EC-Exos) are important mediators of cell-to-cell communication and are involved in many physiological and pathological processes. However, the effect of EC-Exos on osteoblasts exposed to glucocorticoids has not been reported. Here, we explored the role of EC-Exos in glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. In vivo and in vitro experiments indicated that EC-Exos reversed the glucocorticoid-induced osteogenic inhibition of osteoblasts by inhibiting ferritinophagy-dependent ferroptosis.

Management of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis: dilema in diagnosis and management

Background: Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis is a rare disease of the breast. Clinically and radiologically it may mimic breast carcinoma. To date, there is no agreed gold standard treatment for IGM. The clinical management often starts with tests to eliminate microbial infection and when microbial infection can be ruled out, long-term oral steroid treatment or surgery is administered.&#x0D; Objective: To see the response of different treatment options of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis.&#x0D; Methods: This is a retrospective study involved 50 patients who were diagnosed with IGM and were treated in our institution between January 2009 to December 2016.&#x0D; Results: The mean age of patients was 34.3 years. Breast lump was the most common presentation. The right breast was affected in 30 cases &amp; left breast 20 cases. 4 patients were pregnant at the time of presentation. Lactation within 6 months of presentation was documented in 4patients.45 patients used contraceptives pills. A clinical suspicion of malignancy was present in 17 cases. Mammography was performed in 20 patients and showed focal asymmetrical dense lesions in 9, well-circumscribed opacity in 8, speculated lesion in 1, and was normal in 2. Fine-needle aspiration was performed in 40 patients. Wide local excision was the mainstay of treatment. One patient underwent mastectomy due to recurrence and the final histology confirmed idiopathic granulomatous mastitis with no evidence of malignancy. 12 patients developed recurrence after a mean follow-up of 31.2 months.&#x0D; Conclusion: IGM is not so rare disease in our country. Clinical, radiologic, and even cytological findings are sometimes confused with malignancy. Adequate Surgical treatment as well as adjuvant therapeutic treatment are necessary. Knowledge, awareness and co-operation among surgeons and pathologist should also be strengthen to avoid unnecessary misdiagnosis and treatment.&#x0D; Journal of Surgical Sciences (2017) Vol. 21 (2): 89-93

CASE REPORT ON EPIDERMOLYSIS BULLOSA ACQUISITA

Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) is rare autoimmune blistering of the skin disease but not inherited and characterized by autoantibodies to collagen VII. It is a rare with an incidence rate of 0.26 / million population. Treatment include oral corticosteroids (E.g.: pre-dnisone), anti-inflammatory agents, and immunosuppressants (e.g.: azathioprine). Patients who are on long-term oral steroid treatment may be advised to take calcium and bisphosphonates to reduce the risk of osteoporosis that can be associated with steroid use. A case of 13 years old boy initially presented with bullous vesicular lesions all over the body. 5 months history of progressive trauma persuaded papules and vesicles on his hands, and face.

A Missed Diagnosis of Bilateral Simultaneous Spontaneous Intracapsular Neck of Femur Fractures in a Rheumatoid Arthritis Patient

Bilateral spontaneous simultaneous fractures of the neck of femurs are extremely rare, and only a few cases have been reported in literature. They are usually following high-energy trauma or may be due to an underlying pathological process such as frailty, osteomalacia, rickets, and chronic renal disease. They can also occur following epilepsy and electric shock. We report a 79-year-old gentleman who presented with sudden onset of bilateral hip pain with a background of rheumatoid arthritis and long-term steroid treatment. The bilateral hip fractures were missed initially and later presented with completely displaced fractures of the neck of femurs. He underwent a single-stage bilateral cemented hemiarthroplasty and made a good recovery. Bilateral simultaneous fractures of the hip in patients with rheumatoid arthritis have not been reported in literature so far, and the diagnosis can be easily overlooked. In patients with bilateral hip pain, one should have a high index of suspicion. Further appropriate cross-sectional imaging in the form of CT or MRI should also be considered.

Do we need 30 min cortisol measurement in the short synacthen test: a retrospective study

ObjectiveThe short synacthen test (SST) is widely used across the UK to assess adrenal reserve but there remains no consensus on the timing of cortisol sampling to help diagnose adrenal...

The role of vascular ultrasound in managing giant cell arteritis in ophthalmology

Giant cell arteritis is the most common systemic vasculitis in the elderly and is a potentially life-threatening ophthalmic emergency that can result in irreversible blindness. Blindness is most commonly associated with acute onset, irreversible arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy. Without treatment, second eye involvement may occur, resulting in bilateral blindness. Patients with established visual loss are treated with high-dose steroids and generally undergo a temporal artery biopsy to confirm their diagnosis. A significant number of patients are, however, referred for urgent ophthalmology assessment from concerns about “incipient” arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy. Before visual loss, patients may experience a range of ocular symptoms related to ischemia. This generally leads to treatment with high-dose systemic steroid and an urgent request for a temporal artery biopsy. Temporal artery biopsy is considered as the standard investigation for confirmatory diagnosis. It is generally arranged as soon as possible, although it is often not carried out for several days, and there may also be delays in histopathological reporting. It is often perceived that the patient is “safe” while on corticosteroids, in that they are being treated to avoid visual loss. What is not acknowledged, however, is that, if patients do not have giant cell arteritis and are being treated “just in case,” they will often require a tapering of oral steroids over several weeks, exposing them to unnecessary and significant side effects. In the rheumatology setting, vascular ultrasound has emerged as a safe and reliable alternative to temporal artery biopsy as a point of care diagnostic tool in the management of giant cell arteritis. Given an experienced sonographer and optimal equipment, a rapid diagnosis can be established in a fast-track clinic setting, taking into consideration clinical assessment, scoring, and ultrasound findings. A huge advantage of ultrasound is that it provides immediate information that can be used to inform treatment decisions. We explore the evidence that supports the incorporation of vascular ultrasound into the ophthalmology repertoire to make a more efficient diagnosis that is cost-effective and associated with better patient outcomes, including a potential reduction in loss of sight and avoidance of unnecessary long-term steroid treatment by early exclusion of mimics.

Long-Term Safety of Rituximab in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Analysis From the SUNSTONE Registry.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the long‐term safety of rituximab in an observational cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who had an inadequate response to ≥1 anti–tumor necrosis factor therapy in the US (SUNSTONE [Study of the Safety of Rituxan in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis After an Inadequate Response to Previous Anti‐TNF Therapy] registry).MethodsIn this prospective, observational cohort study, patients received rituximab according to their physician's standard practice and were evaluated at standard‐of‐care follow‐up visits at least every 6 months. The primary outcome was the incidence of protocol‐defined significant infections. Secondary outcomes included serious adverse events potentially associated with rituximab, cardiovascular or thrombotic events, seizures, deaths, and pregnancies. Post hoc analyses assessed outcomes by concomitant medication use.ResultsOverall, 989 patients (safety‐evaluable population) received ≥1 dose of rituximab, with a total follow‐up of 3,844 patient‐years (mean duration 3.9 years). In total, 341 significant infections occurred in 197 patients (19.9%). The incidence rates (95% confidence intervals [95% CIs]) for significant infections, cardiovascular or thrombotic events, and seizures were 8.87 (95% CI 7.98–9.86), 1.95 (95% CI 1.56–2.45), and 0.18 (95% CI 0.09–0.38) per 100 patient‐years, respectively. The incidence of significant infections did not increase with time or with cumulative rituximab exposure. During the study, 64 patients died (crude mortality rate 1.66 per 100 patient‐years [95% CI 1.30–2.13]). The most common causes of death were infections (n = 19), malignancy (n = 14), and cardiovascular events (n = 13). Eight pregnancies were reported in 7 patients.ConclusionIn patients with RA treated with rituximab for up to 5 years, the rates of significant infections were stable over time and higher in patients who received long‐term systemic steroid treatment.

Adrenal insufficiency of patients with graft versus host disease treated with extracorporeal photopheresis.

Graft versus host disease (GvHD) is a serious and common complication of allogenic haematopoietic stem cell transplant. Corticosteroids are considered the standard care for initial treatment of GvHD but a significant proportion of patients will need long-term steroid treatment for control of GvHD. Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is a cell-based immunomodulatory therapy that is an accepted second line treatment in patients with steroid refractory, dependent or intolerant GvHD and has shown efficacy in allowing steroid dose reduction and discontinuation in this cohort of patients. Adrenal cortical insufficiency is defined by the inability of the adrenal cortex to produce sufficient amounts of glucocorticoids and/or mineralocorticoids leading to a severe and potentially life-threatening condition. The most common cause of drug-induced adrenal insufficiency is the suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis by exogenous glucocorticoid doses ≥5 mg prednisolone equivalent for more than 4 weeks. The aim of the study was to ascertain the number of patients with GvHD receiving ECP that are affected by adrenocortical insufficiency.

Successful management of uterine rupture in a pregnant woman under long-term steroid treatment for pemphigus

Introduction: Uterine rupture during pregnancy is a rare but life threatening event with potentially catastrophic consequences for both the fetus and the mother. There are few published case report studies that investigate the possible association between long-term steroid treatment and uterine rupture during the antenatal period.

Clinical and Radiologic Characteristics of Human Metapneumovirus Infections in Adults, South Korea.

Clinical features of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infection have not been well documented for adults. We investigated clinical and radiologic features of HMPV infection in 849 adults in a tertiary hospital in South Korea. We classified patients into groups on the basis of underlying diseases: immunocompetent patients, solid tumor patients, solid organ transplantation recipients, hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients, hematologic malignancy patients, and patients receiving long-term steroid treatment. Of 849 HMPV-infected patients, 756 had community-acquired infections, 579 had pneumonia, and 203 had infections with other pathogens. Mortality rates were highest in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients (22% at 30 days). Older age, current smoking, and underlying disease were associated with HMPV pneumonia. Body mass index and an immunocompromised state were associated with 30-day mortality rates in HMPV-infected patients. Bronchial wall thickening, ground-glass opacity, and ill-defined centrilobular nodules were common computed tomography findings for HMPV pneumonia. Macronodules and consolidation were observed in <50% of patients.