Adalberto Sperb Rubin

Ressonância magnética de pulmão: um novo passo no estudo das doenças pulmonares*

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lung has progressed tremendously in recent years. Because of improvements in speed and image quality, MRI is now ready for routine clinical use. The main advantage of MRI of the lung is its unique combination of structural and functional assessment in a single imaging session. We review the three major clinical indications for MRI of the lung: staging of lung tumors; evaluation of pulmonary vascular disease; and investigation of pulmonary abnormalities in patients who should not be exposed to radiation.

Impact of pulmonary rehabilitation on quality of life and functional capacity in patients on waiting lists for lung transplantation

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of a pulmonary rehabilitation program on the functional capacity and on the quality of life of patients on waiting lists for lung transplantation. METHODS: Patients on lung transplant waiting lists were referred to a pulmonary rehabilitation program consisting of 36 sessions. Before and after the program, participating patients were evaluated with the six-minute walk test and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). The pulmonary rehabilitation program involved muscle strengthening exercises, aerobic training, clinical evaluation, psychiatric evaluation, nutritional counseling, social assistance, and educational lectures. RESULTS: Of the 112 patients initially referred to the program, 58 completed it. The mean age of the participants was 46 ± 14 years, and females accounted for 52%. Of those 58 patients, 37 (47%) had pulmonary fibrosis, 13 (22%) had pulmonary emphysema, and 18 (31%) had other types of advanced lung disease. The six-minute walk distance was significantly greater after the program than before (439 ± 114 m vs. 367 ± 136 m, p = 0.001), the mean increase being 72 m. There were significant point increases in the scores on the following SF-36 domains: physical functioning, up 22 (p = 0.001), role-physical, up 10 (p = 0.045); vitality, up 10 (p < 0.001); social functioning, up 15 (p = 0.001); and mental health, up 8 (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary rehabilitation had a positive impact on exercise capacity and quality of life in patients on lung transplant waiting lists.

Resposta broncodilatadora imediata ao formoterol em doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica com pouca reversibilidade

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate, using pulmonary function tests, the effectiveness of formoterol as a bronchodilator at 30 min after its administration in patients with poorly reversible COPD. METHODS: A prospective study including 40 COPD patients not responding to the short-acting bronchodilator used in the spirometric test-variation of less than 200 mL and less than 7% of predicted in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). All patients were classified as having stage II, III, or IV COPD (Brazilian Thoracic Society/Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) and presented FEV1 < 70% of predicted value. The patients were randomized into two groups of 20, with similar clinical characteristics, receiving, via a dry powder inhaler, either formoterol or a placebo. The pulmonary function testing (plethysmography) was repeated at 30 min after formoterol or placebo administration. RESULTS: In the formoterol group, the mean values obtained for FEV1, inspiratory capacity, and forced vital capacity were significantly greater than those obtained in the placebo group (p = 0.00065, p = 0.05, and p = 0.017, respectively), whereas that obtained for airway resistance was significantly lower (p = 0.010). Less pronounced differences were observed for residual volume, vital capacity and specific airway conductance, which were lower, higher and higher, respectively, in the formoterol group. CONCLUSIONS: In COPD patients not responding to the short-acting bronchodilator used in the spirometric test, formoterol promoted significant improvement in lung function at 30 min after of administration. Further studies are required to confirm whether formoterol can also be used as a medication for immediate relief of symptoms in COPD.

Achados histológicos e sobrevida na fibrose pulmonar idiopática

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis was recently redefined as usual interstitial pneumonia of unknown etiology. Consequently, the prognostic value of histological findings needs to be reassessed. OBJECTIVE: To correlate clinical, functional and histological findings with survival in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. METHOD: Patients (n = 51; mean age: 66 ± 8 years; gender: 21 females/30 males) were evaluated. Of the 51, 26 were smokers or ex-smokers. Duration of symptoms, forced vital capacity and smoking habits were recorded. All patients presented usual interstitial pneumonia verified through histology. Degree of honeycombing, established fibrosis, desquamation, cellularity, myointimal thickening of blood vessels and number of fibroblastic foci were graded according to the semiquantitative method. RESULTS: Median duration of symptoms was 12 months and initial forced vital capacity was 72 ± 21%. Cox multivariate analysis revealed that survival correlated inversely and significantly (p < 0.05) with duration of symptoms and fibroblastic foci score, as well as with myointimal thickening of blood vessels. Limited numbers of fibroblastic foci, as well as myointimal thickening involving less than 50% of blood vessels, were predictive of greater survival. No correlation with survival was found for gender, age, forced vital capacity, inflammation or degree of cellularity. CONCLUSION: Semiquantitative analysis of lung biopsies yields relevant prognostic information regarding patients with usual interstitial pneumonia.

Eficácia do formoterol na reversão imediata do broncoespasmo

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness and onset of action of formoterol delivered by dry-powder inhaler in reversing methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction. METHODS Patients presenting a drop in forced expiratory volume in one second > 20% after methacholine inhalation were included. A total of 84 patients were evaluated. All of the participating patients presented respiratory symptoms of unknown origin, which were being investigated. The patients were randomized to receive 200 microg of spray fenoterol (n = 41) or 12 microg of dry-powder inhaler formoterol (n = 43), both administered in order to achieve immediate reversal of methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction. We evaluated the decrease in forced expiratory volume in one second (in relation to the baseline value) after methacholine challenge and the dose of methacholine required to provoke a drop of 20% in forced expiratory volume in one second, as well as the increase in forced expiratory volume in one second (in relation to the baseline value) at five and ten minutes after bronchodilator use. RESULTS There were no significant differences related to gender, age, weight, height or dose of methacholine required to provoke a drop of 20% in forced expiratory volume in one second. Nor were there any significant differences in terms of baseline or post-methacholine forced expiratory volume in one second. In the fenoterol group, the mean postbronchodilator increase in forced expiratory volume in one second increase was 34% (at five minutes) and 50.1% (at ten minutes), compared with 46.5% (at five minutes) and 53.2% (at ten minutes) in the formoterol group. CONCLUSION The bronchodilator effect of formoterol at five and ten minutes after methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction was similar to that of fenoterol. Despite being a long-acting bronchodilator, formoterol also has a rapid onset of action, which suggests that it could be employed as a relief medication in cases of bronchoconstriction occurring during asthma attacks.

Use of MDCT to Assess the Results of Bronchial Thermoplasty

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of MDCT to assess response to bronchial thermoplasty treatment for severe persistent asthma. MATERIALS AND METHODS MDCT data from 26 patients with severe persistent asthma who underwent imaging before and after bronchial thermoplasty were analyzed retrospectively. Changes in the following parameters were assessed: total lung volume, mean lung density, airway wall thickness, CT air trapping index (attenuation < -856 HU), and expiratory-inspiratory ratio of mean lung density (E/I index). Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire score changes were also assessed. RESULTS Median total lung volumes before and after bronchial thermoplasty were 2668 mL (range, 2226-3096 mL) and 2399 mL (range, 1964-2802 mL; p = 0.08), respectively. Patients also showed a pattern of obstruction improvement in air trapping values (median before thermoplasty, 14.25%; median after thermoplasty, 3.65%; p < 0.001] and in mean lung density values ± SD (before thermoplasty, -702 ± 72 HU; after thermoplasty, -655 ± 66 HU; p < 0.01). Median airway wall thickness also decreased after bronchial thermoplasty (before thermoplasty, 1.5 mm; after thermoplasty, 1.1 mm; p < 0.05). There was a mean Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire overall score change of 1.00 ± 1.35 (p < 0.001), indicating asthma clinical improvement. CONCLUSION Our study showed improvement in CT measurements after bronchial thermoplasty, along with Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire score changes. Thus, MDCT could be useful for imaging evaluation of patients undergoing this treatment.

The effects of dynamic hyperinflation on CT emphysema measurements in patients with COPD

OBJECTIVES Dynamic hyperinflation (DH) significantly affects dyspnea and intolerance to exercise in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) of the chest is the modality of choice for quantification of the extent of anatomical lung damage in patients with COPD. The purpose of this article is to assess the effects of DH on QCT measurements. METHODS The study sample comprised patients with Global initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stages III and IV COPD referred for chest CT. We examined differences in total lung volume (TLV), emphysema volume (EV), and emphysema index (EI) determined by QCT before and after DH induction by metronome-paced tachypnea (MPT). Initial (resting) and post-MPT CT examinations were performed with the same parameters. RESULTS Images from 66 CT scans (33 patients) were evaluated. EV and EI, but not TLV, increased significantly (p<0.0001) after DH induction. CONCLUSION QCT showed significant increases in EV and EI after MPT-induced DH in patients with GOLD stages III and IV COPD. For longitudinal assessment of patients with COPD using QCT, we recommend the application of a pre-examination rest period, as DH could mimic disease progression. QCT studies of the effects of DH-preventive therapy before exercise could expand our knowledge of effective measures to delay DH-related progression of COPD.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 with tracheobronchial neurofibromas: case report with emphasis on tomographic findings.

A 65-year-old man with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) presented with a 3-month history of dyspnea and cough. The chest spiral computed tomography scan showed multiple neurofibromas in the larynx and tracheobronchial tree. Bronchoscopy was performed and the biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of benign neurofibroma. The upper airway involvement in NF-1 is rare, and the diagnosis on the basis of the clinical manifestation may be difficult. The clinical manifestations of patients with tracheobronchial neurofibromas are mostly related to airway obstruction, presenting with cough, wheezing, and dyspnea. Our case illustrates the value of spiral computed tomography imaging in providing an excellent anatomic definition of this rare manifestation of NF.

Pneumonia eosinofílica crônica

Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia is a rare disease of unknown cause characterized by eosinophilic alveolar and interstitial infiltration. The authors describe the case of a 49-year-old caucasian woman, presenting dyspnea on minimum effort, with insidious beginning and progressive course in the last six months. The main findings were serum eosinophilia and in the sputum, chest radiographs showing multifocal infiltrations of irregular distribution in both lungs and a restrictive functional impairment. The patient was submitted to an open lung biopsy, which demonstrated a chronic eosinophilic pneumonia. There was a dramatic clinical, radiological, and functional response after corticosteroid therapy.

Fatores prognósticos em fibrose pulmonar idiopática

In order to evaluate which prognostic factors were significant to the survival of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), 121 histologically confirmed cases of the disease were studied at the Pereira Filho Hospital from 1970 to 1996. All patients were submitted to a standard thorax X-ray and spirometry and answered a standardized questionnaire when admitted to hospital. They also underwent diffusion tests (34 cases), total lung capacity (28), blood gas analysis (106), bronchoalveolar lavage (39), rheumatoid analyses (45), and thoracic CT (24). For further analysis, the patients were classified into two groups: group A (2-year survival) with 55 patients, and group B (more than 5-year survival) with 24 patients; these features were also analyzed according to their significance to survival. Age, increased dyspnea index, long symptomatic period, FVC, DCO, PaO2 and SaO2 reduction, honeycombing intensity, and greater profusion of the reticular pattern on HRCT were considered indicative of worse prognosis. A reduced FEV1 and TLC were also associated with shorter survival. The use of those criteria which had shown statistical significance when evaluated together may determine a more accurate prognostic evaluation of IPF patients resulting in social and therapeutic benefits to patient management.