Norikazu Nishida

Decreased computed tomographic lung density during exacerbation of asthma

Recently, it was shown that both mean lung density (MLD) and the relative lung area with an attenuation of <-950 HU (RA950) are related to severity of asthma in nonsmoking asthmatics. The aim of the present study was to examine whether reduced computed tomography (CT) lung density during exacerbation could change after treatment. A cross-sectional study was performed to compare CT lung density in 30 stable asthmatics, 30 unstable asthmatics and 25 control subjects. In order to investigate longitudinally the effect of treatment on decreased CT lung density, 17 asthmatics with an exacerbation were followed at the initiation of treatment and 2 months after relief. The MLD was significantly lower and the RA950 significantly higher in unstable asthmatics than in controls and stable asthmatics. Both MLD and RA950 changed significantly with administration of systemic glucocorticoid therapy. The changes in forced expiratory volume in one second correlated significantly with those in both MLD and RA950. The changes in residual volume also correlated significantly with those in both MLD and RA950. It was concluded that decreased computed tomographic lung density during an asthma exacerbation is at least partially reversible, and changes in mean lung density and the relative lung area with a radiation attenuation of <−950 HU are related to the change in forced expiratory volume in one second and residual volume.

Assessment of etidronic acid plus alfacalcidol for the treatment of osteopenia in steroid-dependent asthmatics: A pilot study of five cases

ObjectiveOsteoporosis is generally known to be one of the most serious adverse effects of long-term corticosteroid administration. Recently it was discovered that corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis occurs not only in trabecular bone but also in cortical bone, leading to a reduction in cortical bone strength. To ameliorate corticosteroid-induced bone injury, we administered etidronic acid plus alfacalcidol to five steroid-dependent asthmatics for 4 years and monitored therapeutic responses in trabecular bone and cortical bone using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT).Patients and interventionsThe five steroid-dependent asthmatic patients included two males and three females, with a mean age 68.2 years, taking a mean daily dose of oral prednisolone of 7 mg/day. Etidronic acid 200 mg/day was administered for 14 consecutive days every 4 months for 4 years, while alfacalcidol 0.5μg was administered daily for 4 years.Main outcome measures and resultsEvery 4 months, the number of vertebral fractures was assessed by lateral vertebral radiographs, and the total radial bone mineral density (BMD), trabecular BMD, cortical BMD, Relative Cortical Volume (RCV) and Strength Strain Index (SSI) were assessed by pQCT (Stratec XCT-960). At follow-up, no new fractures had occurred, the trabecular BMD was found to be slightly increased (from 117.2 mg/cm3 at baseline to 121.6 mg/cm3 after 48 months), and no significant decreases were observed in the total BMD, cortical BMD, RCV or SSI.ConclusionBased on these findings, etidronic acid plus alfacalcidol seems to be effective in preventing steroid-induced bone injury, not only in terms of trabecular and cortical BMD, but also in terms of cortical bone volume and strength, which may lead to a decrease in non-vertebral fractures. However, further investigation is required with a larger sample size and a longer administration period to confirm these findings.