Raim Iliaz

Value of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio in the differential diagnosis of sarcoidosis and tuberculosis

INTRODUCTION: The differential diagnosis of sarcoidosis creates a challange due to tuberculosis also having lung and lymph node involvement. Because both diseases show granulomatous inflammation, it may not be possible to distinguish tuberculosis and sarcoidosis in pathological specimens. As a result of the complexity in the differential diagnosis of sarcoidosis and tuberculosis, new markers for differentiation are being investigated. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study is to investigate the value of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a possible marker in differentiating sarcoidosis and tuberculosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In our study, 51 acid-fast bacilli (AFB) positive and/or culture-positive patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, 40 patients with biopsy-proven sarcoidosis and a control group consisting of 43 patients were included. In our study, information was collected retrospectively based on hospital records. RESULTS: Leukocyte and neutrophil counts, NLR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) were significantly higher, and albumin was significantly lower in the tuberculosis group compared with sarcoidosis (for all parameters P < 0.001). The most appropriate cut-off value of NLR to distinguish tuberculosis from sarcoidosis was determined as 2.55. For this cut-off value of NLR there was 79% sensitivity, 69% specificity, 73% positive predictive value (PPV), 75% negative predictive value (NPV), and area under the curve (AUC) was 0.788. For differentiation of sarcoidosis from tuberculosis, accuracy of the NLR test according to this cut-off value was found as 76%. CONCLUSION: NLR as a little known marker in respiratory medicine was found to be supportive in differentiation of tuberculosis and sarcoidosis. More studies on this issue is needed.

Diagnostic value of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in various lung diseases

Objective: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a new method for the diagnosis and staging of lung disease, and its use is increasing worldwide. It has been used as a means of diagnosing lung cancer in its initial stages, and there are data supporting its use for the diagnosis of benign lung disease. The aim of this study was to share our experience with EBUS-TBNA and discuss its diagnostic value. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the results related to 159 patients who underwent EBUS-TBNA at our pulmonary medicine clinic between 2010 and 2013. We recorded the location and size of lymph nodes seen during EBUS. Lymph nodes that appeared to be affected on EBUS were sampled at least twice. We recorded the diagnostic results of EBUS-TBNA and (for cases in which EBUS-TBNA yielded an inconclusive diagnosis) the final diagnoses after further investigation and follow-up. Results: We evaluated 159 patients, of whom 89 (56%) were male and 70 (44%) were female. The mean age was 54.6 ± 14.2 years among the male patients and 51.9 ± 11.3 years among the female patients. Of the 159 patients evaluated, 115 (84%) were correctly diagnosed by EBUS. The diagnostic accuracy of EBUS-TBNA was 83% for benign granulomatous diseases and 77% for malignant diseases. Conclusions: The diagnostic value of EBUS-TBNA is also high for benign pathologies, such as sarcoidosis and tuberculosis. In patients with mediastinal disorders, the use of EBUS-TBNA should be encouraged, primarily because it markedly reduces the need for mediastinoscopy.

Approach to Pain in the Elderly

Pain is the most common complained symptom in the elderly. Acute pain prevalence does not change with aging. However, chronic pain is much more prevalent in the elderly compared to young individuals. Despite these facts, pain in the elderly is commonly assessed and treated inadequately. The treatment goal of pain in the elderly is not always complete eradication of pain but decrease in pain allowing the improvement in activities of daily living and quality of life. Nonpharmacological-pharmacological approaches and anesthetic/invasive interventions can be used for pain treatment. During pharmacological treatment, the changes related to aging should be considered enabling increased side effects and drug-drug interactions. Generally, the stepwise guideline suggested by World Health Organisation for cancer pain is valid also for the treatment of chronic pain. Acetaminophen is the safest and mostly preferred analgesic in treating mild-moderate pain in the elderly. Metamizole is also free of gastrointestinal and thrombocyte related side effects. It is widely used in available countries for the pain in elderly with more intense and spasmolytic analgesic effect compared to other non-opioids. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be used in moderate-severe pain. However, they should not be used in high doses and/or for a long time due to their severe side effect profile. Opioids are effective in all pain types and used in severe pain. The elderly is more prone to both analgesic effect and side effects of opioids. The most important side effects of opioids are respiratory depression, sedation, cognitive problems, emesis and constipation. Recently, they are being more suggested for the treatment of chronic non cancer pain in the elderly. If the pain is not controlled with these measures, the next step is the use of anesthetic/invasive modalities. In these cases, the elderly should be referred to centers specialized on pain. The aim of our study is to summarize the general approach to acute and chronic pain in elderly.

Prevalence and outcomes of comorbid illnesses in elderly patients with respiratory diseases.

The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of comorbidities in very elderly patients hospitalized as a result of acute respiratory diseases and to analyze sex‐specific differences, and to examine the effects of these comorbidities on their treatment outcomes.

Spirometric obstruction and tobacco exposure among male Turkish nursing home residents

Abstract Spirometric obstruction is a prevalent problem in older adults and related to life-style risk factors. Symptoms related to chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease (COPD) are also prevalent symptoms with diverse etiologies – not limited to pulmonary obstruction. Older adults may have unrecognized airway obstruction due to functional limitations or symptoms mis-attributed to age/other co-morbidities. Therefore, spirometric obstruction may clinically be over/under diagnosed. Over last few decades, the burden of smoking-related diseases has increased in older adults. Additional evidence regarding older adults is required. We aimed to study frequency of spirometric obstruction, its over/under diagnosis and tobacco exposure in a group of male nursing-home residents. For spirometric obstruction diagnosis, two different thresholds [(fixed value: 0.70) versus (age-corrected value: 0.65 in residents >65 years of age)] were compared for better clinical practice. One hundred and three residents with 71.4 ± 6.3 years-of-age included. Spirometric obstruction prevalences were 39.8 and 29.1% with fixed and age-corrected FEV1/FVC thresholds, respectively. Age-corrected FEV1/FVC threshold underdiagnosed COPD in 1.9% while fixed threshold overdiagnosed spirometric obstruction in 8.7%. Active smokers were 64.1%, ex-smokers 23.3% and non-smokers 12.6%. Our study suggests high prevalences of spirometric obstruction and smoking in male nursing-home residents in Turkey. We suggest the use of age-corrected FEV1/FVC threshold practicing better than the use of fixed FEV1/FVC threshold in this patient group.

Does the number of mucosal immune cells differ in irritable bowel syndrome and its subtypes

BACKGROUND/AIMS Recently, mucosal inflammation has been proposed to be one of the mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); however, there are controversial results regarding this hypotheses. Our aim was to evaluate immune cell infiltration in rectal and ileal biopsy specimens of patients with IBS and to compare it with those of healthy controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS In total, 36 patients with IBS (15 with diarrhea and 21 with constipation) and 16 healthy volunteers were enrolled. Ileocolonoscopy and ileal/rectal biopsies were performed. Rectal and terminal ileal biopsy specimens were evaluated for mucosal immune cell infiltration using immunohistochemical analysis. Serotonin positivity as well as counts of intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) and CD4+, CD8+, CD20+, and CD3+ cells were determined by a single pathologist who is an expert in the gastrointestinal system. RESULTS CD3+ and CD4+ cell counts in rectal and terminal ileal biopsy specimens were lower in the IBS group than in the controls. Conversely, there was no statistically significant difference between the IBS and control groups in terms of serotonin positivity as well as counts of IEL and CD20+ and CD8+ cells. Comparison between the IBS subgroups revealed a higher number of IEL in rectal biopsy specimens of the diarrhea dominant group. In the IBS subgroups, immune cell counts in terminal ileal and rectal biopsy specimens showed a positive correlation. CONCLUSION IBS and its subgroups showed lower immune cell counts than the controls in our study. These results indicate that there is no significant mucosal inflammation in homogeneous groups of patients with IBS. Rectal biopsies may be sufficient for the evaluation of inflammation in IBS.

Importance of pulmonary artery to ascending aorta ratio in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Recent articles revealed that an increased main pulmonary artery to ascending aorta ratio (PA/A) in thorax computed tomography (CT) correlated with pulmonary hypertension, and might be linked to a high probability of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations.

QTc ınterval is prolonged in Wilson’s disease with neurologic ınvolvement

Abstract Background Neurologic and liver involvement in Wilson’s disease (WD) is well-documented, however, few reports demonstrated cardiac involvement. Tpe and Tpe/QT are new measures of ventricular repolarization which were recently suggested as predictor of arrythmogenesis. We aimed to evaluate ventricular depolarization and repolarization parameters including QT, QTc, Tpe intervals, Tpe/QT, Tpe/QTc ratios, and QT dispersion (QTd) in patients with WD. Materials and methods Thirty-five patients with WD and 30 healthy controls were included in the study. Patients were evaluated by a neurologist in addition to MR imaging. Twenty-one of 35 patients were diagnosed as neuroWilson (NW), whereas 14 patients as non-NW. ECG recordings were obtained using a 12-lead commercial device (Cardiac Science, Burdick s500,USA). All patients underwent standard echocardiographic evaluation. These two groups of patients and healthy controls were compared. Results There were no difference between patients with WD and healthy controls in terms of age sex, BMI, liver, and kidney functions where as patients with WD were anemic and thrombocytopenic. Left atrial, ventricular dimensions, left ventricular systolic, and diastolic functions were similar between patients and healthy control. QT interval was prolonged in patient group, however, QTc, Tpe intervals, Tpe/QT, and Tpe/QTc ratios and QTd did not differ between groups. When patients with NW and non-NW were compared, both QT and QTc intervals were significantly longer in patients with NW, however, Tpe interval, Tpe/QT and Tpe/QTc ratios, and QTd did not differ. Conclusion QT and QTc intervals are prolonged in patients with Wilson’s disease and neurologic involvement.

Belching in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: An Impedance Study

Background/Aims There are limited data about the relation between belching and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We aim to evaluate belching in patients with IBS. Methods Twenty-five patients with IBS and 12 healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study. IBS was diagnosed in accordance with the Rome III criteria. All patients were questioned about the presence of symptoms for belching, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and dyspepsia. Esophageal manometry and 24-hour pH-impedance were performed in all patients and healthy volunteers. Each of the patients with IBS underwent gastroscopy and colonoscopy. Results Demographic features were similar in both groups (P > 0.05). The belching rate was 32% in patients with IBS. The mean DeMeester score was significantly higher in IBS patients (13.80 ± 14.40 vs 6.04 ± 5.60, P = 0.027) and 24% of patients had pathologic acid reflux (DeMeester score > 14). Gastroscopy was normal in all patients. Symptom association probability positivity was detected in 24% of patients in the impedance study. The rate of weak acid reflux was also significantly higher in patients with IBS (97.00 ± 56.20 vs 58.20 ± 29.30, P = 0.025). The number of supine gas reflux (7.50 ± 6.40 vs 2.42 ± 2.80, P = 0.001) and supragastric belches was significantly higher in patients with IBS (51.20 ± 41.20 vs 25.08 ± 15.20, P = 0.035). Although the number of gastric belching was higher in controls, the difference did not reach statistical significance (12.10 ± 17.60 vs 4.90 ± 3.80, P = 0.575). We did not find any correlation between belching and any symptoms of IBS. Conclusions Belching is frequent in patients with IBS. Non-erosive reflux disease is frequent in IBS, which may be related to supragastric belching.

Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio in granulomatous disease

We read with great interest the article entitled ‘The clinical significance of hematologic parameters in patients with sarcoidosis’ by Dirican and colleagues. In that well-organized study, Dirican et al. examined the usability of the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and other hematologic parameters in sarcoidosis. In the study, NLR is higher in patients with sarcoidosis compared with healthy volunteers and found that NLR showed a positive correlation with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (1). NLR as a new inflammatory marker is very popular subject and was studied in many clinical situations. The NLR has been studied in malignancies, dementia and cardiovascular disease. In pulmonary medicine, the NLR has been studied mostly in lung cancer and high level of NLR was associated with poor prognosis in patients with lung cancer (2). Also NLR has been studied in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and has been shown to be higher in patients with exacerbations compared with stable COPD and healthy controls (3). NLR is a marker that can be calculated easily from complete blood count. This inflammatory marker is repeatable and easily accessible. Therefore, use of NLR may increase in the future. Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic granulomatous disease and frequently presents with lung involvement. Tuberculosis is a common infectious disease in the world, and like sarcoidosis, it is a granulomatous disease that mostly affects lungs. Because both diseases involve lung and lymph node, the differential diagnosis of sarcoidosis and tuberculosis may create a challenge. A recent study demonstrated that NLR was significantly higher in the tuberculosis patients compared with the patients with sarcoidosis. Also, the same study showed that NLR is higher in patients with sarcoidosis and tuberculosis compared with healthy volunteers (4). In another study, it was reported that NLR is a good marker in the differentiation of pulmonary tuberculosis from bacterial pneumonia (5). NLR is a new inflammatory marker that can be useful in pulmonary medicine. But it is a bit early to make solid conclusions. A lot of studies showed that NLR is high in many cases and is a nonspecific parameter.