Therapeutic advances in respiratory disease
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Ther Adv Respir Dis · Aug 2010
Methylprednisolone infusion for life-threatening H1N1-virus infection.
During winter 2009 we treated with prolonged corticosteroid infusion eight consecutive patients affected by H1N1-virus infection and severe pneumonia. The most severe patient was a previously healthy 30-year-old man admitted to hospital because of bilateral pneumonia and severe acute respiratory failure. ⋯ According to the literature reports more than 34% of H1N1-virus severe infections were treated with corticosteroids. This report and our experience may suggest a possible life-saving use of corticosteroids at a stress dose in severely ill patients with an H1N1-virus infection that is not responding to the most advanced treatments.
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Ther Adv Respir Dis · Aug 2010
Multicenter StudyAcute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in primary care setting in Spain: the EPOCAP study.
The present study was designed to describe the clinical profile of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the treatment prescribed by primary care physicians (PCPs) in Spain. ⋯ The clinical profile of acute exacerbations of COPD treated in a primary care setting in Spain was characterized by shortness of breath and increased sputum production. Patients were managed by PCP mainly in outpatient clinics with antibiotics, mucolytic agents, inhaled corticosteroids, oral corticosteroids and short-acting beta-adrenergic agents. The percentage of patients with confirmed diagnosis of COPD by pulmonary function tests was very low.