Respiratory medicine
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Respiratory medicine · Apr 2013
Amyloid-associated cystic lung disease in primary Sjögren's syndrome.
Cystic lung disease can be seen in patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and is generally thought to be due to lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia. ⋯ We conclude cystic and nodular lung lesions seen in patients with primary SS can represent amyloidosis which can be associated with MALT lymphoma in some of these patients.
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Respiratory medicine · Mar 2013
Review Meta AnalysisIntravenous and nebulized magnesium sulfate for treating acute asthma in adults and children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the effects of intravenous and nebulized magnesium sulfate on treating adults and children with acute asthma. ⋯ The use of intravenous magnesium sulfate, in addition to β2-agonists and systemic steroids, in the treatment of acute asthma appears to produce benefits with respect to improve pulmonary function and reduce the number of hospital admissions for children, and only improve pulmonary function for adults. However, the use of nebulized magnesium sulfate just appears to produce benefits for adults.
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Respiratory medicine · Mar 2013
Multicenter StudyPatient knowledge, perceptions, expectations and satisfaction on allergen-specific immunotherapy: a survey.
Assessing patient's perspective provides useful information enabling a customized approach which has been advocated by current guidelines. In this multicentre cross-sectional study we evaluated personal viewpoints on allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) in patients treated with subcutaneous (SCIT) or sublingual (SLIT) immunotherapy. ⋯ In this real life study evaluating different aspects of patient's perspective on SIT, the majority of patients had an adequate level of knowledge, perceptions, expectations and satisfaction about SIT, which corresponded well with the physician's perceptions and satisfaction. Our data warrant the use of patient's perspectives on chronic SIT treatment.
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Respiratory medicine · Mar 2013
Clinical TrialImpact of switching from epoprostenol to IV treprostinil on treatment satisfaction and quality of life in patients with pulmonary hypertension.
Transition from intravenous (IV) epoprostenol to IV treprostinil in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) has traditionally been performed by gradually decreasing the epoprostenol dose while increasing the treprostinil dose. Preliminary data suggest that this transition can be performed more rapidly without the need for epoprostenol weaning. We conducted a single center, prospective clinical trial to assess the safety, efficacy, and treatment satisfaction of rapidly switching from epoprostenol to IV treprostinil. ⋯ Rapidly switching from epoprostenol to IV treprostinil can be achieved without safety concerns, with minimal patient monitoring and without the need for extended hospitalization, while favorably impacting on patients' quality of life.
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Respiratory medicine · Mar 2013
Randomized Controlled TrialAdditive efficacy of short-acting bronchodilators on dynamic hyperinflation and exercise tolerance in stable COPD patients treated with long-acting bronchodilators.
The purpose of this study was to clarify the additive efficacy of short-acting β(2)-agonists (SABA) or muscarinic antagonists (SAMA) on dynamic hyperinflation and exercise tolerance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who had been treated with long-acting bronchodilators. Thirty-two patients with stable COPD who had been treated with long-acting bronchodilators, including long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA), were examined by pulmonary function tests, dynamic hyperinflation evaluated by the method of step-wise metronome-paced incremental hyperventilation, and the incremental shuttle walking test before and after inhalation of SABA or SAMA. The additive efficacy of the two drugs was analyzed. ⋯ Furthermore, inhalation of SABA resulted in relief of breathlessness during exercise and significant improvement in exercise capacity. Inhalation of SABA resulted in significant improvement in exercise tolerance, which may have been due to improvement in dynamic hyperinflation. Single use of SABA before exercise, in addition to regular treatment with LAMA, may therefore be useful in stable COPD patients.