Tidsskrift for den Norske lægeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny række
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Tidsskr. Nor. Laegeforen. · Feb 2000
[Oxygen therapy of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease reduces the development of pulmonary hypertension].
The development of secondary pulmonary hypertension in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease worsens their prognosis; oxygen therapy seems to improve prognosis in these patients. We measured the effect of oxygen therapy on mean pulmonary artery pressure in four women and four men aged 64 to 82 years (average 73 years) with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. ⋯ The mean pulmonary artery pressure decreased on average 5 mm Hg, from 24 to 19 mm Hg. As prognosis seems to be associated with pulmonary artery pressure, more patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease should be evaluated for oxygen therapy.
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Severe community acquired pneumonia is a common cause of acute respiratory failure requiring ventilator support. Bacteria are by far the most common pathogens, necessitating initial coverage with antibacterial agents. When influenza virus is involved in the aetiology of severe pneumonia, its role in the pathogenesis is most often that of facilitating secondary bacterial pneumonia. ⋯ We describe two cases of fulminant pneumonia with multiorgan failure, in which extensive microbiologic and serologic diagnostic test did not reveal other causes for the pneumonia than influenza virus. Different clinical lung manifestations of influenza are discussed. Influenza must be considered as an aetiologic possibility in acute respiratory failure.