BMC pulmonary medicine
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BMC pulmonary medicine · Dec 2020
A multicenter randomized trial to assess the efficacy of CONvalescent plasma therapy in patients with Invasive COVID-19 and acute respiratory failure treated with mechanical ventilation: the CONFIDENT trial protocol.
The COVID-19 pandemic reached Europe in early 2020. Convalescent plasma is used without a consistent evidence of efficacy. Our hypothesis is that passive immunization with plasma collected from patients having contracted COVID-19 and developed specific neutralizing antibodies may alleviate symptoms and reduce mortality in patients treated with mechanical ventilation for severe respiratory failure during the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. ⋯ The trial is funded by the Belgian Health Care Knowledge Center KCE # COV201004 TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov registration number NCT04558476. Registered 14 September 2020-Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04558476.
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BMC pulmonary medicine · Dec 2020
Observational StudyClinical profiles of subclinical disease among pulmonary tuberculosis patients: a prospective cohort study in South Korea.
Subclinical tuberculosis (TB) is a potential target for public health intervention because its early identification may reduce TB transmission. We aimed to describe the clinical and laboratory findings of subclinical disease among pulmonary TB patients and compared treatment outcomes for subclinical and active diseases. ⋯ Nearly one-fifth of tuberculosis cases were subclinical in South Korea. Despite its milder clinical presentation and lower level of inflammatory markers, the treatment outcomes of subclinical TB were not significantly different from that of active disease.
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BMC pulmonary medicine · Dec 2020
Serum SP-A and KL-6 levels can predict the improvement and deterioration of patients with interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features.
Some patients with interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF) showed a progressive course despite therapy. This study aimed to evaluate whether serial changes in the serum levels of surfactant protein-A (SP-A) and Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) can predict disease progression. ⋯ Serum SP-A and KL-6 offer high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of IPAF. The decrease in serum SP-A and/or KL-6 levels in patients with IPAF is related to the improvement in pulmonary function. SP-A and KL-6 may be important biomarkers for predicting disease progression in patients with IPAF.
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BMC pulmonary medicine · Nov 2020
Clinical TrialChronic obstructive pulmonary disease prevalence and prediction in a high-risk lung cancer screening population.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an underdiagnosed condition sharing risk factors with lung cancer. Lung cancer screening may provide an opportunity to improve COPD diagnosis. Using Pan-Canadian Early Detection of Lung Cancer (PanCan) study data, the present study sought to determine the following: 1) What is the prevalence of COPD in a lung cancer screening population? 2) Can a model based on clinical and screening low-dose CT scan data predict the likelihood of COPD? ⋯ COPD had a high prevalence in a lung cancer screening population. While a risk model had poor discrimination, all deciles of risk had a high prevalence of COPD, and spirometry could be considered as an additional test in lung cancer screening programs.
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BMC pulmonary medicine · Nov 2020
Broncho-alveolar inflammation in COVID-19 patients: a correlation with clinical outcome.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) rapidly reached pandemic proportions. Given that the main target of SARS-CoV-2 are lungs leading to severe pneumonia with hyperactivation of the inflammatory cascade, we conducted a prospective study to assess alveolar inflammatory status in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19. ⋯ Alveolitis, associated with COVID-19, is mainly sustained by innate effectors which showed features of extensive activation. The burden of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL6 and IL8 in the broncho-alveolar environment is associated with clinical outcome.