• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.294-298
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• 2006

Lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia(LIP) is an uncommon condition in which the alveolar septa and extra-alveolar interstitial space are markedly expanded by small lymphocytes, plasma cells and histiocytes. Chest radiographs generally show nonspecific patterns with the most common pattern showing bibasilar reticular or reticulonodular infiltrates. Hilar or mediastinal lymphadenopathy and pleural effusions are usually absent. We encountered a 42-year-old female patient who was admitted to hospital because of exertional dyspnea and palpitation. The chest X-ray showed an enlarged bilateral hilar shadow and diffusely increased bronchovascular markings in both lung fields. The chest CT showed diffuse nodular infiltrations with mild septal thickening and combined patchy ground glass opacity in both lungs, and conglomerated mediastinal and bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy. A diagnosis of LIP was made from the tissue pathology taken by a thoracoscopic lung biopsy. The patient showed clinical and radiographic improvement after 3 months of treatment with prednisolone. We report a case of LIP presenting as diffuse nodular interstitial infiltrations with multiple mediastinal and bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.700-703
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• 2005

We experienced a case of pulmonary cryptococcosis in an immunocompetent patient who presented with uncommon radiological findings. He complained of a dry cough for 3 weeks. The chest X-ray and CT showed multiple, variable sized, and irregular patch consolidations with cavities combined with some ground glass opacities in both lower lung fields. The diagnosis was made histologically via a thoracoscopic lung biopsy. The patient was administered oral fluconazole has since been well.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.274-279
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• 1996

Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease is a rare cause of pulmonary hypertension in which the primary abnormality is obliterative obstruction of pulmonary veins, especially venules. Clinicaly, we should suspect this disease in the case of congestive cardiac failure with pulmonary hypertension, chronic interstitial pulmonary edema, and normal or elevated wedge pressure on cardiac catheterization. We experience a case of pulmonary hypertension due to pulmonary veno-occlusive disease. A 55-years -old woman developed progressive dry cough and dyspnea for 3 months. Physical examination showed normal heart sounds, diffuse crackles in the whole lung fields. The liver was not palpable and pitting edema was absent. The diagnosis was made by chest HRCT, 2-D echocardiography, normal pulmonary capillary wedge pressure on cardiac catheterization, and confirmed by thoracoscopic lung biopsy. This patient was treated with vasodilator(calcium antagonist) and with mild symptomatic improvement. We reported a case of pulmonary veno-occlusive disease with review of literatures.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.128-139
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• 1998

Background: It is well known that various cytokines and growth factors secreted mainly from alveolar macrophages do the key role in the pathogenesis of IPF. But recently it has been known that structural cells like fibroblast can also release cytokines. So the phenotypic changes in fibroblasts of IPF may do a role in continuous progression of fibrosis. The aim of this study is to find out whether there is a change in the biologic properties of the lung fibroblasts of IPF. Subjects and Method: The study was done on 13 patients with IPF diagnosed by open or thoracoscopic lung biopsy and 7 control patients who underwent resectional surgery for lung cancer. Lung fibroblast cell lines (FB) were established by explant culture technique from the biopsy or resected specimen Result: Basal proliferation of the fibroblast of IPF(IFB) measured by BrdU uptake tended to be highter than control fibroblast(NFB) (0.212 0.107 vs $0.319{\pm}0.143$, p=0.0922), also there was no significant difference in proliferation after the stimulation with PDGF or 10% serum. On the contrary, the degree of inhibition in proliferation by PGE2 was significantly lower($33.0{\pm}13.1%$) in IFB than control($46.7{\pm}10.0%$, p=0.0429). The IFB secreted significantly higher amount of MCP-l($l574{\pm}1283$ pg/ml) spontaneously than NFB($243{\pm}100$ pg/ml) and also after the stimulation with TGF-$\beta$($3.23{\pm}1.31$ ng/ml vs $0.552{\pm}0.236$ ng/ml, p=0.0012). Similarly IL-8 and IL-6 seretion of IFB was significantly higher than NFB at basal state and with TGF-$beta$ stimulation. But after the maximal stimulation with IL-1,8, no significant difference in cytokine secretion was found between IFB and NFB. Conclusion : Above data suggest that the fibroblasts of IPF were phenotypically changed and these change may do a role in the pathogenesis of IPF.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.76 no.2
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• pp.75-79
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• 2014

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a toxic chemical commonly used as a degreasing agent, and it is usually found in a colorless or blue liquid form. TCE has a sweet, chloroform-like odor, and this volatile chlorinated organic chemical can cause toxic hepatitis, neurophysiological disorders, skin disorders, and hypersensitivity syndromes. However, the hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) attributed to TCE has rarely been reported. We hereby describe a case of HP associated with TCE in a 29-year-old man who was employed as a lead welder at a computer repair center. He was installing the capacitors on computer chip boards and had been wiped down with TCE. He was admitted to our hospital with complaints of dry coughs, night sweats, and weight losses for the past two months. HP due to TCE exposure was being suspected due to his occupational history, and the results of a video-associated thoracoscopic biopsy confirmed the suspicions. Symptoms have resolved after the steroid pulse therapy and his occupational change. TCE should be taken into consideration as a potential trigger of HP. Early recognition and avoidance of the TCE exposure in the future is important for the treatment of TCE induced HP.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.685-696
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• 1999

Background : Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a diffuse inflammatory and fibrosing process that occurs within the interstitium and alveolus of the lung with invariably poor prognosis. The major problem in management of IPF results from the variable rate of disease progression and the difficulties in predicting the response to therapy. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the short-term efficacy of steroid and immunosuppressive therapy for IPF and to identify the pre-treatment determinants of favorable response. Method : Twenty patients of IPF were included. Diagnosis of IPF was proven by thoracoscopic lung biopsy and they were presumed to have active progressive disease. The baseline evaluation in these patients included clinical history, pulmonary function test, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and chest high resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Fourteen patients received oral prednisolone treatment with initial dose of 1mg/kg/day for 8 to 12 weeks and then tapering to low-dose prednisolone (0.25mg/kg/day). Six patients who previously had experienced significant side effects to steroid received 2mg/kg/day of oral cyclophosphamide with or without low-dose prednisolone. Follow-up evaluation was performed after 6 months of therapy. If patients met more than one of followings, they were considered to be responders : (1) improvement of more than one grade in dyspnea index, (2) improvement in FVC or TLC more than 10% or improvement in DLco more than 20% (3) decreased extent of disease in chest HRCT findings. Result : One patient died of extrapulmonary cause after 3 month of therapy, and another patient gave up any further medical therapy due to side effect of steroid. Eventually medical records of 18 patients were analyzed. Nine of 18 patients were classified into responders and the other nine patients into nonresponders. The histopathologic diagnosis of the responders were all nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) and that of nonresponders were all usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) (p<0.001). The other significant differences between the two groups were female predominance (p<0.01), smoking history (p<0.001), severe grade of dyspnea (p<0.05), lymphocytosis in BAL fluid ($23.8{\pm}16.3%$ vs $7.8{\pm}3.6%$, p<0.05), and less honeycombing in chest HRCT findings (0% vs $9.2{\pm}2.3%$, p<0.001). Conclusion : Our results suggest that patients with histopathologic diagnosis of NSIP or lymphocytosis in BAL fluid are more likely to respond to steroid or immunosuppressive therapy. Clinical results in large numbers of IPF patients will be required to identify the independent variables.