[Toxic hydrocarbon pneumonitis in a "fire eater"].
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to G Pothoff.
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It is known that pulmonary function is impaired during the course of HIV infection even in early stages. In order to estimate the resulting reduction of exercise capacity, different groups of HIV patients were investigated. Group 1 consisted of 20 patients without a history of respiratory disease and without actual lung disease, group 2 of 18 patients with a former episode of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) without actual lung disease, and group III of 37 patients with different broncho-pulmonary complications including PCP. 20 normal subjects served as controls. Spirometry, diffusing capacity (DLCO) and exercise tests including arterial blood gas analysis (BGA) were performed in patients and controls. Compared to the controls group 1 patients revealed a decreased DLCO (TCO: 83 +/- 15 vs. 67 +/- 15% pred.norm.) while spirometric data were normal. VO2 and O2 pulse at the anaerobic threshold (17.7 +/- 5.1 vs. 14.3 +/- 2.6 ml/kg.min and 10.8 +/- 4.0 vs. 8.6 +/- 1.9 ml/beat, respectively) and maximum exercise (33.9 +/- 9.7 vs. 22.1 +/- 3.4 ml/kg.min and 15.0 +/- 5.0 vs. 11.3 +/- 2.5, respectively) were decreased, whereas AaDO2, VD/VT, and the HR/VO2 slope were normal. The reserves of heart rate and ventilation were high. Except for a reduced maximum work rate in group 1, no significant difference was found between groups 1 and 2. Group 3 patients differed most from groups 1 and 2 with respect to spirometry, DLCO and AaDO2, rather than VO2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Alveolar macrophages (AMs) harvested from 32 HIV-infected patients with respiratory problems (opportunistic pulmonary infections, n = 12; other lung disease, n = 20) and 13 healthy controls were stained with a panel of 15 monoclonal antibodies directed against surface antigens implicated in cell function. Antigen expression was quantified by flow cytometry and expressed as relative linear median fluorescence intensity (RLMFI). On AMs of patients, as compared with controls, there was a significant enhancement of HLA DP (12.1 +/- 1.5 vs 6.5 +/- 0.9, p = 0.01, M +/- SEM, RLMFI units), CD11b (3.4 +/- 0.5 vs 1.7 +/- 0.4, p = 0.014), CD11c (8.9 +/- 1.0 vs 4.8 +/- 0.8, p = 0.0046), CD14 (2.1 +/- 0.3 vs 1.0 +/- 0.2, p = 0.0009), and CD33 (1.7 +/- 0.1 vs 1.0 +/- 0.2, p = 0.0093). No significant differences could be established for HLA-DR (36.9 +/- 5.8 vs 30.9 +/- 7.5, NS), HLA-DQ (3.4 +/- 0.3 vs 3.1 +/- 0.6, NS), CD54 (1.9 +/- 0.3 vs 1.2 +/- 0.1, NS), CD13 (2.5 +/- 0.6 vs 1.5 +/- 0.3, NS), CD36 (1.4 +/- 0.2 vs 0.9 +/- 0.3, NS), CD71 (10.3 +/- 1.9 vs 8.9 +/- 1.8, NS), CD25 (0.8 +/- 0.0 vs 0.9 +/- 0.1, NS), 27E10 (1.1 +/- 0.1 vs 0.8 +/- 0.3, NS), RM3/1 (1.9 +/- 0.4 vs 1.5 +/- 0.4, NS), and CD4 (1.5 +/- 0.3 vs 1.0 +/- 0.0, NS). The expression of CD14 and CD11b, but not of HLA class II antigens and CD71, was increased in the smaller cell population compared with the larger, thus suggesting monocyte recruitment. The increased expression of HLA-DP, CD11c, CD14, and CD33 on the patients' AMs was independent of smoking habits. The degree of immunodeficiency as indicated by the absolute peripheral CD4 count, the character of HIV-related pulmonary disease, and the prophylactic use of pentamidine or zidovudine did not significantly modify the antigen expression pattern. It is concluded that HIV infection may lead, most probably indirectly, to enhanced expression of surface antigens by local upregulation and/or recruitment of monocytes from the peripheral circulation. The functional significance of enhanced marker expression requires further clarification.
The cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) is a non-invasive method for the evaluation of the cardiopulmonary exercise capacity. Based upon the recent technical progress in gas analysers and personal computers today it is possible to perform CPX with acceptable time consumption, high practicability and high reproducibility of the results in many clinical areas. CPX is realized on a bike or on a treadmill. In bicycle CPX a ramp program (increase of x watts per minute) or a constant workload test (p.e. with 75% of the watts at anaerobic threshold) are performed. Furthermore, an estimation of the cardiac output using CO2-rebreathing method can be realized during a ramp program or a constant workload test. In this paper, also the CPX parameters of the ramp program, the constant workload test and the CO2-rebreathing method are defined and explained. The normal values of CPX are dependent of age, sex, body weight and exercise program. This should be kept in mind in interpreting the measured CPX data. Additionally, the performance of a routine CPX will be reported. Furthermore, the accuracy of the CPX parameters and the potential influences on the data will be discussed. Finally, problems during measurements and their analysis will be clarified.
UNLABELLED: In 14 patients with obstructive airways disease (7 atopic asthmatics, 7 COPD pts with stable disease, FEV1 < 65% pred., 11 m, 3 f, age 50.9 +/- 17.2 y) the effect of a beta mimetic agent on physical performance was studied. PROTOCOL: Inhalation of 2.5 ml normal saline (P) or salbutamol 0.1% (S) in double-blind random order on 2 successive days. Spirometry, body-plethysmography, single-breath helium dilution at rest. Spiroergometry with incremental workload to tolerance. The volume of trapped gas (D) was derived from: TLC Body-TLC Helium Single Breath. RESULTS: Base line values revealed mild to moderate airways obstruction (FEV1 2.04 +/- 0.81 L, FEV1/VC 60.2 +/- 8.5%). Subsequent to inhaling S FEV1 increased significant by 20% to 2.38 +/- 0.87 L. There was a concomitant substantial improvement of VC (3.37 +/- 1.09 L to 3.60 +/- 0.93 L). Rs declined sign. (2.37 +/- 1.43 to 1.69 +/- 0.8 kPa*s), and so did D (1.15 +/- 0.73 L to 0.55 +/- 0.89 L = -20% from base line). Despite clear-cut bronchodilation exercise performance did not improve in response to S (114.6 +/- 49.3 vs 112.5 +/- 50.0 Watt max, ns). Base line max. VO2 (19.78 +/- 6.36 ml/min/kg) and VO2 at anaerobic threshold (13.29 +/- 3.21 ml/min/kg) suggested only minimal impairment of physical performance. S induced a small but significant decrease in max. VO2 (19.78 +/- 6.36 to 18.43 +/- 6.27 ml/min/kg, p < 0.025). Gas exchange (derived from AaDO2) was impaired at rest (30.18 +/- 10.4 mmHg) and during exercise (28.07 +/- 13.03 mmHg).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Surgical resection for lung cancer provides the only real chance for cure. However, there is a high risk of postoperative complications including death for patients with pulmonary dysfunction. Therefore preoperative identification of patients at risk is necessary. Apart from history and physical examination three tests are currently used: 1. resting lung function (RFL), 2. invasive measurement of pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and 3. exercise testing with measurement of oxygen consumption (VO2). Main studies in the literature report the probability of abnormal tests for prediction of pulmonary complications (positive predictive value) and the probability of normal tests for prediction of uneventful outcome (negative predictive value) as follows: [table: see text] In conclusion, the "ideal" test predictive for morbidity and mortality after lung resection has not been found. The positive predictive values of RLF and PVR are disappointing, while the negative predictive values are acceptable. Measurement of VO2 is simple, noninvasive and might predict survivable morbidity, as suggested in the literature. Obviously, additional studies are necessary.
The clinician who uses cardio-pulmonary exercise testing (CPX) systems relies on the technical informations from the device producers. In this paper, the practicability, the accuracy and the safety of four different, available CPX systems are compared in the clinical area, using clinically orientated criteria. The exercise tests were performed in healthy subjects, in patients with cardiac and/or pulmonary disease as well as in young or old people. The comparison study showed, that there were partially large differences in device design and measurement accuracy. Furthermore, our investigation demonstrated that beneath repetitive calibrations of the CPX systems a frequent validation of the devices by means of a metabolic simulator is necessary. Problems in calibration can be caused by an inadequate performance or by unclean calibration gases. Problems in validation can be due to incompatibility of the CPX device and the validator. The comparison study of the four different systems showed that in the future standards for CPX testing should be defined.
We analyzed 128 cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPX), performed in normal subjects (n = 31), in patients with coronary artery disease (n = 41), with chronic heart failure before (n = 14) and after (n = 14) application of oral PDE-inhibitors and in patients with HIV-infection on a bicycle-ergometer in semi-supine position using a ramp-program (dependent on study-population with 15, 20 or 35 Watt/min increases) with respect to the ability to determine the respiratory anaerobic threshold non-invasively, using the main criteria described by Wasserman et al.: the V-slope-method according to Beaver, the increase of the ventilatory equivalent for O2 (VE/VO2), the increase of the end-tidal PO2 (PETO2) and the increase of the respiratory quotient (RQ) during exercise. In the different study-populations we calculated the detection rates of the AT for each criteria separately. The typical changes in the end-tidal PO2 (124/128 = 96.9%) and the V-slope-method (119/128 = 92.9%) were the most reliable parameters to detect the anaerobic threshold. The characteristic changes of the ventilatory equivalent for O2 (VE/VO2) and of the respiratory quotient (RQ) we found in 100/128 (= 78.1%) and in 107/128 (= 83.6%) of the tests respectively. 86/128 tests (67.2%) showed typical changes in all four mentioned criteria. In another 24/128 tests (19.8%) three of four criteria were fulfilled. Therefore, our investigations showed that in 110/128 cases (85.9%) the AT could be determined by typical changes by means of at least three of the four described parameters. In 15/128 (11.7%) tests only two of four criteria were fulfilled.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
During steady-state exercise the noninvasive measurement of cardiac output using CO2-rebreathing has been found to be reliable and reproducible. In contrast, reliability of cardiac output measurement during unsteady state exercise is unclear. The ability to determine cardiac output (CO) noninvasively during steady state and unsteady state exercise was assessed in nine healthy students aged 25.7 +/- 7.4 years. Two cycle ergometer exercise tests were performed, one maximal unsteady state test with 25 watts increment of workload per minute, and also one steady state test at 25, 50, and 75 percent of max. VO2. CO was measured using the equilibrium CO2-rebreathing technique during unloaded cycling in both tests, at 75 and 150 watts in the unsteady state test and at all workloads during steady state exercise. Mean max. VO2 was 31.4 +/- 5.9 ml/kg/min and mean VO2 at the anaerobic threshold 24.5 +/- 7.2 ml/kg/min, respectively. During unsteady state exercise the CO2/workload slope was linear (r = 0.973), as with steady state exercise (r = 0.976). There was no difference concerning the slopes of both curves, but the elevation of VO2 with unsteady state exercise was lower, compared to steady state (p < 0.005). The relationships of CO/VO2 during unsteady and steady state exercise were best expressed by linear equations: CO = 7.49 x VO2 + 2.35 (r = 0.866) and CO = 8.24 x VO2 + 1.4 (r = 0.852), respectively. Similar to VO2/workload, both regressions did not have different slopes, but did have different elevations (p < 0.0001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) allows a non-invasive control of the cardiopulmonary exercise capacity. In this study, we wanted to investigate if the CPX can be securely, practicably, and accurately performed in patients with invasively documented coronary heart disease (CHD). Furthermore, we wanted to find out the clinical value of CPX in CHD diagnosis. The CPX measurements (symptom-limited; ramp program with 20 Watts increase/min; semi-supine position; continuous registration of the cardio-circulatory parameters (HR, RR, ECG), of the gas exchange parameters (O2, CO2) and of the ventilation) in 101 patients have shown that CPX is secure, accurate, and practicable. The day-to-day reproducibility is high (r > 0.8). The respiratory anaerobic threshold can be manually evaluated by means of the PET O2 criterion in 95% of the cases. The CCS-classification of angina pectoris could not accurately describe the cardiopulmonary exercise capacity as compared to the Weber-classification. The disadvantage of the Weber-classification is that it does not respect the age-, sex- and weight-dependent differences of the normal values. Our own data and results from the literature demonstrate that the anaerobic threshold, the maximum VO2 and the maximum O2-pulse are the more reduced the more coronary arteries are involved, the more reduced the left ventricular function is. But, nevertheless, the range of values shows large overlaps so that an exact differentiation, based upon these parameters, is not possible. Patients with similar functional results or degree of reduced exercise capacity have different morphological alterations. Most patients demonstrated typical ischemic cascade with anaerobic threshold, ST-segment alterations, angina pectoris and, finally, reduced max. VO2. In conclusion, CPX does not replace the traditional methods of non-invasive and invasive ischemia detection, but enables secure, practicable, and accurate measurements of the individual cardiopulmonary exercise capacity and the interaction between muscles, heart, circulation, and lungs. Possibly, CPX can be used in the near future for identifying CHD patients with low, medium or high risk.
One-hundred-sixteen healthy subjects (60 female and 56 male) with normal height (L) and weight (w) were selected to provide an even distribution of age (A, 20-70 years). All underwent an unsteady state cycle ergometer test with work increments of 20 watts each minute to exhaustion. A commercially available exercise testing system (EOS SPRINT, Jäger Corp., FRG) with gas analysis from a mixing chamber was used to study oxygen uptake (VO2), carbon dioxide output (VCO2), heart rate (HR), tidal volume (VT), breathing frequency (BR) and arterial oxygen tension (PO2) with special regard to the ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT) and maximum power output. For all parameters multiple regression equations were determined. Furthermore, heart rate reserve (HR-reserve), breathing reserve (VE-reserve), O2-pulse (VO2/HR), the dead space/tidal volume ratio (VD/VT) and the alveolar-arterial PO2-difference (AaDO2) were calculated. Day-to-day reproducibility was proven in 21 subjects. VO2max in females was 1584 +/- 300 ml/min (VO2max = -17 A + 10 L + 10 G + 58, r = 0.75, p < 0.0001), VO2AT 957 +/- 159 ml/min (VO2AT = 0.35 VO2max + 0.40 l/min, r = 0.77, p < 0.0001). The ratio VO2AT/VO2max was 50 +/- 7%. In male, VO2max was 2452 +/- 529 ml/min (VO2max = -23 A + 23 L + 9.5 G - 1395, r = 0.78, p < 0.0001), VO2AT 1209 +/- 213 ml/min (VO2AT = 0.29 VO2max + 0.51 l/min, r = 0.71, p < 0.0001), and VO2AT/VO2max 62 +/- 9%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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The clinical and radiologic presentation as well as the macroscopic and histologic characteristics of lung parenchyma in three HIV-infected patients with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) are detailed. The distinguishing clinical feature in these patients was a prolonged stable clinical course of the disease over at least 4 to approximately 24 months. Serial chest radiographs in two patients demonstrated persistent focal radiographic lesions. In one patient blebs in both upper lobes were not recognized until thoracoscopy/thoracotomy was performed. Biopsy specimens of affected areas revealed extensive interstitial fibrosis, occasional giant cell reactions, and honeycombing. In view of the combined clinical, radiologic, macroscopic, and histologic patterns, it is suggested that these patients had a chronic productive form of PCP rather than the well-known acute presentation of the disease. Data from the literature confirm the impression that atypical histologic lesions of PCP, either of a productive or destructive nature, are frequently related to a prolonged clinical course. It is unlikely that prophylactic pentamidine contributes to this entity. Coinfection with other pathogens may have a role. Given the recent evidence on augmented release of tumor necrosis factor a (TNFa) in HIV-associated pulmonary complications, it is speculated that TNFa may be of importance in producing focal fibrosis in Pneumocystis infection of the lung.
Thirty patients with a history of asthma and ten patients with suspected bronchial hyperreactivity underwent nonspecific provocation testing. The control group consisted of ten normal volunteers without a history of lung disease. The patients' baseline FEV1 (percent predicted) revealed mild obstructive disease (72.9 +/- 8.9 percent and 74.6 +/- 7.7 percent) compared with controls (87.2 +/- 8.5 percent, p less than 0.001). The mean volume of trapped gas (D) (ie, TLCB-TLCHe) was not significantly different between groups (0.11 +/- 0.49 L vs 0.15 +/- 0.4 L vs 0.18 +/- 0.45 L), and no correlation was established with any of the remaining lung function data. Bronchial hyperreactivity in response to inhaling acetylcholine could be observed in the asthma group only. Their mean D increased significantly from 0.11 +/- 0.49 L to 0.62 +/- 0.66 L (p less than 0.001), and returned to baseline (0.26 +/- 0.55, NS) subsequent to inhaling salbutamol. D changes induced by acetylcholine correlated weakly with concurrent changes of FEV1 (r = -0.44, p = 0.01), RV (r = 0.59, p less than 0.001), and Rs (r = 0.59, p less than 0.001). In response to bronchodilating doses of salbutamol, however, D was changed in close correlation with FEV1 (r = -0.82, p less than 0.0001), RV (r = 0.85, p less than 0.0001), and Rs (r = 0.76, p less than 0.0001). Provided that D is a valid parameter of small airways function, these data may give a clue to the site of action of both drugs. Acetylcholine affects small and large airways alike with no clear-cut preference, whereas salbutamol's predominant target appears to be the small airways. These conclusions are only partially supported by the pertinent literature.
The kind of relation of central lung cancer (c) to the walls of the central pulmonary arteries (PA) and the aorta is an important information prior to operative or interventional (laser/afterloading) therapy. As computed tomography (CT) and angiography are often inaccurate in the assessment of PA-infiltration, we assessed the diagnostic value of transesophageal echography (TEE) in the staging of LC. 16 patients (pts.) were investigated using TEE in addition to CT or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Eleven pts. had central LC, 3 peripheral LC, 1 anterior mediastinal mass and 1 central pneumonia (cancer excluded). 2 pts. with central LC were unable to swallow the probe. In 9/9 pts. with central LC, 1/3 pts. with peripheral LC and 1 pt. with enlarged anterior mediastinum the tumour mass could be visualized. In the pt. with a centrally located infiltrate on chest radiogram TEE demonstrated enlarged hilar lymph nodes, but excluded a central tumour. Main PA branches could be identified in all 14/14 pts. Central left or right PA were compressed slightly in 3 pts. and severely in 2 pts., with a near total occlusion in one (confirmed by MRI/CT). TEE revealed PA-infiltration in 2 pts. and aortic wall infiltration in 2 other pts. Despite adjacent tumour mass aortic wall infiltration was excluded in 2 pts. Enlarged hilar lymph nodes could be demonstrated in 2/9 pts. with central LC, whereas CT/MRI showed enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes in 7/9 pts. In conclusion, TEE is able to visualize central lung cancer and gives useful additional informations about the kind of relation to central PA and the aorta.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
UNLABELLED: Significant impairment of lung volumes and gas exchange in HIV-infected patients with acute Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) has been reported, whereas little is known about lung function compromise following successful therapy. In 9 patients with acute PCP and 9 patients 1-5 month after PCP lung function testing including spirometry, diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide and exercise blood gas analysis were performed serially at monthly intervals. The results were summarized in a total score. The mean period of follow-up for each patient was 7.2 +/- 2 months. A decrease in lung volumes (FEV1 67 +/- 14.2% pred.norm., VC 72.7 +/- 11.9% pred.norm.) and gas exchange (CO-transfer factor 53.2 +/- 18.5% pred.norm., CO-transfer coefficient 67.8 +/- 14.2 pred. norm.) was observed in all 9 patients with acute PCP. Post-PCP lung volumes normalized within 1 month, whereas disorders in gas exchange persisted for 1-3 months. The total score normalized in 16/18 patients. One of the remaining patients with persisting functional impairment had chronic obstructive airway disease, whereas in the other dysfunction was even observed prior to PCP and no diagnosis could be obtained. 2-6 months following acute disease a second period of decreased lung function occurred in 6 pts. In 3 of the 6 there were no clinical signs of infection (rebronchoscopy refused), in 1 patient infection with cytomegalovirus was suspected. In the other 2 patients a relapse of PCP was diagnosed by bronchoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Acute PCP compromises lung mechanics and gas exchange. During recovery deficits in gas exchange persist longer than diminished lung volumes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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In order to determine the possible effect of aerosolized pentamidine on the cellular composition of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in HIV-infected patients, differential counts of 22 consecutive patients who had been rebronchoscopied after 3-19 months were reviewed. Eleven patients were started on pentamidine prophylaxis subsequent to their first presentation. Eleven patients had never taken pentamidine or had discontinued the prophylactic regimen. Compared to first bronchoscopy, the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) from patients on regular prophylaxis revealed a significant increase in absolute alveolar macrophage (AM) counts at second presentation (20.8 +/- 11.2 to 50.3 +/- 39.4 x 10(5) cells/100 ml BAL; P less than 0.01). The AM counts of those without pentamidine remained essentially unchanged. Lymphocytes, including CD4 and CD8 subtypes, and neutrophils did not change over time in either group. The results of this retrospective analysis suggest that, in addition to its antimicrobial action, pentamidine may modulate local lung defence mechanisms, particularly by increasing the absolute number of AM.