Chronic Respiratory Flashcards
Conditions causing fibrosis in upper zones:
C - coal worker's pneumoconiosis H - histiocytosis/hypersensitivity pneumonitis (extrinsic allergic alveolitis) A - ankylosing spondylitis R - radiation T - TB S - silicosis/sarcoidosis
Conditions causing fibrosis in lower zones:
- IPF - restrictive (reduced gas transfer factor)
- connective tissue disorders
- drug induced: amiodarone, bleomycin, methotrexate
Cystic fibrosis
- autosomal recessive
- increased viscosity of secretions (lungs and pancreas)
- CFTR conductance regulator gene - cAMP regulated chloride channel
- 80% delta F508 chromosome 7 long arm
Most common organisms affecting cystic fibrosis:
- pseudomonas aeruginosa
- staph aureus
- burkholderia cepacia
- aspergillus
Features of cystic fibrosis:
- neonatal: meconium ileus, prolonged jaundice
- recurrent chest infections
- malabsorption: steatorrhoea
- short stature, DM, delayed puberty, rectal prolapse (bulky stools), nasal polyps, male infertility, female subfertility
Diagnosis of cystic fibrosis:
sweat test: hyperchloraemic, >60mEq/L
Reasons for false positive sweat test in CF:
- malnutrition
- adrenal insufficiency
- glycogen storage disease
- nephrogenic diabetes insipidus
- hypothyroidism, hypoparathyroidism
- G6PD
- ectodermal dysplasia
Reasons for false negative sweat test in CF:
- skin oedema
- hypoalbuminaemia/hypoproteinuria secondary to pancreatic excocrine insufficiency
Management of CF:
- twice daily chest physiotherapy and postural drainage
- high calorie and fat intake
- vitamin supplements
- pancreatic enzyme supplements with meals
- lung transplant (contra burkholderia cepacia)
- lumacaftor/ivacaftor - homozygous deltaF508 mutation
alpha 1 AT def
- young, non smokers, panacinar emphysema (lower lobes)
- chromosome 14, autosomal recessive and co-dominant
- liver: cirrhosis and HCC adults, cholestasis in children
- obstructive spirometry
- management: no smoking, bronchodilators, physiotherapy, IV A1AT concentrate, lung volume reduction, lung transplant
Atelectasis
- common postoperative complication - basal alveolar collapse
- airway obstructed by bronchial secretions
- dyspnoea, hypoxaemia, 72 hrs postop
- manage: upright position, breathing exercises
Bronchiectasis causes:
- permanent dilation of airways secondary to chronic infection or inflammation
- post infective: TB, measles, pertussis, pneumonia
- CF
- bronchial obstruction e.g. cancer/foreign body
- immune def - selective IgA, hypogammaglobulinaemia
- ABPA
- ciliary dyskinetic: Kartagener’s, Young’s
- yellow nail syndrome
Most common organism affecting bronchiectasis:
haemophilus influenzae (pseudomonas aeruginosa, klebsiella, strep pneumonia)
Common imaging findings in bronchiectasis:
- tram track and signet ring signs
- parallel line shadows
Management of bronchiectasis:
- physical training
- postural drainage
- antibiotics for exacerbations and long term
- bronchodilators
- immunisation
- surgery if localised
Causes of bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy:
- most common: sarcoidosis and TB
- lymphoma/malignancy
- pneumoconiosis e.g. berylliosis
- funghi e.g. histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis
Cardiac causes of clubbing:
- cyanotic congenital heart disease
- bacterial endocarditis
- atrial myxoma
Respiratory causes of clubbing:
- lung cancer
- pyrogenic conditions: CF, bronchiectasis, abscess, empyema
- TB
- asbestosis, mesothelioma
- fibrosing alveolitis
Other causes of clubbing:
- Crohn’s
- cirrhosis, PBC
- Grave’s
- Whipple’s
Features of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis:
- asthma
- blood eosinophilia
- paranasal sinusitis
- mononeuritis multiplex
- pANCA
Features of granulomatosis with polyangiitis:
- affects upper and lower RT and kidneys
- epistaxis, sinusitis, nasal crusting
- dyspnoea, haemoptysis
- rapidly progressive GN
- saddle-shaped nose
- vasculitic rash, eye involvement, cranial nerve lesion
Features of microscopic polyangiitis:
- renal impairment: increased creatinine, haematuria, proteinuria
- fever
- lethargy, myalgia, weight loss
- palpable purpuric rash
- cough, dyspnoea, haemoptysis
- mononeuritis multiplex
Pneumoconiosis presentation:
simple pneumo:
- most common
- often asymptomatic
- increased risk of COPD
- may lead to progressive massive fibrosis
progressive massive fibrosis:
- round fibrotic masses
- upper lobes
- breathlessness on exertion and cough
- black sputum
- obstructive/restrictive mixed
Management of pneumoconiosis:
- avoid exposure including smoking
- manage bronchitis