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Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) plays a role in the diagnosis of diffuse parenchymal lung diseases (DPLD); however, poor BAL fluid (BALF) recovery results in low diagnostic reliability. BAL is relatively safe, but its indications should be carefully considered in patients with risks. Therefore, estimating the likelihood of recovery failure is helpful in clinical practice. This study aimed to clarify predictors of BALF recovery failure and to develop its simple-to-use prediction models. We detected the predictors applying a logistic regression model on clinical, physiological, and radiological data from 401 patients with DPLD (derivation cohort). The discrimination performance of the prediction models using these factors was evaluated by the c-index. In the derivation cohort, being a man, the forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity, and a BAL target site other than right middle lobe or left lingula were independent predictors. The c-indices of models 1 and 2 that we developed were 0.707 and 0.689, respectively. In a separate cohort of 234 patients (validation cohort), the c-indices of the models were 0.689 and 0.670, respectively. In conclusion, we developed and successfully validated simple-to-use prediction models useful for pulmonologists considering BAL indications or target sites, based on independent predictors for BALF recovery failure.

A 69-year-old woman presented with appetite loss, fatigue, and a low-grade fever. She had been receiving certolizumab pegol for rheumatoid arthritis for six years. Computed tomography of the chest showed multiple micronodules in both lungs and bilateral hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. An ophthalmic examination showed the findings of uveitis. Lymphocytosis with an increased CD4/CD8 ratio was seen in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Video-assisted thoracoscopic biopsy specimens obtained from the right lung and a right hilar lymph node showed noncaseous epithelioid cell granulomas. Anti-tumor necrosis factor-α-induced sarcoidosis was diagnosed, and she was successfully treated with cessation of certolizumab pegol and systemic corticosteroid therapy.

Method: Asthma-associated extra-airway eosinophilic diseases such as eosinophilic pneumonia and eosinophilic otitis media usually require systemic corticosteroid therapy, and relapse is common after treatment has ceased. Aims and Objectives: To investigate the usefulness of benralizumab in the treatment of severe asthma associated with extra-airway eosinophilic diseases, we conducted a retrospective study. Methods: A review of medical records of severe asthma patients who had extra-airway eosinophilic diseases and received benralizumab treatment was performed. Results: Subjects included one male and seven females with mean age of 75.8 years-old. Eosinophilic sinusitis, eosinophilic pneumonia, eosinophilic otitis media, eosinophilic gastroenteritis, and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis were seen in seven, six, three, one, one of eight patients, respectively. Six patients required chronic low-dose systemic corticosteroid therapy because of frequent relapse of extra-airway eosinophilic diseases and asthma exacerbation. Asthma control test score and peripheral eosinophilia improved significantly after the initiation of benralizumab treatment. Benralizumab treatment significantly reduced the frequency of asthma exacerbation and relapse of extra-bronchial eosinophilic diseases, and all six patients who had been taking chronic low-dose systemic corticosteroid treatment could withdraw from such treatment without exacerbation of asthma and relapse of extra-airway eosinophilic diseases. Conclusion: Benralizumab is useful in the treatment of severe asthma associated with extra-airway eosinophilic diseases.

Pre-existing interstitial lung disease (pre-ILD) increases the risk of chemotherapy-related lung injury (CRLI). However, whether the risk varies by type of anti-cancer cytotoxic agent in patients with pre-ILD is unknown. In this study, we hypothesized that S-1, an oral fluoropyrimidine agent, is associated with a smaller CRLI risk than docetaxel (DTX) and investigated these agents together with radiological evaluations of pre-ILD via pre-treatment chest computed tomography (CT). After reviewing 234 and 352 patients who underwent evaluable chest CT within 6 months prior to the administration of S-1 or DTX, respectively, from January 2006 to October 2014, 60 and 89, respectively, of these patients with pre-ILD were retrospectively analysed. In total, 2 persons administered S-1 (3 %) and 16 treated with DTX (18 %) developed CRLI (p = 0.007) after the initial treatment (mean, 61 days), of whom 1 and 7, respectively, died because of respiratory failure. Pre-treatment CT revealed that 9 S-1-treated patients (16 %) and 15 DTX-treated patients (17 %) had pre-ILD occupying more than 25 % of the lung field. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that DTX administration increased the risk of CRLI by 6.47-fold versus S-1 therapy (p = 0.016). Of note, the area occupied by pre-ILD was also associated with the risk of CRLI (

Background/aim The aim of this study was to reveal risk factors for lung injury following irinotecan administration for the treatment of neoplasms. Patients and methods This study included 204 patients who received irinotecan from October 2005 to November 2014 and had evaluable chest CT images before initiation of irinotecan. Results Six (2.9%) patients developed lung injury and, of these, 2 had preexisting interstitial lung disease (pre-ILD). The frequency of lung injury in patients with pre-ILD was 11% (2 of 19) while that in patients without pre-ILD was 2.2%. Risk factor analysis for the lung injury showed pre-ILD was the most predictable factor [odds ratio (OR) 5.00, p=0.07]. Combination with other agents, origin of neoplasms (lung or not), initial dose or minimum interval were not observed to be related to risk. Conclusion The risk of lung injury with irinotecan was high when pre-ILD was present and the risk was comparable with previously reported other agents.

Background The management of skin toxicity is crucial for efficient afatinib treatment, but the role of tetracycline class antibiotics (TCs) in managing these rashes is relatively unknown. Methods We reviewed the clinical records of patients who were administered afatinib for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer harboring epidermal growth factor receptor mutations between October 2014 and November 2016. Twenty-five patients, who received TCs for the management of afatinib-related skin disorders, were enrolled. Results Minocycline was administered orally to participants. Afatinib-related toxic effects, such as rash, diarrhea, and paronychia, were observed in 92%, 92%, and 40% of cases, respectively. Although 24% of diarrhea and 4% of paronychia cases were rated grade 3 or higher, no severe cases of rash were observed during afatinib treatment. Of the 18 afatinib dose reductions, 14 (78%), three (17%), and one (6%) resulted from diarrhea, paronychia, and stomatitis, respectively; no patients required a dose reduction because of rash. When minocycline treatment started, 21 patients (84%) had a rash of grade 1 or less, and three patients had a grade 2 rash. A response to afatinib was observed in 18 patients (72%) and the median duration of afatinib administration was 501 days. An adverse event related to minocycline (grade 1 nausea) was observed in one patient. Conclusions A large proportion of the study patients started minocycline before grade 2 rash development and the severity of afatinib-related rash was lower than that previously reported. Oral TCs may be beneficial, especially if started early.

An 86-year-old woman with severe dementia had been treated with oral prednisolone at 2 mg/day for autoimmune bullous dermatosis for several years. One year ago, she referred to our hospital due to an ulcerative skin lesion over the right tibial tuberosity. The lesion was treated by an iodine-containing ointment, but did not heal. Subsequently, a new skin lesion appeared in the right popliteal fossa. One month ago, the patient had increased sputum production that was accompanied by fever, anorexia, and dyspnea; consequently, she visited our department. Chest computed tomography revealed diffuse micronodules with ground-glass attenuation. Acid-fast bacteria staining of the sputum was positive and the polymerase chain reaction detected Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In addition, the bacilli were also found in the skin lesions of the right limb. Therefore, a diagnosis of cutaneous, and miliary tuberculosis was made. Although the anti-tuberculous combination chemotherapy consisting of isoniazid, rifampicin, and ethambutol was immediately initiated, her condition did not improve. She died on day 19 of hospitalization. Drug susceptibility testing revealed no resistance to all the three drugs; hence, it was concluded that the time-delay in diagnosis of cutaneous tuberculosis lead to the progression to miliary tuberculosis and subsequent death.