*Corresponding author:
Ying-Ming Chiu, Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Nanxiao Street, Changhua City 500-06, TaiwanChih- Ming Lin, Department of Neurology, Changhua Christian Hospital,Nanxiao Street, Changhua City 500-06, Taiwan
Received: November 01, 2018; Published: November 16, 2018
DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2018.11.002057
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Objectives: To summarize the clinical features and diagnostic approach of patients with vasculitis-associated diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH). To investigate the optimal therapeutic strategy and highlight the effective corticosteroid dose and timing.
Methods: A retrospective chart review of the patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) due to vasculitis-associated DAH was performed. Patient characteristics, clinical manifestations, the diagnosis of underlying etiology, treatment, and outcome were collected.
Results: During January 2015 to December 2017, seven vasculitis-associated DAH patients were reviewed. The mean age ± SD was 53.4 ± 18.2 years. Five patients (71%) were female. DAH was the initial presentation in all seven patients (100%). All patients required immediate mechanical ventilation. As first line therapy, methylprednisolone (MTP) pulse therapy combined with cyclophosphamide pulse therapy were administered to all patients. Six patients survived. Four of them received MTP and cyclophosphamide pulse therapy shortly after admission (mean 1.6 days, range: <1-3 days) showed good response to therapy and were extubated successfully within ten days after ICU admission.
Conclusion: Vasculitis-associated DAH is a fatal disorder. Once the diagnosis of DAH is confirmed, intensive administration of MTP and cyclophosphamide pulse therapy initiated within 3 days of admission provide good survival and pulmonary outcome.
Keywords : Alveolar hemorrhage; Corticosteroid; Lung Diseases; Therapeutic; Vasculitis
Abbreviations : DAH: Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage; ICU: Intensive Care Unit; MTP: Methylprednisolone; RBCs: Red Blood Cells; ANCA: Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody; AAV: Associated Vasculitis; BAL: Broncho-Alveolar Lavage; CXR: Chest X-Ray; SD: Standard Deviation; PTU: Propylthiouracil; CRP: C-Reactive Protein; ESR: Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate; IVIG: Intravenous Immunoglobulin
Introduction| Materials and Methods| Statistical Analysis| Results| Discussion| References|