[Bronchiolitis obliterans with idiopathic organizing pneumonia. Usefulness and yield of diagnostic techniques and procedures in a series of 20 patients].
OBJECTIVE
To assess retrospectively the utility and the profitableness of the diagnostic procedures and techniques in patients with idiopathic BOOP.


METHODS
We studied epidemiological features, clinical manifestations, respiratory function tests, chest radiology, and other diagnostic procedures and techniques, as well as the evolution and the mortality rates in patients with histological diagnosis of idiopathic BOOP during the period 1992-1999.


RESULTS
20 patients (55% F, 45% M). Age: 64 +/- 15 years old, 50% smokers. The mean period elapsed since the beginning of the symptoms and the time of diagnosis was 51 +/- 30 days. The clinical presentation is of a subacute influenza-like illness, with fever, cough, dyspnea and crackles. The more common abnormalities were. WBC (10,949 +/- 2,6429 mm3, ESR 85 +/- 86 UI/L, LDH 309 +/- 86 UI/L. Arterial blood gas: PaO2 64 +/- 9, PaCO2 35 +/- 3 mmHg. Pulmonary function tests: VCF 81 +/- 25%, FEV1/VCF 78 +/- 17%, TLCO 74 +/- 9%, TLCO sb 77 +/- 4%. Radiological evaluation: bilateral multiple patchy alveolar opacities 75%), solitary focal lesion (15%) and interstitial opacities (10%). The bronchoscopy and BAL 10/20 (50%). Transbronchial biopsy 12/20 wit diagnosis (60%). The video assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy 1/20 (5%) and open lung biopsy 7/20 (35%). Recurrences 8/20 (40%). Mortality rate 3/20 (15%).


CONCLUSIONS
The idiopathic BOOP is a benign entity clinic inespecific, associated to hypoxemia and bilateral alveolar opacities. The transbronchial biopsy is a diagnostic procedure alternative to the open lung biopsy, in a compatible clínico-radiological context. The response to treatment is acceptable although it presents frequent exacerbations, and low mortality rate.
Jareño Esteban
J
J
Servicios de Neumología, Hospital del Aire, Madrid.
Zamora García
E
E
Chillón Martín
M J
MJ
Pérez Amor
E
E
Villegas Fernández
F
F
Forniés Menéndez
E
E
Callol Sánchez
L
L
D018549:Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies