Subacute and chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis: histopathological patterns and survival.
BACKGROUND
In hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), survival can be predicted on the basis of the severity of fibrosis in surgical lung biopsy, but few data are available on the influence of clinical, functional, tomographic and histologic findings on prognosis.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the impact on survival of clinical data, histological patterns, and HRCT findings in subacute/chronic HP.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis of 103 patients diagnosed with HP submitted to surgical lung biopsy. Chronic HP was characterized by HRCT findings indicative of fibrosis (n=76).


RESULTS
The most relevant exposures were to molds and birds. Lung biopsies revealed typical HP with granulomas in 46 patients, bronchiolocentric interstitial pneumonia in 27, and non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) in 16. By univariate analysis, several findings were predictors of mortality: older age, male sex, velcro crackles, higher FEV(1)/FVC ratio, lower oxygen saturation during exercise, and absence of mosaic pattern/air trapping and presence of fibrosis on HRCT. By multivariate analysis, remained significant: age (p=0.007), oxygen saturation during exercise (p=0.003), and mosaic pattern/air trapping on HRCT (p=0.004). Patients with NSIP had a greater survival than did those with typical histology and those with bronchiolocentric pneumonia (p=0.033).


CONCLUSIONS
A wide range of histological features are found in HP. Typical findings are seen in 45% of cases. Other common patterns are NSIP and centriacinar lesions. Survival is better in patients with NSIP and worse in those with older age, desaturation during exercise, and absence of mosaic pattern/air trapping on HRCT.
Lima
Mariana S
MS
Division of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Medicine, Universidade Federal de São Paulo - Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo, Brazil. limamariana@uol.com.br
Coletta
Ester N A M
EN
Ferreira
Rimarcs G
RG
Jasinowodolinski
Dany
D
Arakaki
Jaquelina S O
JS
Rodrigues
Sílvia C S
SC
Rocha
Nailê A N S
NA
Pereira
Carlos A C
CA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000542:Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005658:Fungi; D006801:Humans; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult