Baseline clinical characteristics and data of patients with CPFE and IPF
Based on the selection criteria described previously, the clinical data of 21 patients with AE-CPFE and 41 patients with AE-IPF were enrolled in the present study. One patient with IPF, who had the CT pattern of probable UIP was diagnosed based on surgical lung biopsy findings. The thin-slice CT findings revealed that all other patients with IPF exhibited the UIP pattern. No patient was referred for lung transplantation. Table 1 shows the baseline clinical characteristics and data from patients with IPF and CPFE-UIP before an AE. There were no significant differences in the sex ratio, age, percentage of patients who used corticosteroid or antifibrotic drugs (i.e., pirfenidone or nintedanib), and supplemental oxygen usage between the IPF and CPFE groups. However, cigarette smoking (in pack-years) was significantly higher in the CPFE group than that in the IPF group (p = 0.0058).
Table 1. Baseline clinical characteristics and data for patients with IPF and patients with CPFE-UIP
|
Parameter
|
Patients with IPF (n=41)
|
Patients with CPFE (n=21)
|
p-value
|
Sex
|
|
|
|
Male/Female
|
34/7 (83%/17%)
|
19/2 (91%/9%)
|
0.676
|
Age (y)
|
71 (67–75)
|
74 (69–76)
|
0.14
|
Cigarette smoking (pack-years)
|
32 (0.875–44.75) (n=38)
|
51(29.5–69) (n=19)
|
0.0058
|
Patients using corticosteroid drugs
|
8 (19.5%)
|
6 (28.6%)
|
0.419
|
Patients using immunosuppressant drugs
|
1 (2%)
|
1 (4.8%)
|
0.788
|
Patients using antifibrotic drugs (e.g. pirfenidone or nintedanib)
|
10 (24.4%)
|
3 (14.3%)
|
0.552
|
Patients receiving NAC inhalation
|
1 (0.2%)
|
0(0%)
|
0.73
|
Patients receiving supplemental oxygen
|
12 (29.3%)
|
9 (42.9%)
|
0.285
|
LAA score (points)
|
1 (0-3)
|
10 (9-15)
|
<0.001
|
%FVC (%)
|
64.5 (53.2-80.9) (n=28)
|
79.3 (73.7-90.1) (n=17)
|
0.0069
|
%DLco (%)
|
39.8 (29.8-51.9) (n=21)
|
35.4 (30.6-41.1) (n=14)
|
0.2461
|
FEV1 / FVC
|
84.75(83-88.4)
|
81.2(72.3-87.5)
|
0.018
|
GAP score (points)
|
4.5 (4-6) (n=22)
|
4.5 (4-5) (n=14)
|
0.58
|
CPI
|
55.4 (45.4-61.8) (n=22)
|
52.6 (46.3-58.0) (n=14)
|
0.41
|
P/F ratio (Torr)
|
331 (291-358) (n=26)
|
328 (315-366) (n=17)
|
0.555
|
TR-PG (mmHg)
|
22.3 (15.5- 31.2) (n=15)
|
22.6 (18.1-26.1) (n=6)
|
0.969
|
WBC count (/mm3)
|
7805 (6575-8337.5) (n=33)
|
6780 (6270-8000) (n=20)
|
0.238
|
CRP (mg/dL)
|
0.14 (0.06-0.26) (n=29)
|
0.11 (0.04-0.26) (n=19)
|
0.51
|
LDH (IU/L)
|
222 (201-267) (n=29)
|
234 (207-252) (n=19)
|
0.78
|
KL-6 (U/mL)
|
1246 (899-1494) (n=33)
|
636.5 (442-1102) (n=19)
|
0.004
|
RF ( IU/mL ) <10 /≥10
|
25/11 (n=36) *
|
9/8 (n=17)**
|
0.242
|
ANA <1:40 / ≥1:40
|
20/15 (n=35) †
|
9/9 (n=18) ‡
|
0.621
|
The parameters are expressed as number (percentage) or median (interquartile range). For insufficient data, the confirmed numbers are indicated by ‘n=.’
IPF, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; CPFE, combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema; UIP, usual interstitial pneumonia; NAC, n-acetyl-cysteine; LAA, low attenuation area; %FVC, percent predicted forced vital capacity; %DLco, diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide; FEV1/FVC, forced expiratory volume in 1 second /forced volume vital capacity ratio; GAP, Gender-Age-Physiology; CPI, composite physiologic index; P/F, ratio of partial pressure arterial oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2); TR-PG, transtricuspid pressure gradient; WBC, white blood cell; CRP, C-reactive protein; LDH, lactate dehydrogenase; KL-6, Krebs von den Lungen-6; RF, rheumatoid factor; ANA, anti-nuclear antibodies
*14 out of 36 patients were data at acute exacerbation. ** 8 out of 17 patients were data at acute exacerbation. † 13 out of 35 patients were data at acute exacerbation. ‡10 out of 18 patients were data at acute exacerbation.
|
The percentage of predicted forced vital capacity (%FVC) was significantly higher in the CPFE group than that in the IPF group (p = 0.0069). There was no significant difference in the percentage of predicted carbon monoxide diffusing capacity between the two groups. The forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced volume vital capacity (i.e., FEV1/FVC) ratio was significantly lower in the CPFE group than that in the IPF group (p = 0.018). There were no significant differences in the Gender-Age-Physiology (GAP) score, ratio of partial pressure arterial oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2 [i.e., P/F ratio]), composite physiologic index (CPI) score, white blood cell counts, C-reactive protein levels, and lactate dehydrogenase levels between the two groups. Serum levels of Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) were significantly higher in the IPF group than in the CPFE group (p = 0.004).
Echocardiography was performed in 16 patients in the IPF group and 7 in the CPFE group. Among them, the transtricuspid pressure gradient (TR-PG) could be measured in 15 patients and 6 patients, respectively. There was no significant difference in the TR-PG between the two groups.
There were no significant differences between the two groups of patients who were positive for rheumatoid factor and anti-nuclear antibodies. No patients had no physical findings suggestive of collagen disease (e.g. joint pain, rash, or Raynaud's symptoms).
There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of the history of cardiovascular disease (4 cases in IPF, 4 cases in CPFE; p=0.52), malignant tumors (5 cases in IPF, 6 cases in CPFE; p=0.21), diabetes (8 cases in IPF, 5 cases in CPFE; p=0.95), and apoplexia cerebri (2 cases in IPF, 1 case in CPFE; P=0.55).
Laboratory data of patients with CPFE and IPF at the time of the AE
Table 2 shows the laboratory data of the two groups at the time of the AE. The C-reactive protein level, lactate dehydrogenase level, and P/F ratio were not significantly different between the two groups at the time of the AE. However, the serum KL-6 levels and white blood cell counts were significantly lower in the CPFE group than those in the IPF group at the time of the AE (p < 0.001 and p = 0.0096, respectively). The CT pattern was not significantly different between the two groups at the time of the AE.
Echocardiography was performed in 6 patients in the IPF group and 7 in the CPFE group at the time of acute exacerbation. Among them, TR-PG was measured in 5 and 7 patients, respectively. Although the number of cases was small, there was no significant difference in the TR-PG between the two groups.
Table 2. Laboratory data at the time of acute exacerbation in patients with IPF and CPFE-UIP
|
Parameter
|
Patients with IPF
(n=41)
|
Patients with CPFE
(n=21)
|
p-value
|
WBC count (/mm3)
|
10,030 (8620-12500)
|
88810 (6460-9320)
|
0.0096
|
CRP (mg/dL)
|
5.5 (2.4-10.7)
|
5.85 (2.68-7.15)
|
0.466
|
LDH (IU/L)
|
352 (261-453)
|
289 (263-349)
|
0.151
|
KL-6 (U/mL)
|
1,596 (1225-2525)
|
966 (429-1310)
|
<0.001
|
P/F ratio (Torr)
|
204 (148-277)
|
204 (130-261)
|
0.417
|
TR-PG (mmHg)
|
38.0 (33.0-48.1) (n=5)
|
27.8 (25.4-55.0) (n=7)
|
0.871
|
CT pattern: peripheral or
multifocal/diffuse
|
27/14 (65.9%/34.1%)
|
17/4 (89.0%/ 19.0%)
|
0.345
|
The data are expressed as median (interquartile range) or number (percentage).
IPF, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; CPFE, combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema; WBC, white blood cell; CRP, C-reactive protein; LDH, lactate dehydrogenase; KL-6, Krebs von den Lungen-6; P/F ratio, ratio of partial pressure arterial oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2); TR-PG, transtricuspid pressure gradient; CT, computed tomography
|
Treatment for AE in the two groups
The treatments for AE in the two groups are shown in Table 3. All patients in both groups were administered corticosteroids. There were no significant differences in terms of respiratory care, duration of positive-pressure ventilation, or length of stay in the intensive care unit between the two groups. Patients with IPF were more likely to undergo treatment with immunosuppressants than those with CPFE.
Prognosis of the two groups
The Kaplan–Meier plot in Figure 1 shows the survival rate of patients with AE-CPFE (solid line) and AE-IPF (dashed line). All patients died of respiratory failure.due to AE. The survival rate was significantly higher in patients with AE-CPFE than in patients with AE-IPF (p < 0.01, log-rank test). The 30- and 90-day survival rates for patients in the AE-CPFE group were 95.2%) and 85.7%, respectively; these values were significantly higher than those (61.0% and 43.9%, respectively) for patients in the AE-IPF group (30 days: p = 0.0066, 90 days: p = 0.0039). Among the patients who died within 90 days, 13 in the AE-IPF group and 2 in the AE-CPFE group had the peripheral pattern, and 10 patients in the AE-IPF group and 1 in the AE-CPFE group had the multifocal/diffuse pattern (p = 0.345).
Table 3. Treatment for acute exacerbation in patients with IPF and CPFE-UIP
|
Treatment
|
Patients with IPF
(n=41)
|
Patients with CPFE
(n=21)
|
p-value
|
Number of patients using corticosteroids
|
41 (100%)
|
21 (100%)
|
-
|
Number of patients of using immunosuppressants
|
19 (46.3%)
|
4 (19.0%)
|
0.08
|
CY
|
14 (34.1%)
|
3 (14.3%)
|
|
CyA
|
4 (9.7%)
|
2 (9.5%)
|
|
TAC
|
1 (2.4%)
|
0 (0%)
|
|
Number of patients receiving respiratory care
|
|
|
0.927
|
IPPV
|
8 (19.5%)
|
3 (14.3%)
|
|
NPPV
|
13 (31.7%)
|
7 (33.3%)
|
HFT
|
3 (7.3%)
|
1 (4.8%)
|
Only O2
|
17 (41.5%)
|
10 (47.6%)
|
Duration of positive-pressure ventilation (days)
|
9.5 (3.75-39.25) (n=20)
|
5(3.25-7.75) (n=10)
|
0.628
|
ICU stay (days)
|
10 (4-17.) (n=13)
|
4.5 (3.25-8) (n=6)
|
0.122
|
Note: Most invasive respiratory management methods are listed.
The data are expressed as the number (percentage) or as the median (interquartile range).
|
CPFE, combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema; CY, cyclophosphamide; CyA, cyclosporine; HFT, high-flow therapy; ICU, intensive care unit; IPF, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; IPPV; invasive positive-pressure ventilation; NPPV, noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation; O2, oxygen; TAC, tacrolimus
|