Computed Tomography of the Lungs in Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Abstract

Computed tomography of the chest was performed on 42 occasions as part of the diagnostic work-up in 26 homosexual men with, or suspected of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In 17 cases both the chest radiographs and the lung scans were abnormal, and bronchoscopy and/or lung biopsy established an etiologic diagnosis in the majority of these cases. In 9 cases CT of the lungs revealed unequivocal interstitial infiltration in the presence of a normal chest radiograph, and subsequently an etiologic agent was demonstrated in all these cases. In 9 cases, patients with symptoms indicative of pulmonary infection had both a normal chest radiograph and a normal lung scan, and in none of these cases did the clinical course or additional diagnostic procedures indicate the presence of current opportunistic lung infection. CT of the lungs seems to identify accurately those patients with severe HIV-related diseases in whom invasive diagnostic procedures such as bronchoalveolar lavage and/or lung biospy should be done.

Interstitial Lung Fibrosis Following COVID-19 Pneumonia

“…There are many pathologies associated with the risk of developing interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, such as smoking, toxic environmental exposures, diabetes mellitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease, genetic factors, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, pulmonary emphysema, pulmonary tuberculosis, bronchiectasis, idiopathic interstitial lung disease or associated with rheumatic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, etc.) [ 64 , 65 , 66 ], which should be taken into consideration when evaluating interstitial lung fibrosis in post-COVID-19 patients. The interstitial fibrotic changes induced by COVID-19 may be overestimated in the situation of a patient who presents another pathology that can determine interstitial fibrosis; therefore, in our study, all the above-mentioned pathologies represented exclusion criteria.…”

Expanding the Spectrum of Particle-and Fiber-Associated Interstitial Lung Diseases

“…Several viruses have been implicated into the pathogenesis of IPF yet there is no clear evidence of viral etiology [12]. Viruses suggested to potentially have an etiologic relationship with IPF include EpsteinBarr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), influenza, hepatitis C virus, adenovirus, and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. Hereditary factors may contribute to the risk of developing IPF but no specific genetic markers have been identified [21].…”