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[Constrictive bronchiolitis obliterans. Apropos of a case]
T Zenone1, S Isaac, P J Souquet
1Service de médecine interne, centre hospitalier Lyon-Sud, Pierre-Bénite, France.
La Revue De Medecine Interne
|May 5, 1999
Summary
Constrictive bronchiolitis obliterans, a severe lung disease, can occur without clear causes, as seen in a rapidly fatal case. This case highlights its association with specific blood abnormalities like cryoglobulinemia.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonology
- Rheumatology
- Immunology
Background:
- Constrictive bronchiolitis obliterans (CBO) is characterized by inflammatory obliteration and fibrotic destruction of bronchioles.
- While often linked to rheumatoid arthritis, CBO can arise without identifiable causes.
Observation:
- A 73-year-old woman presented with rapidly fatal CBO despite corticosteroid treatment.
- The patient exhibited antinuclear antibodies and antiphospholipid antibodies, but lacked rheumatoid factor.
- Cryoglobulinemia (monoclonal IgM Kappa) was detected.
Findings:
- The case demonstrated CBO associated with serologic abnormalities, including cryoglobulinemia.
- No clinical indicators of connective tissue disease were present in this patient.
Implications:
- This case expands the understanding of CBO's potential associations beyond rheumatoid arthritis.
- It underscores the importance of investigating serologic abnormalities in unexplained CBO cases.
- Further research may elucidate the link between cryoglobulinemia and constrictive bronchiolitis obliterans.