Related Experiment Videos
Acute respiratory failure in a patient with sarcoidosis and immunodeficiency--an unusual presentation and a
Adi Leiba1, Sara Apter, Merav Leiba
1Division of Internal Medicine, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
Abstract:
Pulmonary sarcoidosis is usually a chronic, insidious disease resulting from granuloma formation in the lung parenchyma. The epithelioid non-caseating granulomata of sarcoidosis are the result of a T-helper1-mediated immune reaction to an unknown self or foreign antigen. We describe the case of a patient with sarcoidosis and a coexistent common variable immunodeficiency who presented with rapidly progressive respiratory failure. This unusual presentation was followed by a complicated course with recurrent pneumoccocal infections, which could be explained by the coexistence of common variable immunodeficiency. Physicians should be alert to the possibility of sarcoidosis even when the clinical presentation is of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) since early treatment with steroids can be lifesaving. The detection of accompanying hypogammaglobulinemia is also crucial, as treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) together with steroids can improve the patient's outcome.
Related Concept Videos
Acute Respiratory Failure-V
Ensure that patients are monitored continuously for their response to therapy, including changes in...
Acute Respiratory Failure-III
Acute Respiratory Failure-I
Definition: It is defined by specific criteria based on blood gas measurements. Hypoxemia happens when the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) falls below 60 mmHg. At the same time,...
Acute Respiratory Failure-II
The underlying physiological abnormalities that contribute to hypoxemic respiratory failure include:
Acute Respiratory Failure-IV
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease