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Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment as a Useful Adjunctive Tool for Pneumonia
Published on: May 6, 2014
Successful steroid treatment for acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia: A case report
Ya-Jing Ning1, Pei-Shan Ding1, Zhang-Yan Ke1
1Department of Geriatric Respiratory and Critical Care, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230000, Anhui Province, China.
Background:
Since the acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia (AFOP) was first described by Beasley in 2002, some case reports of patients aged from 38 d to 80 years have been published worldwide, but there is still no standard therapy for this disease and the treatment methods remain controversial. Both steroid and immunosuppressive agents, such as cyclophosphamide or mycophenolate mofetil, have been reported to be effective in some studies, but with many side effects, especially in patients of advanced age.
Case Summary:
We herein report an 81-year-old female patient who was admitted to our hospital due to dry cough, and breathlessness for 1 mo. She was treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics and anti-fungal therapy, but without improvement in both symptoms and radiological findings, and her respiratory status worsened, and she required bed rest almost the whole day. Computed tomography-guided percutaneous needle lung biopsy was performed and histopathology examination confirmed the diagnosis of AFOP. She was then successfully treated with a steroid monotherapy, which resulted in a satisfactory clinical outcome without serious complications.
Conclusion:
We conclude that complete remission of AFOP can be achieved by steroid monotherapy in patients of advanced age.
Insights
Acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia (AFOP) treatment remains controversial. Steroid monotherapy offers a safe and effective treatment option for elderly patients with AFOP, achieving complete remission without serious complications.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonology
- Critical Care Medicine
- Pathology
Background:
- Acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia (AFOP) lacks standardized treatment protocols.
- Existing therapies, including steroids and immunosuppressants, present significant side effects, particularly in elderly patients.
- The efficacy and safety of treatment options for AFOP require further investigation.
Observation:
- An 81-year-old female presented with persistent dry cough and dyspnea.
- Initial broad-spectrum antibiotics and antifungals were ineffective, leading to clinical deterioration.
- Computed tomography-guided lung biopsy confirmed AFOP.
Findings:
- Successful treatment of AFOP was achieved with steroid monotherapy.
- The patient experienced a satisfactory clinical outcome with no serious adverse events.
- Steroid monotherapy demonstrated efficacy in an elderly patient with AFOP.
Implications:
- Steroid monotherapy is a viable and safe treatment for AFOP in elderly individuals.
- This case suggests that AFOP can be effectively managed with a single therapeutic agent in older populations.
- Further research into steroid monotherapy for AFOP is warranted, especially in geriatric patients.
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