Related Experiment Videos
Interstitial lung disease in primary biliary cirrhosis
The American Journal of the Medical Sciences
|May 1, 1983
Summary
A rare case of recurrent interstitial lung disease (ILD) occurred in a patient with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). The lung disease resolved spontaneously multiple times, independent of the fatal liver disease progression.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Pulmonology
- Pathology
Background:
- Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic liver disease.
- Interstitial lung disease (ILD) can manifest with various pulmonary infiltrates.
Observation:
- A 51-year-old woman with a 5.5-year history of PBC developed ILD.
- Pulmonary infiltrates initially mimicked neoplastic disease, later becoming diffuse.
- Open lung biopsy confirmed lymphoid interstitial pneumonia.
Findings:
- Pulmonary infiltrates resolved spontaneously and recurred twice.
- ILD activity was independent of PBC progression.
- PBC ultimately led to a fatal outcome.
Implications:
- The association of recurrent ILD with PBC is uncommon.
- This case highlights a rare but distinct pulmonary manifestation in PBC patients.
- Further research may elucidate shared pathogenetic mechanisms between PBC and ILD.