General aspects of hypersensitivity pneumonitis in Turkey

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis prevalence rates are between 5 and 15% of the overall population exposed to known inciting antigens but a small number of cases have been reported from Turkey until now. We aimed to present a broad picture of hypersensitivity pneumonitis in Turkey, thus promoting interest in this relatively common disease in developing countries. Search engines were utilized to retrieve the cases reported from Turkey. Other published journals and meeting abstracts which have not been registered into electronic databases were manually reviewed. Twenty-two cases from 13 reports were characterized by demographics, clinical features, occupational and environmental exposures, diagnostic tools and prognostic data. The majority of the group consisted of women (68.2%) and had a positive history for contact with an avian (59%). Mean exposure period was 69 ± 77.6 months. The most common reported clinical form was chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (58.8%). Reticulonodular pattern was the basic pathological finding (45%). Restrictive impairments of the forced vital capacity (FVC) and carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO) of the lungs were the basic pathologies observed in pulmonary function tests. Interstitial fibrosis was the most common pathological finding (61.5%). Few cases reported with preponderance of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis with avian exposure from 70 million populations suggest that many hypersensitivity pneumonitis cases, especially acute forms, have been ignored. Also, hypersensitivity pneumonitis somehow appears to be a neglected occupational disease. The present situation should be considered as a common problem currently faced by developing countries and occupational groups under risk must be investigated promptly

An Unusual Cause of Unilateral Pleural Effusion in the Setting of Aortic Stenosis: Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Pleural effusion has various causes. In the setting of aortic stenosis, new onset pleural effusion is generally considered as a consequence of heart failure. Here, we describe a 50-year-old male patient who had been followed with aortic stenosis for 30 years. During his admission he presented with exertional dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain. He had no other symptoms or findings of cardiac failure. Complete blood count revealed neutrophilic leukocytosis, a normal hemoglobin level and normal platelet count. Left sided pleural effusion was noted on the posteroanterior chest X-ray. Examination of the pleural fluid revealed myeloid blasts. Bone marrow aspiration smear and flow cytometric analysis of the bone marrow and pleural fluid were consistent with acute myeloid leukemia

Leukocytoclastic vasculitis due to thalidomide in multiple myeloma

Thalidomide is successfully used in the treatment of multiple myeloma, leprosy and various autoimmune diseases due to its anti-angiogenic, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. Thalidomide's most common side effects are constipation, neuropathy, fatigue, sedation, rash, tremor and peripheral edema. We achieved complete responce with a 400 mg/day dose thalidomide therapy in a 58-year-old male patient diagnosed with relapsing refractory multiple myeloma. While continuing thalidomide for sustainable response, the therapy was terminated at the ninth month due to development of leukocytoclastic vasculitis. We describe the case and discuss the place of thalidomide in the treatment of multiple myeloma and the rare occurrence of leukocytoclastic vasculitis during thalidomide therapy in multiple myeloma, since only one such case has been reported in the literature thus far

Therapy with omalizumab in patients with severe persistant allergic asthma: a real life data in Turkey

Omalizumab is a biologic agent, which has been shown to be effective in clinical trials in allergic, severe asthmatics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical, functional effectiveness, and side effects of omalizumab in real-life conditions respectively. A total of 18 patients (female/male: 11/7) were included to the study. The mean +/- SD age, total IgE, disease duration were 41.8 +/- 11.2 years, 255.1 +/- 197.3 kU/L, 12.8 +/- 9.4 years, respectively. Eight patients had isolated mite, seven patiens had mite + other inhalant allergen, three patients had only other allergen sensitivity. Mean duration of omalizumab treatment (months +/- SD) was 15.1 +/- 8.6 (min-max 1-29) months. Omalizumab dose was 150 mg/month in five patients, 300 mg/month in five, 300 mg/15 days in three, 375 mg/15 days in four, 225 mg/15 days in one patient. Data at the date of last visit were compared with one year prior to omalizumab treatment. Mean systemic steroid dose reduced by 83% (14.7 +/- 14.6 vs. 3.2 +/- 8 mg), number of other asthma medications reduced by 28% (3.6 +/- 1.3 vs. 2.5 +/- 1.3) (p< 0.05). FEV1% values (53.5 +/- 21.2 vs. 64.5 +/- 23.5) did not significantly change. Mean numbers of exacerbations (20 +/- 57.6 vs. 0.4 +/- 0.7), emergency visits (16.5 +/- 46.1 vs. 0.4 +/- 1.2), hospitalizations (2.1 +/- 2.6 vs. 0.1 +/- 0.3) decreased by 93%, 95%, 86%, respectively (p< 0.05). ACT scores increased by 94% (10.4 +/- 3.4 vs. 20.4 +/- 5.7) (p< 0.05). Fifteen patients (88%) were stated as responsive to treatment with omalizumab. Eleven patients (64.8%) stated that their expectations are met, three patients (17.6%) stated that their expectations are close to being met, three patients (17.6%) stated that their expectations are not met. A local side effect was seen in one patient. In conclusion, our data has shown that omalizumab is effective, and safe in severe allergic asthmatics under real-life conditions

Therapy with omalizumab in patients with severe persistant allergic asthma: A real life data in Turkey Aǧir allerjik astimli hastalarda anti-IgE (omalizumab) tedavisi: Gerçek yaşam verileri

Omalizumab is a biologic agent, which has been shown to be effective in clinical trials in allergic, severe asthmatics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical, functional effectiveness, and side effects of omalizumab in real-life conditions respectively. A total of 18 patients (female/male: 11/7) were included to the study. The mean ± SD age, total IgE, disease duration were 41.8 ± 11.2 years, 255.1 ± 197.3 kU/L, 12.8 ± 9.4 years, respectively. Eight patients had isolated mite, seven patiens had mite + other inhalant allergen, three patients had only other allergen sensitivity. Mean duration of omalizumab treatment (months ± SD) was 15.1 ± 8.6 (min-max 1-29) months. Omalizumab dose was 150 mg/month in five patients, 300 mg/month in five, 300 mg/15 days in three, 375 mg/15 days in four, 225 mg/15 days in one patient. Data at the date of last visit were compared with one year prior to omalizumab treatment. Mean systemic steroid dose reduced by 83% (14.7 ± 14.6 vs. 3.2 ± 8 mg), number of other asthma medications reduced by 28% (3.6 ± 1.3 vs. 2.5 ± 1.3) (p< 0.05). FEV1% values (53.5 ± 21.2 vs. 64.5 ± 23.5) did not significantly change. Mean numbers of exacerbations (20 ± 57.6 vs. 0.4 ± 0.7), emergency visits (16.5 ± 46.1 vs. 0.4 ± 1.2), hospitalizations (2.1 ± 2.6 vs. 0.1 ± 0.3) decreased by 93%, 95%, 86%, respectively (p< 0.05). ACT scores increased by 94% (10.4 ± 3.4 vs. 20.4 ± 5.7) (p< 0.05). Fifteen patients (88%) were stated as responsive to treatment with omalizumab. Eleven patients (64.8%) stated that their expectations are met, three patients (17.6%) stated that their expectations are close to being met, three patients (17.6%) stated that their expectations are not met. A local side effect was seen in one patient. In conclusion, our data has shown that omalizumab is effective, and safe in severe allergic asthmatics under real-life conditions