Ulcerative colitis and steroid-responsive, diffuse interstitial lung disease

Journal Article · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · JAMA, J. Am. Med. Assoc.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.1988.03410010070037· OSTI ID:6996992

Balestra, D J; Balestra, S T; Wasson, J H

The authors describe a patient with ulcerative colitis and extracolonic manifestations in whom diffuse interstitial pulmonary disease developed that was responsive to glucocorticoid therapy one year after total proctocolectomy. The patient presented in December 1983 with a subacute course marked by cough and progressive exertional dyspnea, abnormal chest examination results, and a chest roentgenogram that revealed diffuse interstitital and alveolar infiltrates. A transbronchial biopsy specimen revealed a polymorphic interstitial infiltrate, mild interstitial fibrosis without apparent intraluminal fibrosis, and no vasculitis, granulomas, or significant eosinophilic infiltration. Within one week of the initiation of daily high-dose steroid therapy, the patient's symptoms dramatically improved; chest roentgenogram and forced vital capacity (60%) improved at a slower rate. All three measures deteriorated when alternate-day prednisone therapy was started but once again improved until the patient was totally asymptomatic, chest roentgenograms were normal, and forced vital capacity was 80% of the predicted value 2 1/2 years later.

• Research Organization: Veterans Administration Medical and Regional Office Center, White River Junction, VT (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6996992
• Journal Information: JAMA, J. Am. Med. Assoc.; (United States), Journal Name: JAMA, J. Am. Med. Assoc.; (United States) Vol. 260:1; ISSN JAMAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550602* -- Medicine-- External Radiation in Diagnostics-- (1980-)
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ADRENAL HORMONES
BIOMEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY
BODY
CORTICOSTEROIDS
DIAGNOSIS
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM DISEASES
DISEASES
FIBROSIS
GLUCOCORTICOIDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
KETONES
LUNGS
MEDICINE
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PATIENTS
PREDNISONE
PREGNANES
RADIOLOGY
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
STEROIDS
ULCERS