Table 1 Clinical characteristics, pulmonary function test data and biopsy complications
Characteristics | Patient 1 | Patient 2 | Patient 3 | Patient 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Age at diagnosis (years) | 67 | 59 | 64 | 60 |
Gender | Female | Female | Female | Female |
Smoking status | Never smoker | Never smoker | Never smoker | Ex-smoker |
Personal history | None | Pulmonary tuberculosis; post-infectious bronchiectasis; recurrent respiratory infections | Occupational exposure (varnishes, 2 years; paints and butyl acetate, 3 years) Exposure to birds at the diagnosis for 3 years | Occupational exposure (carpets and cork) Previous diagnosis of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis |
Family history | None | None | Mother died of IPF3 | None |
Symptoms | DOE2, nonproductive cough | DOE2, productive cough | DOE2, nonproductive cough | DOE2, nonproductive cough |
Pulmonary function data | Mild restrictive ventilatory impairment with mild decreased of diffusion capacity | Moderate restrictive ventilatory impairment with severe decrease of diffusion capacity | Mild restrictive ventilatory impairment with mild decreased of diffusion capacity | Mild restrictive ventilatory impairment with mild decreased of diffusion capacity |
Biopsy complications | ||||
1. Subcutaneous emphysema | Yes | No | No | No |
2. Pneumothorax | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
CTP1 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Length of hospital stay | 17 days (1st biopsy inconclusive; the two biopsies were performed with a 10-day interval) | 5 days | 3 days | 1 day |
Follow-up | Died - 20 months after diagnosis | Alive - 36 months after diagnosis | Alive - 24 months after diagnosis | Alive - 18 months after diagnosis |