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Table 1 Clinical characteristics, pulmonary function test data and biopsy complications

From: Pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis: role of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and CT-guided transthoracic core lung biopsy

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

  1. 1CTP - chest tube placement, 2DOE - dyspnoea on exertion, 3IPF - idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis