Clinical Predictors for Fatal Pulmonary Embolism in 15 520 Patients With Venous Thromboembolism
How Lupus Affects The Lungs And Pulmonary System
Inflammation caused by lupus may affect the lungs in many ways, and can involve the membrane lining of the lungs, the lungs themselves, the blood vessels within the lungs, and the diaphragm.
PleuritisThe most common way that lupus can affect your lungs is through inflammation of the pleura, the lining that covers the outside of the lungs. The symptom of pleuritis that you may experience is severe, often sharp, stabbing pain in a specific area or areas of your chest. The pain, which is called pleurisy, is made worse when you take a deep breath, cough, sneeze, or laugh. You may also experience shortness of breath. Sometimes an abnormal amount of fluid will build up in the space between your lungs and your chest wall; when it leaks out it is called a pleural effusion. Pain from pleurisy, with or without effusions, is found in 40 to 60 percent of people with lupus.
PneumonitisThe term for inflammation within the lung tissue is pneumonitis. The symptoms of pneumonitis that you may experience are fever, chest pain, shortness of breath, and cough. An infection caused by bacteria, virus, or fungi is the most common cause of pneumonitis.
Chronic diffuse interstitial lung diseaseWhen inflammation in the lungs is chronic, it can cause scarring. This scar tissue can prevent oxygen from moving easily from your lungs into your blood and may cause diffuse (widespread) interstitial lung disease. The symptoms that you may experience include a chronic dry cough, chest pain, and difficulty breathing during physical activity.
Pulmonary emboliBlood clots that block the arteries leading to the lungs are called pulmonary emboli. These blood clots will cause chest pain and shortness of breath, but can also lead to a decrease in oxygen flow in your lungs. You are at increased risk for pulmonary emboli if you have antiphospholipid antibodies, vascular damage, and/or an inactive lifestyle.
What You Should Know About Wheezing
Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound that can happen when you breathe. It's caused by narrowed airways or inflammation, and is a symptom of a few different medical conditions.
While some of these issues are temporary (like allergies), others can be quite serious and require medical attention.
One of the most common causes of wheezing is asthma, which is when there is a swelling or narrowing of the throat or the airways to your lungs. But wheezing can be caused by a variety of other issues.
Lung issuesChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the blanket term for specific lung diseases, including emphysema (which is damaged air sacs in the lungs) and chronic bronchitis (inflammation of the lungs). Most people with COPD are older and are living with it due to smoking.
Wheezing and breathlessness are two symptoms of COPD.
Cystic fibrosis is a disease that affects the exocrine glands and can cause fluid buildup in the lungs. A symptom of this is wheezing.
Bronchitis, which is an infection in the main airways of the lungs, can cause wheezing. Wheezing is also a symptom of pneumonia, an infection in the tissue of the lungs.
Vocal cord issuesVocal cord dysfunction (VCD), which is often confused for asthma, is a condition in which the vocal cords don't open correctly. A few symptoms of this issue are:
Even if you don't have asthma, allergies can cause you to feel like you're short of breath. They can also cause wheezing. The allergy symptoms you experience depend on the type of thing you're allergic to, such as pollen or pet dander.
Anaphylaxis, which is an acute and serious allergic reaction, may also cause wheezing. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency. You should call 911 or your local emergency services if you begin to experience anaphylaxis symptoms, such as:
Heart conditionsHeart failure can cause wheezing or a "breathless" feeling. This wheezing is typically caused by fluid buildup in the lungs.
Digestive issuesGastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is chronic acid reflux, is often closely associated with asthma. This chronic acid reflux can worsen asthma symptoms by irritating the airways and lungs. People with both asthma and GERD may notice an increase in their wheezing when their GERD flares up.
Lifestyle factorsSmoking can:
Wheezing can happen to anyone. However, certain risk factors can increase your chances of developing a wheeze. Hereditary illnesses, such as asthma, can run in families.
Wheezing can also occur in:
Avoiding risk factors, such as smoking, may help improve wheezing. You should stay away from triggers that make you wheeze, such as pollen and other allergens, when possible.
Tell your doctor if you're experiencing wheezing for the first time and can't seem to find a cause.
Seek emergency medical care instead if your wheezing is accompanied by:
Because wheezing is almost always a symptom of an underlying condition, treating it usually involves treating the condition.
When it comes to certain lung conditions, prescription anti-inflammatory medications can decrease inflammation and excess mucus in the airways. These medications typically come in the form of inhalers, but they're also available as liquid medication used via nebulizers.
AsthmaAsthma cannot be cured, but it can be managed with:
Typically, bronchitis clears up on its own, but if you develop chronic bronchitis, there are medications that can help. These include bronchodilators and steroids, which work to open the airways. They can be taken either via an inhaler or pills.
Mucolytic medications can help to thin mucus in the lungs so you can cough it up more easily.
In the case of certain chronic health conditions, such as asthma, wheezing can't usually be prevented without medical help. However, taking your prescribed medications as soon as you start to feel the symptom coming on can help provide quicker relief.
Other ways to lessen wheezing include:
Wheezing is a high-pitched sound that occurs when you breathe. It's caused by narrowed airways or inflammation in the lungs.
It can be a symptom of a few different issues, from asthma to COPD to heart conditions. Treating wheezing usually involves treating the underlying condition, sometimes with inhaled medications, tablets, or even injections. When treated properly and promptly, most bouts of wheezing can be quickly managed.
If you start to experience chest tightness, difficulty breathing, and wheezing and you aren't sure why, it's important to get medical help immediately.
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Controlling Inflammation To Conquer Lung Infection
The latest studies at Hudson Institute of Medical Research have identified a novel therapy that controls the body's response to the influenza virus, limiting damaging inflammation and promoting recovery from severe infection.
A team led by Associate Professor Michelle Tate, working with Melbourne-based Lateral Pharma Pty Ltd, has published its findings in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, showing the compound LAT9997 limits viral burden and characteristic features of severe influenza, including hyperinflammation and lung damage.
Tate said a characteristic of severe lung conditions from flu to COVID-19 and pneumonia is the damage that hyperinflammation does to the lungs. "Unlike current antiviral drugs that act on the virus itself, this compound mimics a natural protein found in our body and acts directly on the cells in the lung to protect them from damage and cell death.
"The immune system can overreact, which causes damage to the airways—the lung becomes leaky and fluid enters," she said. "We have identified a new therapy which limits lung damage and the ability of the virus to replicate in the lung."
LAT9997 is a 6 amino acid peptide that mimics a part of a protein in our body called growth hormone. Short, linear peptides like LAT9997 are also favorable as they are generally not complex to manufacture.
Understanding influenza: Unraveling lung inflammationThe influenza virus infects cells lining the respiratory tract, causing inflammation, leading to symptoms including coughing, congestion, and difficulty breathing.
In some cases, flu can also lead to more severe respiratory complications, such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). These conditions can be life-threatening, especially in vulnerable populations.
"The human body uses inflammation in many positive ways, to keep us healthy," Tate said. "But when inflammation goes into overdrive it can get out of control and cause enormous damage, particularly to delicate organs such as the lungs.
"The search is always on for treatment options that can fine-tune the inflammatory response, to strike a balance between inflammation which can be protective or damaging."
COVID-19 has shown us the damage that can be done by out-of-control inflammation, and it is a similar story for flu.
"We urgently need new drugs for influenza and emerging respiratory viruses. These results support the potential for Lateral's novel compounds to help patients with severe respiratory disease."
With these impressive pre-clinical results under their belt, Tate and Lateral are looking to better understand how these treatments protect the lung in order to identify markers of its activity, which can be used in a clinical trial.
Preparing for future pandemicsAnd the benefits can be felt far beyond just treating existing strains of flu. Tate is at the forefront of calls for greater preparedness for future pandemics.
"It's hard to predict exactly what the next pandemic virus will be," she said. "COVID-19 was unexpected, but I think the next pandemic will most likely be a form of bird flu.
"Highly pathogenic influenza viruses currently circulate in wild birds and they have infected humans with mortality rates as high as 60%. It is only a matter of time until bird flu acquires the ability to spread through our community.
"We actually don't have any effective drugs available that we can use to limit flu deaths. We would have to make a new vaccine, which would take time, so we really need drugs that we can use to treat the disease in the time between when the pandemic starts, and when a vaccine is ready."
More information: Alison C West et al, Harnessing Endogenous Peptide Compounds as Potential Therapeutics for Severe Influenza, The Journal of Infectious Diseases (2023). DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiad566
Citation: Controlling inflammation to conquer lung infection (2024, January 16) retrieved 12 February 2024 from https://medicalxpress.Com/news/2024-01-inflammation-conquer-lung-infection.Html
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Clinical Predictors for Fatal Pulmonary Embolism in 15 520 Patients With Venous Thromboembolism
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