Question :
a non -smoking 26 y/o female sees an internist for evaluation for a 5 month HX of cough , wheezing , nasal congestion & wt loss . she repoorts no reflux . she immigrated from Guyana 5 yrs ago & had no significant PMH in her native country . she took no medications until recentky when she was treated with abx , inhaled & systemic steroids & Albuterol in the ED . despite therapy symptoms have persisted & a leuko riene inhibitor was added with little relief of symptoms . LAbs were noted for a leuckocytosis (28000 ) with with a differential of 58% eosinophils (16000) . ESR was 37 . serum chemistry was unremarkable with negative ANA . PFT’s showed FVC 61 % with FEV 1 65 % with broncho dilator response. FEV1/FVC 85 : TLC 65% . Functional residual capapcity 50 % : residual vol 54 % : DLco 54 % : ABG showed Ph 7.41 : Pco2 : 36 PO2 102: O2 sat 98 % on RA & A-a grad of 5 . Chest X ray reveals a fine interstitial infiltrate. & CT shows a fine nodular pattern in both middle & lower lung fields :
Q1 : which of the following diagnostic approach is most appropriate to assess the pt’s condition :
A : perform bronch with BAL :
B : measure serum IgG 4 level:
C perform open lung Biopsy :
D : perform aspergillus ppt
E : test for OVA & parasites stool
Q 2 :
which of the following is the most appropriat treatment ?
A : amphotericin :
B diethyl carbamazapine :
c: Inhaeld steroids :
D : itraconazole :
E : Systemic steroids
October 5, 2009 at 9:50 am
ANSWER :
B & B :
well sorry for the delay but i was hoping for some one to get the gift card !!
these are review question taken apparently from different specialist eg for the ID review board :
EXPLAINATION :
The pt has eosinophillia out of proportion to her symptoms : un responsive to standard athma therapy therefore making the differential extremely broad including churg strauss Syn , acute & chronic eosinophili cpneumonia , fungal infections , & tropical PUlmonary Eosinophila (TPE ) . pt was born in an area endemic for filariasis.
TPE occurs in < 1 % of pts with filariasis , but it is common in India , china , SE ASIA , west indies & africa . It is the result of an immunologic reaction to microfilariae libertaed by gravid Wuch . Bacrofti & Brugia Malayi parasites taht become trapped in circulation of the lung . a mosquito vector transmits the microfilariae : adult worms can live upto 10 years with in LN liberating millions of microfilaria . Chest RAdiography generally reveals reticulonodular opacities , predominanatly in the middle & lower lung zones . (20 % can be normal ) CT is more sensitive . PFt's reveal an obstructive vent defect in early disease & mixed vent defects in later stages with decreased diffusion . the diagnosis is establsihed by hx of residence ,peripherla eosinophilia, elevated IgG4 level . although parasites can be found in biopsy specimens biopsy is rarely necessary . If left untraeted , TPE may progress to fibrotic lung dx .
TPE can be treated with Diethyl carbamazine .
October 1, 2009 at 11:29 am
1) a
2) e
October 1, 2009 at 11:15 am
I’m glad so many people have read about this : answer will be posted TONITE !!
October 1, 2009 at 10:58 am
d,e
Studies have shown significant clinical response withCombination of glucocorticoids and itraconazole given for a period of 16 wks
September 28, 2009 at 11:39 am
1. D
2. E
September 26, 2009 at 2:59 am
1-D
2-E
September 26, 2009 at 2:58 am
Chaza Khalil says:
1-D
2-E
September 24, 2009 at 2:41 pm
1.A
2.B
September 22, 2009 at 8:23 pm
a,e
is this a real case?
September 22, 2009 at 3:26 pm
1) C
2) E
September 22, 2009 at 1:55 pm
1) d
2) e