| LUNG (PULMONARY): MAIN MENU |
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| Diagnosis of Scleroderma Pulmonary Involvement |
| This page was written by Shelley Ensz, and has not yet been medically edited. Scleroderma (SD) affects everyone differently. Just because something is listed here does not mean an individual patient will ever experience it. See Disclaimer. |
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| Overview of Diagnosis of Scleroderma (Systemic Sclerosis) Pulmonary Involvement |
| "Pulmonary function testing is recommended for all systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients." |
| Pulmonary functional abnormalities in asymptomatic patients with systemic sclerosis. A functional defect, mainly of the restrictive type, was observed in the majority of asymptomatic patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Pulmonary function testing is recommended for all systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients. PubMed. Eur J Intern Med. 2003 May;14(3): 162-165. (Also see: What is Scleroderma? and Types of Scleroderma) |
| Non-invasive diagnostic and functional evaluation of cardiac and pulmonary involvement in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Pulmonary involvement occurs both in limited and in diffuse cutaneous SSc patients and develops, in 83% of the cases, without any regional lung perfusion abnormality. Cardiac involvement is detected in 65% of the cases. Lung perfusion MRI should be considered as a complementary diagnostic method for the functional evaluation of these symptoms in systemic sclerosis. PubMed. In Vivo. 2004 Mar-Apr;18(2):229-35. (Also see: Cardiac Involvement) |
| Tests for Scleroderma Pulmonary Involvement |
| Scleroderma Care and Research Journal: Spring 2004. This free online PDF medical journal issue includes articles on Diagnostic and Management Preferences for Lung Disease in Scleroderma for medical professionals. SCTC 6-2-04. |
| Bronchoalveolar Lavage |
| Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and lung function in patients with systemic sclerosis and subsequent pulmonary impairment. The investigation by BAL appears to be a reliable tool for the assessment of the pulmonary impairment related to systemic sclerosis. PubMed. Pneumologia 2002 Jul-Sep;51(3):203-5 |
| Cytokine Levels In Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid (Balf) In Patients With Systemic Sclerosis (SSc). In comparison to other diseases, SSc patients present a specific cytokine pattern in BALF. The detection of high MCP-1 levels in patients with fibrosis and in patients with decreased DLCO after one year of treatment suggests a key function of this cytokine as potential therapeutic target in SSc lung involvement. G. Riemekasten THU0318 EULAR 2007. (Also see: Causes of Scleroderma: Cytokines) |
| Nail Abnormalities |
| Pulmonary Disorders. Clubbing is enlargement of the fingertips (or toes) due to proliferation of connective tissue between the fingernail and the bone. Clubbing is most commonly observed in lung cancer but is an important sign of chronic pulmonary disease, such as cystic fibrosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The Merck Manuals. November 2005. (Also see: Fingernails) |
| Nail Abnormalities: Clues to Systemic Disease. The visual appearance of the fingernails and toenails may suggest an underlying systemic disease. Clubbing of the nails often suggests pulmonary disease or inflammatory bowel disease. R. S. Fawcett, M.D., M.S. American Family Physician. March 15. 2004.(Also see: Fingernails) |
| Echocardiography |
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| Nailfold Capillary Microscopy |
| Nailfold Capillary Microscopy Can Suggest Pulmonary Disease Activity in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc). The severity of NCM abnormalities is associated with lung disease activity in SSc, particularly when the disease duration is relatively short. J Rheumatol No. 2 Feb. 2004;31:286-94. |
| Overnight Pulse Oximetry Monitoring |
| Variations in Physician Interpretation of Overnight Pulse Oximetry Monitoring. The variation in physician interpretation, use, and opinions regarding overnight pulse oximetry calls into question its clinical utility and underscores a need for standardization of presentation, training, and interpretation. Chest, doi:10.1378/chest.07-0312. (Also see: Sleep Disorders) |
| Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) |
| Scleroderma lung: Initial forced vital capacity as predictor of pulmonary function decline. Measured within the first 3 years from disease onset, baseline FVC (percent predicted) may predict deterioration of pulmonary function in patients with scleroderma. PubMed. Arthritis Rheum. 2006 Jul 27;55(4):598-602. (Also see: Pulmonary Fibrosis) |
| Right Heart Catheterization (RHC) |
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| Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) |
| The 6-minute walk test in scleroderma--how measuring everything measures nothing. Never fully validated in scleroderma, a variety of data suggest that many non-pulmonary aspects of scleroderma contribute to its results thereby blunting the ability of the 6MWT to measure change in lung function. (UnBound MedLine) Impens AJ. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2008 Oct.:v68-9. (Also see: Pulmonary Fibrosis) |
| Diagnosis of Pulmonary Fibrosis |
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| Diagnosis of Pulmonary Hypertension |
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| Research on Diagnosis of Scleroderma Pulmonary Involvement |
| Severity of scleroderma lung disease is related to alveolar concentration of nitric oxide.The current authors conclude that alveolar nitric oxide production is significantly increased in patients with systemic sclerosis, probably as a result of a lung fibrosis development. The authors submit that the alveolar concentration of nitric oxide could be used as a surrogate marker for scleroderma lung disease. Furthermore, an increased alveolar concentration of nitric oxide may reflect the extent of lung restriction. K. P. Tiev. Eur Respir J 2007; 30:26-30. |
| Serum interleukin-15 (IL-15) in patients with early systemic sclerosis (SSc) - a potential novel marker of lung disease. We conclude that IL-15 is associated with fibrotic as well as vascular lung disease and vasculopathy in early SSc. IL-15 may contribute to the pathogenesis of SSc. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2007, 9:R85. |
| Thoracic Manifestations of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) . Respiratory symptoms and diagnosed respiratory system disorders are more common among patients with IBD than generally appreciated. Chest. 2007; 131:524-532. (Also see: IBD) |
| The Effects of Body Mass Index (BMI) on Lung Volumes. BMI has significant effects on all of the lung volumes, and the greatest effects were on FRC (functional residual capacity) and ERV (expiratory reserve volume), which occurred at BMI values < 30 kg/m2. Chest. 2006;130:827-833. |
