Exploring rheumatoid arthritis associated interstitial lung disease a retrospective study from two Saudi tertiary care centers.

Background: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is an increasingly recognized complication of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Many risk factors for RA-related ILD were reported. The current study aims to explore the features and risk factors of Saudi patients with RA-ILD.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in cytokine genes and their association with primary Sjögren's syndrome in Saudi patients: A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To determine the allelic frequencies and effects of genotypic variations in cytokine gene polymorphisms in a Saudi Arabian population.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 41 patients with Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) and 71 healthy controls between October 2018 and May 2019. Single nucleotide polymorphisms genotyping was performed using the SEQUENOM MassARRAY System, targeting nine polymorphisms in different cytokine genes.

Pulmonary hemodynamics and transplant-free survival in sarcoidosis-associated pulmonary hypertension: Results from an international registry.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a risk factor for mortality in patients with sarcoidosis. Severe PH in chronic lung disease has previously been defined as mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) ≥ 35 mmHg or mPAP 25 ≥ mmHg with cardiac index (CI) ≤ 2 L/min/m. However, there is no clear definition denoting severity of sarcoidosis-associated PH (SAPH).

The six-minute walk test in sarcoidosis associated pulmonary hypertension: Results from an international registry.

Introduction: Sarcoidosis associated pulmonary hypertension (SAPH) is a leading contributor to sarcoidosis-related mortality. The 6-min walk test (6MWT) is widely used in assessment of cardiorespiratory conditions. A reduced 6-min walk distance (6MWD) has been associated with increased mortality in SAPH.

Echocardiographic estimate of pulmonary artery pressure in sarcoidosis patients - real world data from a multi-national study.

Introduction: Echocardiographic measurement of the right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) is commonly used for estimating systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PASP) measured during right heart catheterization (RHC) in patients suspected for pulmonary hypertension (PH). Generally, there seems to be a strong correlation. However, this has been reported as less robust in sarcoidosis.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes in patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome-associated interstitial lung disease.

Background: Diagnosing primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS)-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) is complex and can be very challenging. In addition, information about the prognostic factors is limited.

Aims: We aimed to determine the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors that impact pSS-ILD survival.

Disease phenotype and diagnostic delay in Saudi patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome: An exploratory cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To describe primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) cohort in Saudi Arabiain view in of clinical/serological/histopathological phentotype, and, diagnostic delay.

Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted between October 2018 and May 2019. Diagnostic delay was calculated from symptoms onset to clinical diagnosis.

Predictors of mortality in interstitial lung disease patients without pulmonary hypertension.

Background: There is a paucity of information regarding prognostic factors associated with reduced survival in interstitial lung disease (ILD) patients without pulmonary hypertension (PH).

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine physiological and hemodynamic parameters that impact survival among ILD patients without PH based on right heart catheterization (RHC).

Methods: Consecutive ILD patients who underwent RHC ( = 169) at one center were included.

Clinical characteristics, comorbidities, and outcomes in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a common subtype of interstitial lung disease (ILD). Information about the associated comorbidities and predictors of survival among Saudi patients with IPF is limited.

Aims: The aim of the study was to determine the clinical characteristics, associated comorbidities, and prognostic factors that impact IPF survival.

Fatigue in Saudi Patients with Primary Sjögren's Syndrome and Its Correlation with Disease Characteristics and Outcome Measures: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Fatigue is a prevalent symptom affecting primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) patients. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of fatigue in Saudi pSS patients and its correlation with disease features and outcome measures using a validated tool.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study evaluating fatigue in pSS using the Arabic version of the fatigue severity scale (FSS).

Predictors of Mortality in Patients with Interstitial Lung Disease-Associated Pulmonary Hypertension.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a well-established complication in interstitial lung disease (ILD) patients. The aim of this study is to investigate the physiological and hemodynamic parameters that predict mortality in patients with ILD-PH.

Methods: Consecutive ILD patients who underwent right heart catheterization ( = 340) were included.

Clinical significance of minor salivary gland biopsy in patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia.

Background: Significant overlap may occur between idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) and connective tissue diseases (CTDs) that do not meet the established classification criteria for any known CTDs (i.e., occult CTD).

Physiological predictors of survival in patients with sarcoidosis-associated pulmonary hypertension: results from an international registry.

Introduction: Sarcoidosis-associated pulmonary hypertension (SAPH) is associated with reduced survival in single-centre studies. The international Registry for SAPH (ReSAPH) with long-term follow-up was established to enrich our knowledge of this complication of sarcoidosis. This analysis aims to elucidate factors associated with reduced transplant-free survival in SAPH patients.

Diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia: Unusual presentation.

Diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia (DIPNEC) is an abnormal proliferation of pulmonary neuroendocrine cells that occur without underlying etiology. Here, we report a unique case of 55-year-old female with unusual presentation of DIPNECH and thymoma and on the background history of Crohn's disease that might point toward an autoimmune phenomenon. To the best of our knowledge, there were no previous reports of DIPNECH with either thymoma or Crohn's disease.

Clinical features of sarcoidosis associated pulmonary hypertension: Results of a multi-national registry.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in sarcoidosis. We established a multi-national registry of sarcoidosis associated PH (SAPH) patients.

Methods: Sarcoidosis patients with PH confirmed by right heart catheterization (RHC) were studied.

Endobronchial biopsy in the final diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma: a clinicopathological study.

Background: Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are chronic conditions with an increasing prevalence in developing countries. The evaluation of endobronchial biopsies has emerged as a tool to differentiate between both conditions via the measurement of the reticular basement membrane (RBM) thickness with various conclusions drawn from different studies.

Objectives: Compare the thickness of the RBM between asthma and COPD and evaluate other histomorphological features in both groups.

A study of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-specific causes of osteoporosis with emphasis on the emphysema phenotype.

Background: Osteoporosis, the most common extra-pulmonary complication of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), may be related to general causes or COPD-specific causes such as low forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and hypoxia. A few studies reported that emphysema is an independent risk factor for osteoporosis. However, other workers considered the association to be confounded by low FEV1 and low body mass index (BMI) which cluster with emphysema.

Can computed tomography and carbon monoxide transfer coefficient diagnose an asthma-like phenotype in COPD?

Background And Objective: Post-mortem and computed tomography (CT) studies indicated that emphysema is a feature of COPD even in the 'blue bloater/chronic bronchitis' type. We aim to test the hypothesis that the non-emphysematous patients are distinct from the main body of COPD and are more akin to asthmatic patients.

Methods: We studied 54 patients with COPD.

Rapid detection of circulating fibrocytes by flowcytometry in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Background: Current protocols for detection of circulating fibrocytes (CFs) in peripheral blood described in various pulmonary and nonpulmonary disorders involve complex and time consuming, non standardized techniques.

Objective: Testing a method to rapidly detect and quantify CFs using whole blood lysis flow cytometry-based assay in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and healthy controls.

Methods: One milliliter of venous blood sample in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) from 33 IPF patients and 35 healthy control subjects was collected.

Bone mineral density in patients with interstitial lung disease.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of low bone mineral density (BMD) and the risk factors for osteoporosis in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD).

Methods: Consecutive newly diagnosed ILD patients (n=196) were included in the study. Detailed demographic and clinical data were collected at the time of diagnosis, along with BMD measurements.

Clinical characteristics and survival in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and connective tissue disease-associated usual interstitial pneumonia.

Background: Previous studies have reported conflicting survival rates for connective tissue disease (CTD)-associated usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF/UIP). This study investigated the differences in the clinical characteristics and prognoses of patients diagnosed with CTD-UIP and IPF/UIP.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients with IPF (n=88) and CTD-UIP (n=67) from January 2008 to June 2013 was completed.

Pirfenidone treatment in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: A Saudi experience.

Background: Recent trials involving pirfenidone suggest a beneficial effect in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Objective: To report on the efficacy and safety of pirfenidone in the treatment of patients with IPF, at a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: The study included 58 patients with IPF who were evaluated from March 2012 to March 2013.

Utility of endoscopic ultrasound-guided transbronchial fine-needle cytology in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis: A Saudi experience.

Background: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided transbronchial fine-needle aspiration (EBUS-TFNA) is a minimally invasive technique for diagnosis of mediastinal masses/lesions. Although most studies have reported the utility of EBUS-TFNA in malignancy, its use has been extended to the benign conditions as well.

Objective: The present study focused on utility of EBUS in contributing to reach the final diagnosis of sarcoidosis.