[Clinical study of interstitial lung disease in mixed connective tissue disease].

Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is characterized by a combination of clinical features of progressive systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, polymyositis/dermatomyositis, with a high anti-snRNP antibody titer. Respiratory manifestations, such as interstitial lung disease (ILD), are not well-described. Thirteen patients who met the diagnostic criteria for MCTD and showed ILD on high-resolution CT were analysed retrospectively.

Contribution of 92 kDa gelatinase/type IV collagenase in bronchial inflammation during status asthmaticus.

In order to assess inflammatory features related to severe asthma as compared with mild asthma, we investigated the secretion of 92 kDa gelatinase matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-9) in bronchial lavages of six patients undergoing mechanical ventilation (MV) for status asthmaticus (SA) and in six patients with mild asthma. Ten healthy nonventilated patients and four patients under MV without preexisting respiratory disease were also investigated. Patients with SA were characterized by prominent neutrophilic inflammation (82 +/- 4% versus 10% in mild asthma).

[Acute silicosis. Clinical, radiologic, functional, and cytologic characteristics of the broncho-alveolar fluids. Observations of 6 cases].

We describe six cases of acute silicosis which were characterised by an intense exposure to pure silica; there was a rapid onset with diffuse abnormalities on the radiological image and severe respiratory abnormalities. The duration of occupational exposure to silica was four to eighteen years. Three patients presented with a cough associated with disabling dyspnoea (stage III and IV).

[Initial manifestations and late diagnosis in chronic atrophic polychondritis: apropos of a series of 15 patients].

An auricular or nasal chondritis or a saddle nose deformity are the initial manifestation in half of cases of relapsing polychondritis; the other initial manifestations are various and less evocative; polyarthritis, laryngo-tracheal symptoms, episcleritis which delay the diagnosis. From 15 cases of relapsing polychondritis, the diagnosis time from the first symptom are studied; this one is long, about 3 years and 6 months (from 3 months to 17 years) in 13/15 of the cases even if the first manifestation is typical (external chondritis). In two cases only, the diagnosis was established after the first attack.