Structure-function in smokers: when a small airways test really reflects the small airways.

If multiple-breath washout (MBW)-derived acinar ventilation heterogeneity (Sacin) really represents peripheral units, the N phase-III of the first MBW exhalation should be curvilinear. This is essentially due to the superposed effect of gas diffusion and convection resulting in an equilibration of N concentrations between neighboring lung units throughout exhalation. We investigated this in smokers with computed tomography (CT)-proven functional small airway disease.

Real-Life Response to Biologics in Severe Asthma with Nasal Polyposis: Insights from the Belgian Severe Asthma Registry.

Background: Nasal polyposis (NP) is a comorbidity of type 2 severe asthma (SA) which could influence response to SA biologics.

Methods: We evaluated (super-) response in SA patients with (NP +) and without NP (NP-) enrolled in the Belgian Severe Asthma Registry (BSAR).

Results: 914 patients, of whom 31% NP + , were included.

Katayama syndrome disguised as eosinophilic asthma with acute systemic symptoms and pulmonary nodules.

Background: Katayama syndrome is an acute manifestation of schistosomiasis, a parasitic infection that manifests itself through a hypersensitivity reaction to migrating larvae and early egg deposition. Left undiagnosed and untreated, acute schistosomiasis can develop into chronic schistosomiasis which can lead to debilitating morbidity such as pulmonary hypertension. This case highlights that Katayama syndrome can also been seen in regions where the parasite is not endemic, as it occurs in travelers returning from endemic regions or in immigrants.