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Article in Japanese
Clinical course and imaging findings of factors exacerbating pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex disease
Hiraku Ichikia Akira Watanabeb Seiya Uedab Chika Satob Masahiro Abeb
aDepartment of Internal Medicine, National Hospital Organization Ehime Medical Center
bDepartment of Respiratory Internal Medicine, National Hospital Organization Ehime Medical Center
We examined chest X-ray changes over time in 21 pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex disease cases with imaging findings such as cavities, bronchiectasis, and widespread lesions regarded as factors leading to poor prognosis. The rate of cases with aggravation of these findings was 5% in the first year after diagnosis and then showed a gradual increase to 79% in 7-12 years. Most patients had a history of hospitalization. Unfavorable developments, including death, were also observed in some patients. After one year of treatment, 44% of patients showed mild improvement and improvement, but the number of those improving gradually decreased thereafter, and the conditions of more patients worsened. Additional strategies, including long-term treatments possibly showing clinical efficacy, are needed to maintain therapeutic effects.
Pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) disease Chest X-ray Cavity Bronchiectasis Long-term clinical course
Received 13 Jun 2014 / Accepted 18 Aug 2014
AJRS, 3(6): 783-788, 2014