December 2023 Pulmonary Case of the Month: A Budding Pneumonia

Ishan A. Patel, MD¹

Sarah Medrek, MD¹

Michael Reyes, MD²

Brannon Raney, MD³

Section of ¹Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, ²Pathology, and ³Infectious Disease

VA Albuquerque Health System

Albuquerque, NM USA

History of Present Illness

A 70-year-old man with a history of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis previously well controlled on hydroxychloroquine, methotrexate, and adalimumab was admitted to the hospital with 3 weeks of progressively worsening fatigue, night sweats, chills, and malaise. He did not describe new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, or sputum production. On the day of admission, he had intense nausea and vomiting.

PMH, SH, and FH

Prior to this admission, he was followed in Pulmonary Clinic for asymptomatic mild basilar fibrosis thought to be related to his rheumatoid arthritis and paraseptal emphysema related to prior smoking which was largely stable and unchanged over the previous two years. Previously, he smoked cigarettes at ½ pack per day for about 30 years and quit about 15 years ago. He denied any recent travel and was retired from the last 15 years from being a meat butcher. FH is noncontributory.

Physical Examination

On examination the day after admission from the ER, the patient’s temperature was 37.6C. His pulse was 79 bpm, blood pressure was 142/65 mmHg, and pulse oximetry revealed a saturation of 92% with 2 LPM nasal cannula of O2. He appeared generally weak, but alert. Pulmonary exam was unrevealing as was cardiac exam. He did not have cyanosis, clubbing, delayed capillary refill, or peripheral edema.

Laboratory

Initial blood work showed a WBC count of 7500/µL, hemoglobin level of 9.6 gm/dl, serum blood urea nitrogen of 36 gm/dl, serum creatinine of 2.49 g/dl, and serum calcium that was elevated at 12.3 mg/dl. A T-spot was obtained and was negative. Blood and sputum cultures were obtained and negative.

Radiography

Figure 1. Admission portable chest x-ray in the emergency department. To view Figure 1 in an enlarged, separate window click here.

The patient has a history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Which of the following patterns of interstitial lung disease (ILD) is most common in patients with RA? (Click on the correct answer to be directed to the second of seven pages)

1. Acute eosinophilic pneumonia
2. Lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis
3. Non-specific interstitial pneumonia
4. Organizing pneumonitis
5. Usual interstitial pneumonitis

Cite as: Patel IA, Medrek SK, Reyes MD, Raney BL. December 2023 Pulmonary Case of the Month: A Budding Pneumonia. Southwest J Pulm Crit Care Sleep. 2023;27(6):62-66. doi: https://doi.org/10.13175/swjpccs048-23 PDF