[Severe hypoxemia with orthodeoxia due to right to left shunt in idiopathic bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia]

Rev Mal Respir. 2000 Feb;17(1):113-6.
[Article in French]

Abstract

We report a case of BOOP with severe hypoxemia and orthodeoxia. Chest X-ray showed bilateral infiltrative pneumonia and computed tomography scan revealed consolidations on lower lobes. Diagnosis of right-to-left shunt was made on the increase of alveolar-arterial oxygen difference under FIO2 100%, accented in standing position. Contrast-enhanced echocardiography and technetium-99 macroaggregated albumin body scanning did not show anatomical right-to-left shunt and permitted the diagnosis of intrapulmonary shunt at the capillary level because of intra-alveolar organisation. Treatment with corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide led to clinical, and radiological improvement with correction of the hypoxemia and the shunt.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
  • Adult
  • Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia* / diagnosis
  • Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia* / drug therapy
  • Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia* / physiopathology
  • Cyclophosphamide / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia / etiology*
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Posture*
  • Pulmonary Circulation*
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Respiratory Function Tests
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Cyclophosphamide