Table 4 Characteristics of patients with alveolitis
| Â | BAL: alveolitis 16 patients | BAL: inactive 26 patients | P |
|---|---|---|---|
Age (years) mean ± sd | 57.0 ± 9.8 | 57.1 ± 11.8 | ns |
Disease duration (years) median (I.Q. range) | 7.5 (3–16) | 5 (1.5–12) | ns |
Sex n (%) | 1 (6.25%) | 2 (7.7%) | ns |
Autoantibodies pattern: | Â | Â | Â |
ACA n (%) | 2 (12.5%) | 8 (30.8%) | ns |
AntiScl 70 n (%) | 12 (75.0%) | 11 (42.3%) | ns |
Antinucleolus n (%) | 0 (0.0%) | 4 (15.4%) | ns |
AntiRNP n (%) | 1 (6.25%) | 1 (3.8%) | ns |
ACA/Scl 70/nucleolus/RNP negative n (%) | 1 (6.25%) | 2 (7.7%) | ns |
Skin involvement: | Â | Â | Â |
dSSc n (%) | 12 (75.0%) | 5 (19.2%) | 0.0009 |
lSSc n (%) | 4 (25.0%) | 21 (80.8%) | 0.0009 |
Modified Rodnan Skin Score mean ± sd | 16.3 ± 9.4 | 10.1 ± 9.1 | 0.038 |
Modified Rodnan Skin score >14 n (%) | 8 (50.0%) | 5 (19.2%) | 0.036 |
PFTs: FVC mean (%) ± sd | 76.1 ± 27.6 | 101.9 ± 17.0 | 0.0005 |
DLCO mean (%) ± sd | 43.9 ± 16.6 | 54.8 ± 11.0 | 0.0086 |
FVC and DLCO ≤ 79% n (%) | 12 (75.0%) | 2 (7.7%) | < 0.0001 |
FVC and DLCO ≤ 49% n (%) | 10 (62.5%) | 2 (7.7%) | < 0.0001 |
FVC ≥ 80% and DLCO ≤ 79% n (%) | 3 (18.8%) | 24 (92.3%) | < 0.0001 |
FVC ≥ 80% and DLCO ≤ 49% n (%) | 10 (62.5%) | 9 (34.6%) | ns |
FVC and DLCO ≥ 80% n (%) | 1 (6.3%) | 0 (0.0%) | - |
PASP ≥ 40 mmHg n (%) | 6 (37.5%) | 1 (3.8%) | 0.008 |
≥ 60 mm Hg n (%) | 1 (6.3%) | 0 (0.0%) | - |
HRCT: interstitial score mean ± sd | 6.9 ± 3.5 | 7.3 ± 1.9 | ns |
alveolar score mean ± sd | 9.1 ± 5.3 | 5.0 ± 3.1 | 0.0095 |
C reactive protein mean (mg/l) ± sd | 8.6 ± 10.8 | 6.6 ± 6.7 | ns |
IL-6 plasma levels (pg/ml) mean ± sd | 6.0 ± 10.8 | 2.4 ± 4.1 | 0.041 |
BAL with positive microbiological culture n (%) | 5 (31.3%) | 5 (19.2%) | ns |
Smokers n (%) | 1 (6.3%) | 4 (15.4%) | ns |
Ex-smokers n (%) | 3 (18.8%) | 5 (19.2%) | ns |