Background and objective: Acute exacerbations of interstitial pneumonias (IP) can occasionally occur, and have an extremely poor prognosis. Recently, direct haemoperfusion with a polymyxin B immobilized fibre column (PMX-DHP) was shown to have a beneficial effect in acute exacerbations of IPF. However, little is known about the efficacy of PMX-DHP in acute exacerbations of other IP. This study investigated the effectiveness and safety of PMX-DHP in acute exacerbations of IP.
Methods: The study subjects consisted of five patients with an acute exacerbation of IP, including three with IPF, one with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) with atypical radiological findings of IPF, and one with myeloperoxidase antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA)-related IP. The patients were treated with two courses of 3-12 h each of PMX-DHP, concurrently with corticosteroids alone or plus cyclophosphamide.
Results: After two courses of PMX-DHP, the PaO(2)/fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO(2)) (P/F) ratio increased rapidly from an average of 93 to 260 mm Hg, and there was radiological improvement in all patients. However, one patient treated for 3 h each time eventually died of respiratory failure, and two patients treated for 6 h each time died from respiratory infections. The other two patients were treated for 12 h each time, and the therapeutic effects lasted longer, with both surviving longer than 48 days. No adverse effects were detected apart from thrombocytopaenia.
Conclusion: PMX-DHP therapy was safe and effective in improving oxygenation in acute exacerbations of IPs, either with corticosteroids alone or plus cyclophosphamide, and may be beneficial for the treatment of this condition.