A 32-Year-Old Man With Dyspnea and Stridor

Abstract

A 32-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of dyspnea on exertion for 2 months. Dyspnea occurred in both inspiration and expiration with an associated wheeze that was more pronounced with exertion. He had no other medical history or allergies. The patient was a current one-pack-a-day smoker for the past 5 years. He denied any close personal contact or recent exposure to any patients with active TB. He denied any current symptoms of chest pain, cough, fever, or changes in weight. On a prior admission for similar symptoms, the patient had been diagnosed with asthma and treated with an inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting beta-agonist with no change or improvement in symptoms.