Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Diffuse Panbronchiolitis That Improved with Erythromycin and Home Oxygen Therapy

Intern Med. 2023 Aug 1;62(15):2231-2236. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.0929-22. Epub 2022 Dec 14.

Abstract

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) often complicates chronic lung disease. However, there are few reports of PH associated with diffuse panbronchiolitis, and there is no effective treatment. We herein report a 64-year-old woman diagnosed with PH due to diffuse panbronchiolitis. She received erythromycin, carbocysteine, and home oxygen therapy (1 L O2/min). After 4 months of therapy, the respiratory function (diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide: 23.3% to 76.1%) and PH (mean pulmonary arterial pressure: 50 to 28 mmHg; pulmonary vascular resistance: 680 to 518 dynes・sec・cm-5; pre- vs post-therapy, respectively) had improved markedly.

Keywords: diffuse panbronchiolitis; erythromycin; pulmonary hypertension.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Bronchiolitis* / complications
  • Bronchiolitis* / drug therapy
  • Erythromycin / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary* / complications
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary* / drug therapy
  • Middle Aged
  • Oxygen

Substances

  • Erythromycin
  • Oxygen

Supplementary concepts

  • Diffuse panbronchiolitis