Exam 26: Non-Physiologic Functions of the Lung: Host Defense and Metabolism

A 16-year-old girl develops shortness of breath,runny nose,wheezing,and chest tightening with no fever.A spirometry test is performed and reveals that her FEV₁ is reduced and the ratio of FEV₁ to FVC is abnormal.Her FEV₁ improves by 15% after bronchodilator use.A chest radiograph is also obtained.The family mentions that they purchased a cat several weeks ago.You suspect allergic asthma. Increased levels of what type of serum antibody would you like to see to confirm your diagnosis?

A 56-year-old woman has worked in a photography shop developing film for the past 20 years.She has a long history of shortness of breath and chronic cough,which have progressively become worse.Her forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁)and forced vital capacity (FVC)values were reduced,but the FEV₁/FVC ratio was within the normal range.Her diffusion capacity,as measured with diffusion of carbon monoxide in the lungs (DLco),was low,at 15 mL/minute/mm Hg.Bronchoalveolar lavage and tissue biopsy were performed.The lavage sample revealed high numbers of abnormal-appearing macrophages and high numbers of dead macrophages. What type of lung disease do you suspect?

The four cell types that contribute to the quantity and composition of mucus include:

A 56-year-old woman has worked in a photography shop developing film for the past 20 years.She has a long history of shortness of breath and chronic cough,which have progressively become worse.Her FEV₁ and FVC values were reduced,but the FEV₁/FVC ratio was within the normal range.Her diffusion capacity,as measured with DLco,was low,at 15 mL/minute/mm Hg.Bronchoalveolar lavage and tissue biopsy were performed.The lavage sample revealed high numbers of abnormal-appearing macrophages and high numbers of dead macrophages. What type of pathologic process would you expect to find?

A 56-year-old woman has worked in a photography shop developing film for the past 20 years.She has a long history of shortness of breath and chronic cough,which have progressively become worse.Her FEV₁ and FVC values were reduced,but the FEV₁/FVC ratio was within the normal range.Her diffusion capacity,as measured by DLco,was low,at 15 mL/min/mm Hg.Bronchoalveolar lavage and tissue biopsy were performed.The lavage sample revealed high numbers of abnormal-appearing macrophages and high numbers of dead macrophages. What is the specific diagnosis?

A 50-year-old male coal miner has a long history of lung disease.Where in the lung would you expect to find the greatest deposition of inhaled coal dust?