A Rare Case of CPFE Syndrome: An Unacknowledged Entity
Raghu Srikanti, Thanuja Sri Vushakoyala, Kalyan KP Venkata, Harika Atmuri, Balamani R Dollu, Uthara Natarajan, Kalaivani Shanmuganandavadivel, Dimple N Avanigadda, Siddavali Chagalamari
Keywords :
Case report, Combined pulmonary fibrosis with emphysema, Emphysema, Fibrosis, Pulmonary hypertension
Citation Information :
Srikanti R, Vushakoyala TS, Venkata KK, Atmuri H, Dollu BR, Natarajan U, Shanmuganandavadivel K, Avanigadda DN, Chagalamari S. A Rare Case of CPFE Syndrome: An Unacknowledged Entity. Indian J Chest Dis Allied Sci 2023; 65 (3):147-150.
Introduction: Combined pulmonary fibrosis with emphysema (CPFE) is an under-recognized pulmonary syndrome characterized by the coexistence of the upper lobe-predominant emphysema and lower lobe-predominant fibrosis. Severe dyspnea and incommensurately impaired gas exchange with preserved lung volume are its features.
Case description: A 51-year-old male smoker presented with shortness of breath for 5 months, which increased since 10 days, cough with mucoid expectoration. On examination: SPO2: 84% on room air, Grade-2 clubbing, bilateral pitting-type pedal edema, and bibasilar inspiratory fine crackles were heard. The chest radiograph showed increased translucency in the upper zone and irregular linear opacities in the lower zones of the lungs. He had uncompensated respiratory acidosis on arterial blood gas analysis with elevated total WBC counts. High-resolution computer tomography of the chest (HRCT Chest) showed dilated main pulmonary artery diameter, pan-acinar emphysematous changes in bilateral upper lobes, and subpleural basal reticular opacities with minimal honeycombing in the lower lobes. His two-dimensional echocardiography was suggestive of moderate pulmonary hypertension (PH). Pulmonary functional testing showed a low normal FEV1/FVC ratio and significantly reduced diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO).
Discussion: Combined pulmonary fibrosis with emphysema is an uncommon syndrome with progressive dyspnea, fractious cough, and recurring exacerbations. Risk factors being male gender, smoking, and genetic susceptibility to early-onset pulmonary hypertension with an increased risk of lung cancer and reiterative exacerbations are its complications. Mortality is significantly high in patients with CPFE, with a median survival of 2–8.5 years.
Conclusion: Combined pulmonary fibrosis with emphysema syndrome should be surmised in male smokers with sternly impaired DLCO and well-nigh preserved lung volumes, and the diagnosis to be confirmed using HRCT chest. Complications such as PH and increased lung cancer risk are more common in CPFE, leading to a dismal prognosis. Hence, early diagnosis and pertinent therapy are of utmost importance in ameliorating the median survival of the infirm.
Goh NSL. Pulmonary hypertension in combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema: A tale of two cities. Official Journal of the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology 2018;23(6):556–557. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/resp.13289.
Cottin V, Nunes H, Brillet PY, et al. Combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema: A distinct underrecognised entity. Eur Respir J 2005;26(4):586–593. DOI: 10.1183/09031936.05.00021005.
Sangani R, Ghio A, Culp S, et al. Combined pulmonary fibrosis emphysema: Role of cigarette smoking and pulmonary hypertension in a rural cohort. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis 2021;16:1873–1885. DOI: 10.2147/COPD.S307192.
Dias OM, Baldi BG, Costa AN, et al. Combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema: An increasingly recognized condition. J Bras Pneumol 2014;40(3):304–312. DOI: 10.1590/s1806-37132014000300014.
Hage R, Gautschi F, Steinack C, et al. Combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) clinical features and management. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis 2021;16:167–177. DOI: 10.2147/COPD.S286360.
Epaud R, Delestrain C, Louha M, et al. Combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema syndrome associated with ABCA3 mutations. Eur Respir J 2014;43(2):638–641. DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00145213.
Checa M, Ruiz V, Montaño M, et al. MMP-1 polymorphisms and the risk of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Hum Genet 2008;124(5):465–472. DOI: 10.1007/s00439-008-0571-z.
Sakai F, Tominaga J, Kaga A, et al. Imaging diagnosis of interstitial pneumonia with emphysema (combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema). Pulm Med 2012;2012:816541. DOI: 10.1155/2012/816541.
Heathcote KL, Cockcroft DW, Fladeland DA, et al. Normal expiratory flow rate and lung volumes in patients with combined emphysema and interstitial lung disease: A case series and literature review case presentation. Can Respir J 2011;18(5):e73–e76. DOI: 10.1155/2011/354325.
Sato T, Tsujino I, Tanino M, et al. Broad and heterogeneous vasculopathy in pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema with pulmonary hypertension. Respirol Case Rep 2013;1(1):10–13. DOI: 10.1002/rcr2.7.
Mathioudakis AG, Janner J, Moberg M, et al. A systematic evaluation of the diagnostic criteria for COPD and exacerbations used in randomised controlled trials on the management of COPD exacerbations. ERJ Open Res 2019;5(4):00136–2019. DOI: 10.1183/23120541.00136-2019.
Anthonisen NR, Manfreda J, Warren CP, et al. Antibiotic therapy in exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Ann Intern Med 1987;106(2):196–204. DOI: 10.7326/0003-4819-106-2-196.
Alsumrain M, de Giacomi F, Nasim F, et al. Combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema as a clinicoradiologic entity: Characterization of presenting lung fibrosis and implications for survival. Respir Med 2019;146:106–112. DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2018.12.003.
Mejía M, Carrillo G, Rojas-Serrano J, et al. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema: Decreased survival associated with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension. Chest 2009;136(1):10–15. DOI: 10.1378/chest.08-2306.
Jacob J, Bartholmai BJ, Rajagopalan B, et al. Likelihood of pulmonary hypertension in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema. Respirology 2017;23(6):593–599. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/resp.13231.
Cottin V, le Pavec J, Prévot G, et al. Pulmonary hypertension in patients with combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema syndrome. Eur Respir J 2010;35(1):105–111. DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00038709.
Koo HJ, Do KH, Lee JB, et al. Lung cancer in combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 2016;11(9):e0161437. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161437.