Abstract
Objective: This study was performed to identify the clinical presentations and etiology of pulmonary fibrosis in adult Sudanese patients.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted at Alshaab Teaching Hospital from May 2013 to May 2014. One hundred patients with pulmonary fibrosis were included after they had provided informed written consent. We collected data using a closed-ended questionnaire containing items regarding demographic data and clinical symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, and weight loss). We examined all patients for clubbing, inspiratory crackles, cyanosis, and evidence of pulmonary hypertension. Chest X-ray and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) images were reviewed for all patients. We performed echocardiography for all patients to check for evidence of pulmonary hypertension. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY).
Results: The mean age of the patients was 52 years. The main presenting complaints were cough and dyspnea (89% and 84%, respectively). Clubbing and inspiratory crackles were found in 91% and 74% of the patients, respectively. The main causes of pulmonary fibrosis were idiopathic disease (49%) and tuberculosis (34%). X-rays showed reticular shadows in 95% of patients. Honeycombing, ground-glass, and nonspecific appearances were found on HRCT in 71%, 22%, and 7% of patients, respectively. Echocardiography showed pulmonary hypertension in 46% of patients.
Conclusion: Cough and dyspnea were the main presenting symptoms. A honeycombing appearance was found in most of the patients using HRCT, while pulmonary hypertension was the main echocardiographic finding.
Keywords: pulmonary fibrosis, reticular shadows, ground-glass appearance