Diagnostic evaluation of bronchiectasis

Augmentation therapy with human alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor reduces exacerbations in patient with bronchiectasis and alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency

“…However, there are also reports that AATD and bronchiectasis do not correlate [ [13] , [14] , [15] ]. Also, there is high a prevalence of bronchiectasis in COPD patients [ 16 ], which can be a potential confounder [ 17 ].…”

Surgical Management of Bronchiectasis

“…The clinical diagnosis of bronchiectasis is challenging as it manifests early non-specific symptoms and signs. However, the presence of chronic cough with overproduction of sputum which may worse at the morning increases the index of suspicion for bronchiectasis especially in non-smokers [13,14]. Other significant signs of bronchiectasis include: hemoptysis, chronic respiratory failure, pulmonary hypertension, and right-sided heart failure [13].…”

“…Bronchiectasis can be classified anatomically (cylindrical, varicoid, or cystic), and radiologically (localized or diffuse) [14]. Chest radiographs show non-specific findings of bronchiectasis such as: atelectatic changes, and hyperinflation [13,14]. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest is a useful imaging tool for diagnosis of bronchiectasis and detection of the underlying causes.…”

“…High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest is a useful imaging tool for diagnosis of bronchiectasis and detection of the underlying causes. On HRCT, bronchiectatic changes include dilated airways, thick-walled bronchi with failed tapering at the periphery of the lung,, ring opacity, tram-track sign, and finger-in-glove sign, and signet-ring sign when the dilated bronchi is larger than the companion pulmonary artery branch (Bronchial-to-arterial ratio > 1) [14]. A bundle of minimum etiological tests has been recommended by European Respiratory Society (ERS) for newly diagnosed patients with bronchiectasis including: differential blood count, immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM and IgG), and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA)-specific tests (total IgE, specific IgE to Aspergillus, IgG to Aspergillus and eosinophil count), in addition to sputum culture for monitoring of bacterial and non-tuberculous infections [15].…”