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Pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis in Korea
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  1. Yeon-Mok Oha,
  2. Eun Kyung Moa,
  3. Seung Hoon Janga,
  4. Chul Gyu Yooa,
  5. Young Whan Kima,
  6. Jeong-Wook Seob,
  7. Sung Koo Hana,
  8. Jung-Gi Imc,
  9. Young-Soo Shima
  1. aDepartment of Internal Medicine, bDepartment of Pathology, cDepartment of Radiology, dSeoul National University College of Medicine and Lung Institute, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul 110-744, Korea
  1. Dr Y-S Shim.

Abstract

BACKGROUND Pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare disease occurring in women of reproductive age and leading to progressive respiratory failure in spite of treatment. In Korea the first case was reported in 1984 and by 1997 a total of 23 cases had been reported. The clinical findings of these Korean cases are reviewed.

METHODS The details of 10 cases of LAM on file at Seoul National University Hospital were reviewed together with those of 13 cases previously reported from other Korean institutes. Two, including the only one to be reported in a man, were excluded after reviewing the clinical, radiological, and pathological findings, leaving a total of 21 cases in the present study.

RESULTS All 21 patients were women and in all cases the disease was proven pathologically. The mean (SD) age at onset of symptoms was 32 (8.6) years. The most common symptoms were dyspnoea and pneumothorax which were seen in 19 (90%) and 13 (76%) patients, respectively. Pulmonary function tests showed decreased transfer factor (Tlco) (100%) and airflow limitation (67%). All the cases had characteristic cysts on high resolution computed tomographic (HRCT) scanning. The overall severity score based on HRCT scans correlated with the percentage predicted Tlco/Va (p = 0.03) and FEV1/FVC (p = 0.02). The patients were all treated with medroxyprogesterone and/or tamoxifen. Follow up was possible in 10 cases. Two of these patients appeared to stabilise with no appreciable change clinically or in lung function on medroxyprogesterone and/or tamoxifen, but the remaining patients all deteriorated with two dying of respiratory insufficiency and one of infection following lung transplantation.

CONCLUSIONS As in other countries, in Korea LAM occurs exclusively in women and progresses despite hormonal treatment.

  • lymphangioleiomyomatosis
  • Korea
  • lung transplantation

https://doi.org/10.1136/thx.54.7.618

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