Accelerated vs. conventionally fractionated postoperative radiotherapy of non-small cell lung cancer-final results of the prematurely terminated PORTAF trial.

Purpose: A prolonged overall treatment time (OTT) has been demonstrated to adversely affect the primary radiation therapy (RT) outcome in various solid tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Retrospective data from our group suggested an advantage of shorter OTT also for postoperative RT (PORT) in patients with NSCLC. The PORTAF trial (ClinicalTrials.

and DL predicting general complications but not prolonged air leaks in pulmonary segmentectomy.

Background: Pulmonary segmentectomy is increasingly recognized as a viable alternative to lobectomy for early stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), offering comparable oncological outcomes with potentially reduced morbidity. Identifying reliable predictors for postoperative complications and prolonged air leak (PAL) is crucial for optimizing patient selection. While multifactorial scoring systems exist, their complexity limits clinical utility and the predictive value of single factors, such as forced expiratory volume in 1s () and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DL), remains underexplored.

Dysregulated monocyte compartment in PACS patients.

Introduction: 1-5% of all patients with COVID-19, a disease caused by infection with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Virus 2 (SARS-Cov-2), even those with mild COVID-19 symptoms, continue to have symptoms after initial recovery. Symptoms associated with the post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PACS) include, among others, fatigue, shortness of breath, cough, and cognitive dysfunction. Since the dysregulated immune response appears to be caused by the sustained activation of certain immune cells, including monocytes, and the release of specific cytokines, the aim of our study was to investigate the effect of PACS disease on monocyte subpopulations.

[Hypersensitivity pneumonitis : S2K guideline from a radiological perspective].

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP, also known as extrinsic allergic alveolitis [EAA]) is a rare disease which is limited to the lungs and caused by an immunological inflammatory reaction of the lung parenchyma and terminal bronchioli. The first German guideline on the diagnosis and treatment of HP was published in 2024. The imaging method of choice is high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT).

Real-life characteristics and management of patients with fibrosing interstitial lung disease: INSIGHTS-ILD registry.

Background: This study aims to report real-life data on the characteristics and treatment patterns of patients with fibrosing interstitial lung disease (ILD; except idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) across multiple specialised centres in Germany. Eligibility criteria included ILD affecting >10% of lung parenchyma on high-resolution computed tomography, a single breath diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide ( ) ≤80% predicted and active treatment of lung disease.

Methods: As of the interim analysis cut-off, 655 patients (mean±sd age 65.

Burden and risk factors for 30-day readmission and mortality after CAP hospitalization: A population-based cohort study.

Background: Post-discharge complications resulting in readmission or death after hospitalization for community-acquired-pneumonia (CAP) pose a serious healthcare burden. However, their extent and associated risk factors remain underexplored.

Objective: To assess short-term readmission and mortality after inpatient CAP-treatment and identify underlying risk factors.

Trans-bronchial forceps biopsy for COVID-19 related diffuse parenchymal lung abnormalities.

Purpose: The role of lung biopsy for evaluation of persistent chest radiographic abnormalities including secondary organizing pneumonia (OP) in COVID-19 remains uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of trans-bronchial forceps biopsy (TBFB) in patients with persistent lung abnormalities on thoracic computed tomography (CT) scan following SARS-CoV-2 infection with particular focus on cases with OP and immunocompromised (IC) patients.

Methods: Descriptive retrospective single center analysis of all TBFB performed for diffuse lung parenchymal changes after COVID-19 03-2020 to 06-2023.

Maintenance OCS Were Used More Frequently Than Biologics in Patients with Uncontrolled GINA 4/5 Asthma in Germany in 2019.

Purpose: Asthma is affecting 4-5% of all adults (10% of children) in Germany, ≥ half are inadequately controlled. In 2019 up to 54 thousand patients suffered from severe uncontrolled asthma, 52% were treated/co-treated by pneumonologists. 45% of them had continuous oral corticosteroid (OCS)- and short-acting β2-agonist (SABA) overuse for ≥2 years.

[Diagnosis and Treatment of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis - S2k Guideline of the German Respiratory Society and the German Society for Allergology and Clinical Immunology].

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is an immune-mediated interstitial lung disease (ILD) in sensitized individuals caused by a large variety of inhaled antigens. The clinical form of acute HP is often misdiagnosed, while the chronic form, especially the chronic fibrotic HP, is difficult to differentiate from other fibrotic ILDs. The present guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of HP replaces the former German recommendations for the diagnosis of HP from 2007 and is amended explicitly by the issue of the chronic fibrotic form, as well as by treatment recommendations for the first time.

Epidemiology and risk factors of community-acquired pneumonia in patients with different causes of immunosuppression.

Immunosuppression constitutes a significant risk for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Nevertheless, specific causes of immunosuppression and their relevance for incidence, etiology and prognosis of CAP are insufficiently investigated.We conducted a population-based cohort study within a statutory health insurance in Germany from 2015 to 2018.

Long-term outcome and prognosis of mixed histiocytosis (Erdheim-Chester disease and Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis).

Background: Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare histiocytosis that may overlap with Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH). This "mixed" entity is poorly characterized. We here investigated the clinical phenotype, outcome, and prognostic factors of a large cohort of patients with mixed ECD-LCH.

Long-Term Follow-Up after Laser-Assisted Pulmonary Metastasectomy Shows Complete Lung Function Recovery.

Preserving maximum lung function is a fundamental goal of parenchymal-sparing pulmonary laser surgery. Long-term studies for follow-up of lung function after pulmonary laser metastasectomy are lacking. However, a sufficient postoperative lung function is essential for quality of life and reduces potential postoperative complications.

Clinical course of mild-to-moderate idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis during therapy with pirfenidone: Results of the non-interventional study AERplus.

Introduction: Pirfenidone was the first anti-fibrotic drug approved in Europe in 2011 for the treatment of mild-to-moderate idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Objectives: To investigate the clinical course of mild-to-moderate idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in pirfenidone-treated patients in a real-world setting.

Methods: The non-interventional study was conducted at 18 sites in Germany from 6/2014-12/2016.

Long-COVID is Associated with Impaired Red Blood Cell Function.

COVID-19 disease, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), induces a broad spectrum of clinical symptoms ranging from asymptomatic cases to fatal outcomes. About 10-35% of all COVID-19 patients, even those with mild COVID-19 symptoms, continue to show symptoms, i. e.

Health Care Situation in the Treatment of Uncontrolled GINA Step 4/5 Patients in Germany.

Purpose: It has been estimated that, in 2019, 54,000 patients in Germany had uncontrolled GINA step 4/5 asthma. In the current study we analyzed which health care providers were involved in the management of these patients and their role in disease phenotyping.

Patients And Methods: The year 2019 was retrospectively analyzed using the IQVIA LRx, a longitudinal anonymized prescription database, and the electronic, anonymized medical records database, the IQVIA Disease Analyzer.

Validation of the qSOFA and CRB-65 in SARS-CoV-2-infected community-acquired pneumonia.

Rationale: Prognostic accuracy of the quick sequential organ failure assessment (qSOFA) and CRB-65 (confusion, respiratory rate, blood pressure and age (≥65 years)) risk scores have not been widely evaluated in patients with SARS-CoV-2-positive compared to SARS-CoV-2-negative community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The aim of the present study was to validate the qSOFA(-65) and CRB-65 scores in a large cohort of SARS-CoV-2-positive and SARS-CoV-2-negative CAP patients.

Methods: We included all cases with CAP hospitalised in 2020 from the German nationwide mandatory quality assurance programme and compared cases with SARS-CoV-2 infection to cases without.

[Consensus guideline on the interdisciplinary diagnosis of interstitial lung diseases].

The evaluation of a patient with interstitial lung disease (ILD) includes assessment of clinical, radiological, and often histopathological data. As there were no specific recommendations to guide the evaluation of patients under the suspicion of an ILD within the German practice landscape, this position statement from an interdisciplinary panel of ILD experts provides guidance related to the diagnostic modalities which should be used in the evaluation of ILD. This includes clinical assessment rheumatological evaluation, radiological examinations, histopathologic sampling and the need for a final discussion in a multidisciplinary team.

[Practicable diagnostics of Sjögren's syndrome in interstitial lung disease-A discussion article].

Sjögren's syndrome (SjS) is a possible autoimmune cause of interstitial lung disease. The diagnostic pathway for SjS, however, is largely undefined in comparison to other systemic autoimmune diseases. Subjective sicca symptoms, anti-SS-A/Ro antibodies and even ANA as screening tests all have relevant limitations in sensitivity and/or specificity.

[SARS-CoV-2-Infection and Interstitial Lung Disease: Position paper of the German Respiratory Society].

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic had a tremendous impact on diagnosis and treatment of interstitial lung diseases (ILD). Especially in the early phase of the pandemic, when the delta variant was prevailling, a huge number of viral pneumonias were observed, which worsened pre-existing, triggered de novo occurence or discovery of previously subclincal interstitial lung diseases. The effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection - without or with accompanying viral pneumonia - on the further development of pre-existing ILD as well of new pulmonary inflitrates and consolidiations is difficult to predict and poses a daily challenge to interdisciplinary ILD boards.

Investigating significant health trends in progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease (INSIGHTS-ILD): rationale, aims and design of a nationwide prospective registry.

Background: The progressive course of pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) is observed with variable prevalence in different entities of fibrosing interstitial lung disease (fILD). PPF is characterised by worsening respiratory symptoms, declining lung function and increasing extent of fibrosis on high-resolution computer tomography. In Germany, data are limited on the characteristics and management of such patients.