Alaws, Hossny

Abstract Rationale Endobronchial valve (EBV) placement is an established bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) therapy for advanced emphysema. Although randomized trials have shown improvements in lung function, real-world data on predictors of response and complications remain limited. This study evaluated physiological and clinical outcomes after EBV placement and explored predictors of treatment response and adverse events. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 75 patients who underwent EBV placement for severe emphysema at Mayo Clinic Florida between 2018 and 2023. Demographics, comorbidities, pulmonary function test and complications data were collected before and after procedure. Responders were defined as those achieving a ≥ 15% relative increase in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), ≥10% reduction in residual volume (RV), ≥25-meter increase in six-minute walk distance (6MWD), or ≥ 1-point decrease in modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea score. Results The mean age was 70.4 ± 7.1 years, 59% were female, and the mean Body Mass Index was 25.6 ± 4.9 kg/m². Most patients were non-Hispanic White (96%) and ever-smokers (97%, median 40 pack-years). Following EBV placement, FEV1 increased by + 0.10 L (p < 0.001), forced vital capacity by + 0.17 L (p = 0.001), RV decreased by -0.69 L (p < 0.001), while total lung capacity decreased by -0.35 L (p < 0.001). Diffusing capacity, 6MWD, and mMRC did not significantly change. Responder analysis showed FEV1 improvement in 52% (34/65), RV reduction in 65% (42/65), 6MWD gain in 33% (18/55), and mMRC improvement in 33% (21/63). Complete lobar atelectasis occurred in 59% (44/75) and was significantly associated with FEV1 improvement (p < 0.01). 30-day follow up complications included pneumothorax (26.7%), COPD exacerbation (21%), and pneumonia (20%). 15% pneumothoraces were managed conservatively, 55% required chest tube, 30% needed valve removal due to persistent air leak. Valve migration and replacement occurred in 2.6% each, and valve removal in 26.6% patients. Median hospital stay was longer in patients with complications (5 vs 4 days, p = 0.003). In-hospital mortality was 5.3% but no procedure-related deaths were identified. Conclusions EBV placement is a safe and effective BLVR approach yielding significant improvements in FEV1 and reductions in hyperinflation. Pneumothorax and valve-related events were the most frequent complications. Complete lobar atelectasis strongly correlated with functional improvement, suggesting that early reassessment should be considered when collapse is not achieved to prevent complications and unnecessary valve retention. This abstract is funded by: None

Abstract Purpose Diagnostic bronchoscopy plays a critical role in management for immunocompromised patients hospitalized with new pulmonary infiltrations. Most existing data on bronchoscopy in immunocompromised patients are derived from ICU cohorts or mixed inpatient/outpatient populations. This study aimed to assess the relationship between specific immunosuppression types-classified per the 2025 IDSA guidelines-and bronchoscopy yield and its impact on hospital management among non-ICU patients with new pulmonary infiltrates compared to non-immunocompromised. Methods A retrospective review of 447 hospitalized (immunocompromised and non-immunocompromised) patients who underwent bronchoscopy for new pulmonary infiltrates was completed between January 2022 and December 2024 in a single center tertiary care center. Data collected included demographics, immunosuppression type, and bronchoscopy results (cell count, differential, cultures, biopsies). Post-bronchoscopy management changes were also recorded. Multivariate logistic regression was used to correlate immunosuppression subtypes to diagnostic yield and management impact. Results The overall positivity rate for significant findings was 46% (n = 205). 367 of 447 (82%) met criteria for immunosuppressed. The immunosuppressed positivity rate was 46% vs 45% for non-immunosuppressed (P=.43). Broken down by subtype, positivity rates were: Active immunotherapy 33%, active chemotherapy 45%, hematologic malignancy 45%, hematopoietic stem cell transplant 44%, solid organ transplant 43%, active HIV 66%, primary immunodeficiency 78%, autoimmune modulator therapy 45%, daily prednisone use >20 mg 45%. Only primary immunodeficiency was associated with a statistical higher likelihood of a positive bronchoscopy (Odds ratio 4.69; P = 0.025).The overall rate of a significant change in management as a direct result of the bronchoscopy was 26%. Immunosuppressed was 26% compared to 22% for non-immunosuppressed (p = 0.5). Broken down by subtype management change rates were: Active immunotherapy 66%, active chemotherapy 18%, hematologic malignancy 19%, hematopoietic stem cell transplant 26%, solid organ transplant 32%, active HIV 100%, primary immunodeficiency 78%, autoimmune modulator therapy 70%, and daily prednisone use >20 mg 23%. Active immunotherapy and active immunomodulator therapy were correlated with a significant change in management (OR 8.9; P = 0.02, OR 3.6; P = 0.02, respectively). Conclusions Bronchoscopy yield and management impact were similar between immunosuppressed and non-immunosuppressed hospitalized patients. However, bronchoscopy more frequently influenced management in patients receiving active immunotherapy or immunomodulators, supporting earlier diagnostic use in these populations. This abstract is funded by: None

Abstract Rationale Treatment of hematologic malignancies has been revolutionized by Chimeric antigen receptor T -cell (CAR-T) therapy. Pulmonary complications are increasingly being reported, however, there are no standardized timelines for pulmonary function test (PFTs) assessment before or after the infusion. We aimed to evaluate changes in lung function (TLC, RV, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC) pre- and post-CAR-T therapy and examine whether these parameters correlate with the development of specific pulmonary complications. Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients above the age of 18 with any malignancy who received CAR-T therapy between June 12, 2018, and December 26, 2023. Pre-CAR-T PFTs were obtained closest to the infusion date, and post-CAR-T PFTs were recorded at the earliest available time following infusion. Pre- and post-CART pulmonary function tests were compared using non-parametric paired tests. In addition, we examined the relationship between baseline PFTs and the subsequent occurrence of pulmonary complications after CAR-T infusion. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was applied to assess both the magnitude and direction of change while Sign test was used to evaluate only the direction to confirm the consistency of results. These tests were chosen due to small sample size and non-normal distribution of data. Results Among the 68 patients in our cohort, paired pre- and post- CAR-T measurements of pulmonary function were available for 18 patients. FEV1 declined significantly post-infusion (2.70 ± 0.81 L vs 2.28 ± 0.74 L; Z= -2.55, p = 0.011), the FEV1/FVC ratio remained stable (77.8 ± 8.0 vs 80.9 ± 12.2, p = 0.53). Mean TLC and RV remained stable (TLC 5.70 ± 1.18 L vs 4.66 ± 1.02 L, p = 0.17 and 2.13 ± 0.62 L vs 2.00 ± 0.70 L, p = 0.58). There was no significant correlation between the baseline lung function and the development of pulmonary complications. Conclusion Only the pattern of FEV1 decline following CAR-T therapy infusion demonstrates a significant decline, whereas other PFTs, although reduced, did not show significance. While these findings may suggest a restrictive ventilatory pattern, additional data on lung volumes are required to accurately characterize the underlying type of pulmonary function impairment. Although limited by small sample size and non-uniform timing of PFT assessments, this highlights the need for a routine pre-CAR-T pulmonary function evaluation to inform patient selection and baseline risk stratification. This abstract is funded by: None

Abstract Introduction Critical aortic stenosis causing cardiogenic shock has very high mortality, particularly in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and multivalvular involvement. options for surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) are often limited by prohibitive perioperative risk. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has emerged as a lifesaving alternative in select high-risk populations. We describe a patient with ESRD who presented in cardiogenic shock due to critical aortic stenosis (AS) and experienced dramatic reversal of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction following TAVR. Case A 62-year-old male with ESRD on peritoneal dialysis and hypertension presented with acute chest pain and dyspnea. Laboratory findings revealed elevated Troponin T (353ng/L) and Pro-BNP (70,000 pg/mL). He was admitted for non-ST elevation myocardial infarction; however, coronary angiography demonstrated no coronary artery disease. Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) revealed a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 15-20%, sever global akinesis, eccentric left ventricular hypertrophy, and severe aortic stenosis (mean gradient 34 mmHg, valve area 0.53 cm²). Additional findings included severe aortic regurgitation and severe mitral regurgitation. Overnight, he developed altered mentation, cold extremities and lactic acidosis (14.5 mmol/L), Pulmonary artery catheter readings were consistent with cardiogenic shock. Repeat TTE redemonstrated critical aortic stenosis (peak velocity 5.3 m/s, mean gradient 71 mmHg, valve area 0.73 cm²). An urgent TAVR was performed with deployment of a 26 mm Edwards Sapien 3 pericardial prosthesis. A post-procedure TTE demonstrated LVEF improvement to 50-55%, with only mild residual LV hypokinesis. The patient showed rapid clinical recovery and was weaned off inotropes. Discussion Severe aortic stenosis imposes a fixed obstruction to left ventricular outflow, leading to excessive afterload and secondary systolic dysfunction. The rapid improvement in ejection fraction following TAVR supports the concept of afterload-induced myocardial stunning rather than irreversible cardiomyopathy. Although TAVR was traditionally avoided in unstable or shock patients, particularly those with ESRD, growing evidence supports its use as a rescue therapy in carefully selected cases. By reducing afterload, TAVR restores forward cardiac output, enhances coronary perfusion, and can reverse shock. Emerging registry data demonstrates that patients with severe AS and cardiogenic shock can achieve meaningful recovery following TAVR when performed expeditiously. This case underscores the expanding role of TAVR in managing cardiogenic shock due to severe valvular disease. The magnitude of left ventricular recovery in this case underscores the reversibility of left ventricular dysfunction once the mechanical obstruction is relieved, it highlights the importance of early recognition and intervention before irreversible myocardial remodeling occurs. This abstract is funded by: NA

Abstract Rationale Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are novel antihyperglycemic drugs that have shown benefit in various disease states, namely in cardiovascular and renal disease. GLP-1 agonists in murine models of obstructive lung diseases have been shown to decrease airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness. In humans, some observational studies show an association between GLP-1 agonist use and reduced exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In a meta-analysis, GLP-1 agonist use decreased the risk of several respiratory disorders including bronchitis (3). Bronchiectasis is another chronic airway disease, characterized by abnormal airway dilation leading to impaired mucous clearance and increased risk of infection (4). Data on the association between GLP-1 agonist use and bronchiectasis is sparce. We, therefore, examined the effects of GLP-1 agonists on the mortality of patients with bronchiectasis in a large sample size. Methods In this retrospective case control study, we identified patients with bronchiectasis from a single-center database of patients at our institution. We identified patients with bronchiectasis who received a GLP-1 agonist and compared them to patients who never received a GLP-1 agonist. Data was displayed as median with interquartile range and a Kaplan-Meier curve was used for mortality analysis. Results We identified a total of 256,777 patients with bronchiectasis. Of these, 249911 patients with bronchiectasis had not received a GLP-1 agonist and 6866 patients had received a GLP-1 agonist. The median age for patients in the GLP-1 group was 63 vs. 64 for the control group. 54.5 % of patients in the GLP-1 group were female compared to 52.9% in the control. Patients who received a GLP-1 agonist had improved survival at 1 month (99.9% for the GLP-1 group vs. 98.7% for the control group), 5 months (98.9% for the GLP-1 group vs. 95.9% for the control group), 10 months (97.9% for the GLP-1 group vs. 93.5% for the control group), 30 months (91.9% for the GLP-1 group vs. 86.8% for the control group) and 60 months (81.8% for the GLP-1 group vs. 79.3% for the control group), p < 0.001, Hazard ratio 0.56 (95% CI 0.50 - 0.62). Conclusion Our study showed that GLP-1 agonists are associated with improved survival in patients with bronchiectasis. Several mechanisms may contribute to this effect, including weight loss and reduction of cardiovascular mortality. Further studies are needed to investigate GLP-1 agonists as a potential therapeutic option for bronchiectasis, and to elucidate the mechanisms behind this association. This abstract is funded by: none

Microplastics may pose health risks, particularly for chronic lung diseases. Clarifying the link between circulating microplastics and pulmonary disease is vital for shaping research and interventions. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether microplastics in peripheral blood are associated with COPD or IPF vs. no lung disease. In this pilot prospective case-control study, participants were grouped as control (n = 10), COPD (n = 9), or IPF (n = 10). Relevant comorbidities and exposures were obtained from records and questionnaires. All underwent standardized blood collection (PlasticTox©). Samples were analyzed for total microplastic concentration, stratified by size (<10 µm, 10–30 µm, 30–70 µm). The primary outcome was to show a difference in total microplastic burden between lung disease and controls. Secondary measures were to determine size-specific concentrations and associations with demographic variables and smoking history. Among 29 participants (median age 70 (IQR 64–80); 14 women (48.3%)), COPD/IPF groups had significantly higher total microplastic concentrations vs. controls (median 26.0 vs. 3.5 particles/100 µL; p < 0.01). Particle burdens <10 µm and 10–30 µm were particularly elevated (both p < 0.01). After adjusting for smoking, only the <10 µm fraction remained independently associated with lung disease (adjusted odds ratio 1.94 (95% CI, 1.23–7.04)). In this pilot exploratory study, individuals with COPD or IPF showed greater circulating microplastic levels than controls. These findings should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating, and larger analytically validated studies are needed to clarify directionality, causal mechanisms, contamination control, and the clinical relevance of circulating microplastic burden.

Background: Sepsis survivors experience substantial long-term cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. The pooled-cohort atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) score estimates 10-year risk in the general population, but its accuracy soon after sepsis is unknown. Objectives: (1) Describe the absolute five-year incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) after sepsis hospitalization. (2) Evaluate the discrimination and calibration of the 10-year ASCVD score for predicting five-year MACE in this setting. Research Questions: The ASCVD score would underpredict five-year MACE in sepsis survivors, reflecting their heightened risk. Methods: We performed a retrospective closed-cohort study using electronic health records from Mayo Clinic hospitals (USA). Adults aged 40–75 years hospitalized for sepsis between 2018 and 2020 were eligible if follow-up was ≥5 years; the age criterion matched the derivation range of the ASCVD score. The primary outcome was five-year MACE—myocardial infarction (MI), ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, or CV death. Secondly we evaluated the predictive performance of ASCVD score for five-year MACE. Discrimination was assessed with the area under the receiver-operating curve (AUROC); calibration with Calibration-in-the-Large (CITL, ideal = 0) and slope (ideal = 1). Performance metrics were calculated in patients with complete ASCVD variables. Results: A total of 6306 sepsis admissions were screened. 2424 patients were excluded for age outside 40–75 years and 879 for <5 year follow-up, leaving 2718 patients for incidence analyses. Median age was 65 years (IQR 56–70); 55 % were male, 38 % required ICU care, and 91 % were White. Median body-mass index was 28.2 kg/m2 (IQR 23.7-34.7). During follow-up, 125 patients (4.6 %) had MI, 219 (8.1 %) experienced stroke, and 303 (11.1 %) died of CV causes; overall, 1573 patients (57.9 %) met the composite MACE outcome. Complete ASCVD data were available for 409 patients. In this subset, discrimination was moderate (AUROC 0.65; 95 % CI 0.59–0.71). Calibration showed CITL +0.34 (95 % CI 0.09–0.59) and slope 0.50 (95 % CI 0.28–0.72), indicating systematic infra-prediction and over-fitting, respectively. Conclusion: Five-year MACE incidence after sepsis is high. The 10-year ASCVD score moderately discriminates but underestimates five-year CV risk in this population, highlighting the need for sepsis-specific predictive models or recalibration to guide targeted post-sepsis cardiovascular prevention.

Abstract Background: Cardiac arrest, characterized by the sudden loss of heart function, accounts for over 400,000 deaths annually in the United States, often resulting from unwitnessed ventricular arrhythmias. Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), a rare neurological disorder, is marked by progressive muscle rigidity, painful spasms, which can occasionally lead to autonomic dysfunction and fulminant myocarditis. Case Presentation: We present a rare case of a male patient in his 30s with SPS who developed whole-body spasms, syncope, and respiratory distress. During extubation, he experienced cardiac arrest, requiring advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) and reintubation. Comprehensive evaluations including ECG, cardiac MRI, and laboratory testing suggested autonomic dysfunction and myocarditis as potential contributors to ventricular arrhythmias. Management involved sedation, diazepam, gabapentin, corticosteroids, and implantation of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) for non-sustained ventricular tachycardia. Conclusion: This case highlights the critical need for recognizing cardiac involvement in SPS and emphasizes early diagnosis and intervention to prevent fatal arrhythmias and improve patient outcomes.