Influence of liquids for electronic cigarettes on the human respiratory system. Clinical observation of a patient with EVALI

Abstract

Aim. Demonstration of clinical observation of EVALI from the personal practice of the authors.

Materials and methods. A brief review of the literature on the effects of e-liquids on the human respiratory system is presented. Clinical observation of this pathology is given.

Results. Patient H., 19 years old, was admitted to the Thoracic Surgery Department with complaints of shortness of breath, cough with hemoptysis. On computer tomography in lung parenchyma, infiltrates are found in all fields with extensive ground glass areas. Fibrobronchoscopy revealed in the lumen of the bronchi a small amount of hemorrhagic “crusts” and hemorrhagic exudate, catarrhal-hemorrhagic endobronchitis. The patient is a fan of electronic cigarettes, which was not immediately paid attention to. A differential diagnosis was made with Goodpasture's syndrome, idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis, systemic lupus erythematosus with lung involvement, and ANCA-associated vasculitis. Since there was nephropathy and there were negative immunological findings of other diseases, a diagnosis of Goodpasture's syndrome was made. A kidney biopsy was not performed. The rapid positive dynamics from hormonal therapy and the absence of relapses and progression raised doubts about this diagnosis. After the disease, the patient refused to take electronic cigarettes. The anamnesis was again addressed, where there were indications of the abuse of electronic cigarettes, after frequent use of which a detailed clinical picture of the disease appeared, the diagnosis of Goodpasture's syndrome was withdrawn, lung damage was regarded as a manifestation of EVALI.

Conclusion. Confirmation of the negative impact of electronic smoking systems is the described clinical case, indicating lung damage in humans and difficulties in the differential diagnosis of EVALI syndrome.