Epidemic Respiratory Disease: The pneumonias and other infections of the repiratory tract accompanying influenza and measlesOpie, Eugene L. (Eugene Lindsay)
History
Epidemic Respiratory Disease: The pneumonias and other infections of the repiratory tract accompanying influenza and measles
Thickening, cellular infiltration and fibrosis of the bronchial walls
with interstitial inflammation and fibrosis of immediately adjacent
alveolar septa are found about the ramifications of the bronchial tree
and may be followed to the smallest bronchi. When the respiratory
bronchioles are reached it will be found that the alveoli which stud
their walls are implicated in the change. The fibrin which they contain
is infiltrated with lymphoid and plasma cells, and with progress of the
lesion is invaded by fibroblasts and capillaries. Infiltration and
fibroid thickening extends from the bronchiolar wall to the alveolar
septa continuous with it (Fig. 31 with measles). Similar changes occur
about the alveolar ducts, and about the orifices of the tributary
infundibula (Fig. 32), peribronchiolar foci of acute inflammation having
assumed the characters of a chronic inflammatory process. Fibrin within
the alveoli contains round cells and fibroblasts. With thickening of
alveolar walls the alveolar lumina may be much diminished in size and
often persist as spaces lined by cubical cells. Polynuclear leucocytes
are usually numerous within the alveolar duct and in a few alveoli
immediately adjacent to it, but elsewhere throughout the focus of
inflammation round cells are predominant. The changes which have been
described correspond with the transformation of ill-defined, gray or
reddish gray spots of consolidation grouped about the terminal bronchi
into firm sharply defined grayish white nodules having the consistence
and appearance of miliary tubercles.
One of the most constant characters of pneumonia following influenza is
its hemorrhagic character. In the earlier stages of pneumonia
phagocytosis of red blood corpuscles by large mononuclear cells is
frequently seen. In association with the chronic changes which have been
described, large mononuclear cells filled with brown pigment, doubtless
formed from red corpuscles, are often found within the alveoli. These
pigment containing cells are similar to those commonly associated with
chronic passive congestion of the lungs.
In one instance (Autopsy 457) hemorrhagic peribronchiolar pneumonia has
been found in process of organization. The bronchioles and alveoli
adjacent to them contain polynuclear leucocytes, but intervening alveoli
almost uniformly contain blood and are the site of new formation of
connective tissue. Interalveolar septa are thickened and alveoli which
are lined by cubical epithelium are often diminished in size. In many
places fibroblasts have penetrated in considerable number into the blood
within the alveoli and occasionally newly formed capillaries are found
within them.
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