Natural History and Prognosis

The natural history of NSIP is unknown as there are no prospective studies of untreated patients with NSIP. Most of the data regarding the outcome of patients with NSIP stem from retrospective analyses of patients previously classified as IPF/CFA the vast majority of these patients were treated with immunosuppressive agents. Compared with IPF/CFA, the overall prognosis and response to therapy for NSIP are favorable (9-13). Latsi et al. illustrated this in a study comparing patients with UIP (n = 61) and NSIP (n = 43) (74). Patients with NSIP had a more favorable prognosis (median survival 56 vs. 33 months), however, survival differences did not appear until after two years of follow-up. 

Bojko T, Nottemian DA, Greenwald BM, et al. Acute h3fpoxemic respiratory failure in children following bone marrow transplantation an outcome and pathologic study. Crit Care Med 1995 23 755-759. 

Griffiths MH, Miller RF, Semple SJ. Interstitial pneumonitis in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. Thorax 1995 50 1141-1146. 

Katzenstein A, Fiorelli R. Nonspecific interstitial pneumonia/fibrosis. Histologic features and clinical significance. Am J Surg Pathol 1994 18 136-147. 

Sattler F, Nichols L, Hirano L, et al. Nonspecific interstitial pneumonitis mimicking Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1997 156 912-917. 

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Fattovich, G. Natural history and prognosis of hepatitis B. Semin. Liver Dis. 2003 23 47-58... 

Springer, J., Cauch-Dudek, K., O Rourke, K., Wanless, I.R., Heathcote, E.J. Asymptomatic primary biUary cirrhosis a study of its natural history and prognosis. Amer. X Gastroenterol. 1999 94 47 - 53... 

Farrant, M., Williams, R. Natural history and prognosis in primary sclerosing cholangitis. Eur. J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 1992 4 ... 

Fattovich G (2003) Natural history and prognosis of hepatitis B. Semin Liver Dis 23 47-68 Fattovich G, Pantalena M, Zagni 1, Realdi G, Schahn SW, Christensen E (2002) Effect of hepatitis B and C virus infections on the natural history of compensated cirrhosis a cohort study of 297 patients. Am J Gastroenterol 97 2886-2895... 

Craig RJ and Selzer A. Natural history and prognosis of atrial septal defect. Circulation 1968 1 May 37(5) 805-815. 

Very few studies document the natural history and prognosis of cutting-oil dermatitis. In one study (Johnson and Wilson 1971), 87 of 100 workers contacted 6-13 years after developing oil dermatitis responded to a questionnaire 60% were clear, 23% were better and 17% remained unchanged - 82% of the workers, however, had changed their jobs. Those with a personal history of constitutional eczema appeared to fare as well as those without. Those with mild disease with little time lost from work had the best prognosis. 

Sakamoto M, Hirohashi S (1998) Natural history and prognosis of adenomatous hyperplasia and early hepatocellular carcinoma multi-institutional analysis of 53 nodules followed up for more than 6 months and 141 patients with single early hepatocellular carcinoma treated by surgical resection or percutaneous ethanol injection. Jpn J Clin Oncol 28 604-608... 

Giant aneurysms are frequently (at least 60%) associated with either partial, or less common complete thrombosis. Recanalization of a completely thrombosed giant aneurysm has been also reported (Lee et al. 1999). Symptomatic giant aneurysms usually have a grim natural history and poor prognosis. 

Xiao HB, Roy C, Fujimoto S, Gibson DG. Natural history of abnormal conduction and its relation to prognosis in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Int. J. Cardiol. 1996 53 163-70. 

II. Establishing the level and class of a paraprotein enables a better appreciation of that level, and possible associations. Immunoglobulin fragments (urine should be properly examined for Bence Jones protein IgM for 7S, etc.) and reductions of other immunoglobulins imply a serious prognosis. Follow-up is essential and can indicate the natural history or response and escape on treatment. 

The editors concept of clinical chemistry, as stated in previous volumes of this serial publication, encompasses a wide field of subjects— from the mechanism of blood coagulation to the microbiological assay of vitamins, and from the significance of trace metals in health and disease to the therapeutic application of increased gas pressure. The natural history of clinical conditions and their comparison with normal controls share one common feature, namely, the central position of some species of molecules, be they small or large, all of them the natural subject of chemical research. Hence, practical methods develop, either manual or mechanized, the results of which become increasingly more useful for the clinician in diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis. 

Kannel WB. Natural history of angina pectoris in the Framingham Study Prognosis and survival. Am J Cardiol 1972 29 154-163. 

Krahn AD, Manfreda J, Tate RB, Mathewson FA, Cuddy TE. The natural history of atrial fibrillation incidence, risk factors, and prognosis in the Manitoba Follow-Up Study. Am J Med 1995 98 476-84. 

Heng D, Sharpies LD, McNeil K, Stewart S, Wreghitt T, WaUwork J. Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome incidence, natural history, prognosis, and risk factors. J Heart Lung Transplant 1998 17 1255-1263. 

Okuda K, Ohtsuki T, Obata H et al (1985) Natural history of hepatocellular carcinoma and prognosis in relation to treatment study of 850 patients. Cancer 56 918... 

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