TO DETERMINE THE CORRELATION OF B LINES ON CHEST ULTRASOUND WITH SEVERITY OF IDIOPATHIC PULMONARY FIBROSIS IN PATIENTS PRESENTING AT TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL, KARACHI

Abstract

Objective: To determine the correlation of B lines with severity of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in patients presenting at Tertiary Care Hospital, Karachi.

Study design: Descriptive cross-sectional study.

Place and duration of study: This study was conducted at Chest Medicine (Ward 12), Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC), Karachi from 01-10-2020 till 31-10-2021.

 Material and methods: Data was prospectively collected from patients after taking consent. The sample size for the study will be n=75 patients. Quantitative data was presented as simple descriptive statistics giving mean and standard deviation and qualitative variables was presented as frequency and percentages.

Results: A total of 75 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis were included in this study. Mean age, duration of symptoms, height, weight and BMI in our study was 51.14±4.49 years, 4.63±2.21 months, 161±6.78 cm, 85.2±8.54 kg and 29.71±2.32 kg/m2. Out of 75 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, 12 (16%), 23 (30.7%), 15 (20%) and 25 (33.3%) had normal, mild, moderate and severe idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis severity. Out of 75 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, 15 (20%), 20 (26.7%), 29 (38.7%) and 11 (14.7%) belonged to B line quartile 1, 2, 3 and 4. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis correlation showed correlation with increasing B lines.

Conclusion: Ultrasound (US) is a promising and valuable tool for screening and assessing interstitial lung disease (ILD). The presence of B-lines on ultrasound has been found to correlate with the severity of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and may serve as a useful indicator for monitoring treatment outcomes in patients with IPF.