04-11-2007, 04:37 PM
A 71-year-old woman is being
treated for a severe chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) flare. The patient presented
to the hospital 3 days ago with
cough, fever, and pleuritic chest
pain. She had been feeling fatigued
and, on the day of admission, was
persistently febrile. She has had
more severe shortness of breath,
often at rest and with mild
exertion, and moderate dyspnea. A
chest radiograph revealed a left
lower lobe infiltrate, and she was
started on antibiotics. The patient
has a long smoking history with a
forced expiration in 1 second
(FEV1) of 1.1 L. Which of the
following therapies is most
beneficial with respect to
long-term morbidity and mortality
in this patient?
A.
Beta agonists
B.
Inhaled corticosteroids
C.
Long-term oxygen therapy
D.
Systemic corticosteroids
E.
Theophylline
treated for a severe chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) flare. The patient presented
to the hospital 3 days ago with
cough, fever, and pleuritic chest
pain. She had been feeling fatigued
and, on the day of admission, was
persistently febrile. She has had
more severe shortness of breath,
often at rest and with mild
exertion, and moderate dyspnea. A
chest radiograph revealed a left
lower lobe infiltrate, and she was
started on antibiotics. The patient
has a long smoking history with a
forced expiration in 1 second
(FEV1) of 1.1 L. Which of the
following therapies is most
beneficial with respect to
long-term morbidity and mortality
in this patient?
A.
Beta agonists
B.
Inhaled corticosteroids
C.
Long-term oxygen therapy
D.
Systemic corticosteroids
E.
Theophylline