Vaping-associated constrictive bronchiolitis

Abstract

A woman in her 40s who vaped reported rapid onset of shortness of breath and cough. Pulmonary function testing showed severe obstruction and no substantial response to an inhaled bronchodilator, and chest computed tomography revealed extensive air trapping. A lung cryobiopsy was done after a comprehensive and unrevealing evaluation, which showed characteristics of airway inflammation and prominent bronchial-associated lymphoid tissue. With this knowledge and her vaping history, we diagnosed vaping-associated constrictive bronchiolitis. This phenomenon has not been well described. Clinicians should know to consider vaping when a patient with a vaping history presents with severe airway obstruction.

Keywords

• Acute disease
• Bronchiolitis obliterans
• Constrictive bronchiolitis
• Electronic nicotine delivery systems
• Vaping (adverse effects)