Constrictive Bronchiolitis — A Possible Adverse Effect of Vaping

Lung biopsies revealed this pathologic finding in four people with long-term use of e-cigarettes.

Electronic cigarette or vaping–associated lung injury (EVALI) is a well-described, acute syndrome (NEJM JW Gen Med Jun 15 2020 and N Engl J Med 2020; 382:1589), but we know little about the long-term potential adverse effects of e-cigarette use. In this report, researchers describe four patients (age range, 25–65), with 3- to 8-year histories of e-cigarette use, who presented with symptoms consistent with gradually progressive pulmonary disease (e.g., dyspnea, cough, pleuritic chest pain). All patients were former smokers who vaped almost daily at presentation.

Findings on pulmonary function testing were not strikingly abnormal, but on high-resolution computed tomography, all patients had mild bronchial wall thickening plus other nonspecific…

Reviewing Author

Allan S. Brett, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Allan S. Brett, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Constrictive Bronchiolitis — A Possible Adverse Effect of Vaping

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Reviewing Author