Asbestos was largely used in Brazil. It is a mineral that induces pleural and pulmonary fibrosis, and it is a potent carcinogen. Our objective was to develop recommendations for the performance of adequate imaging tests for screening asbestos-related diseases. We searched peer-reviewed publications, national and international technical documents, and specialists' opinions on the theme. Based on that, the major recommendations are: Individuals exposed to asbestos at the workplace for = 1 year or those with a history of environmental exposure for at least 5 years, all of those with a latency period > 20 years from the date of initial exposure, should initially undego HRCT of the chest for investigation. Individuals with pleural disease and/or asbestosis should be considered for regular lung cancer monitoring. Risk calculators should be adopted for lung cancer screening, with a risk estimate of 1.5%.

Keywords: Asbestosis/diagnosis; Asbestosis/prevention & control; Environmental exposure; Occupational exposure.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a serious and debilitating disease caused by occlusion of the pulmonary arterial bed by hematic emboli and by the resulting fibrous material. Such occlusion increases vascular resistance and, consequently, the pressure in the region of the pulmonary artery, which is the definition of pulmonary hypertension. The increased load imposed on the right ventricle leads to its progressive dysfunction and, finally, to death. However, CTEPH has a highly significant feature that distinguishes it from other forms of pulmonary hypertension: the fact that it can be cured through treatment with pulmonary thromboendarterectomy. Therefore, the primary objective of the management of CTEPH should be the assessment of patient fitness for surgery at a referral center, given that not all patients are good candidates. For the patients who are not good candidates for pulmonary thromboendarterectomy, the viable therapeutic alternatives include pulmonary artery angioplasty and pharmacological treatment. In these recommendations, the pathophysiological bases for the onset of CTEPH, such as acute pulmonary embolism and the clinical condition of the patient, will be discussed, as will the diagnostic algorithm to be followed and the therapeutic alternatives currently available.

Keywords: Hypertension, pulmonary/diagnosis; Hypertension, pulmonary/surgery; Hypertension, pulmonary/therapy; Hypertension, pulmonary/drug therapy; Pulmonary artery/pathology; Pulmonary embolism/complications.

Although lung cancer (LC) is one of the most common and lethal tumors, only 15% of patients are diagnosed at an early stage. Smoking is still responsible for more than 85% of cases. Lung cancer screening (LCS) with low-dose CT (LDCT) reduces LC-related mortality by 20%, and that reduction reaches 38% when LCS by LDCT is combined with smoking cessation. In the last decade, a number of countries have adopted population-based LCS as a public health recommendation. Albeit still incipient, discussion on this topic in Brazil is becoming increasingly broad and necessary. With the aim of increasing knowledge and stimulating debate on LCS, the Brazilian Society of Thoracic Surgery, the Brazilian Thoracic Association, and the Brazilian College of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging convened a panel of experts to prepare recommendations for LCS in Brazil. The recommendations presented here were based on a narrative review of the literature, with an emphasis on large population-based studies, systematic reviews, and the recommendations of international guidelines, and were developed after extensive discussion by the panel of experts. The following topics were reviewed: reasons for screening; general considerations about smoking; epidemiology of LC; eligibility criteria; incidental findings; granulomatous lesions; probabilistic models; minimum requirements for LDCT; volumetric acquisition; risks of screening; minimum structure and role of the multidisciplinary team; practice according to the Lung CT Screening Reporting and Data System; costs versus benefits of screening; and future perspectives for LCS.

Keywords: Lung neoplasms; Early detection of cancer; Tomography, X-ray computed; Tobacco use disorder.

The pharmacological management of asthma has changed considerably in recent decades, as it has come to be understood that it is a complex, heterogeneous disease with different phenotypes and endotypes. It is now clear that the goal of asthma treatment should be to achieve and maintain control of the disease, as well as to minimize the risks (of exacerbations, disease instability, accelerated loss of lung function, and adverse treatment effects). That requires an approach that is personalized in terms of the pharmacological treatment, patient education, written action plan, training in correct inhaler use, and review of the inhaler technique at each office visit. A panel of 22 pulmonologists was invited to perform a critical review of recent evidence of pharmacological treatment of asthma and to prepare this set of recommendations, a treatment guide tailored to use in Brazil. The topics or questions related to the most significant changes in concepts, and consequently in the management of asthma in clinical practice, were chosen by a panel of experts. To formulate these recommendations, we asked each expert to perform a critical review of a topic or to respond to a question, on the basis of evidence in the literature. In a second phase, three experts discussed and structured all texts submitted by the others. That was followed by a third phase, in which all of the experts reviewed and discussed each recommendation. These recommendations, which are intended for physicians involved in the treatment of asthma, apply to asthma patients of all ages.

Keywords: Asthma/therapy; Asthma/drug therapy; Asthma/prevention & control; Practice guideline.

Advances in the understanding that severe asthma is a complex and heterogeneous disease and in the knowledge of the pathophysiology of asthma, with the identification of different phenotypes and endotypes, have allowed new approaches for the diagnosis and characterization of the disease and have resulted in relevant changes in pharmacological management. In this context, the definition of severe asthma has been established, being differentiated from difficult-to-control asthma. These recommendations address this topic and review advances in phenotyping, use of biomarkers, and new treatments for severe asthma. Emphasis is given to topics regarding personalized management of the patient and selection of biologicals, as well as the importance of evaluating the response to treatment. These recommendations apply to adults and children with severe asthma and are targeted at physicians involved in asthma treatment. A panel of 17 Brazilian pulmonologists was invited to review recent evidence on the diagnosis and management of severe asthma, adapting it to the Brazilian reality. Each of the experts was responsible for reviewing a topic or question relevant to the topic. In a second phase, four experts discussed and structured the texts produced, and, in the last phase, all experts reviewed and approved the present manuscript and its recommendations.

Keywords: Asthma/therapy; Asthma/drug therapy; Asthma/prevention & control; Antibodies, monoclonal, humanized.

Historically, all efforts against tuberculosis were focused on rapid diagnosis and effective treatment to break the chain of transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, in the last few years, more and more evidence has been found on the dramatic consequences of the condition defined as post-tuberculosis lung disease (PTLD). Approximately one third of patients surviving pulmonary tuberculosis face considerable ongoing morbidities, including respiratory impairment, psychosocial challenges, and reduced health-related quality of life after treatment completion. Given the important global and local burden of tuberculosis, as well as the estimated burden of PTLD, the development of a consensus document by a Brazilian scientific society-Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumologia e Tisiologia (SBPT)-was considered urgent for the prevention and management of this condition in order to allocate resources to and within tuberculosis services appropriately and serve as a guide for health care professionals. A team of eleven pulmonologists and one methodologist was created by the SBPT to review the current evidence on PTLD and develop recommendations adapted to the Brazilian context. The expert panel selected the topics on the basis of current evidence and international guidelines. During the first phase, three panel members drafted the recommendations, which were divided into three sections: definition and prevalence of PTLD, assessment of PTLD, and management of PTLD. In the second phase, all panel members reviewed, discussed, and revised the recommendations until a consensus was reached. The document was formally approved by the SBPT in a special session organized during the 2023 SBPT Annual Conference.

Keywords: Tuberculosis; Post-infectious disorders; Disease management.

Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a relatively rare genetic disorder, inherited in an autosomal codominant manner, that results in reduced serum AAT concentrations, with a consequent reduction in antielastase activity in the lungs, as well as an increased risk of diseases such as pulmonary emphysema, liver cirrhosis, and necrotizing panniculitis. It results from different mutations in the SERPINA1 gene, leading to changes in the AAT glycoprotein, which can alter its concentration, conformation, and function. Unfortunately, underdiagnosis is quite common; it is possible that only 10% of cases are diagnosed. The most common deficiency is in the Z variant, and it is estimated that more than 3 million people worldwide have combinations of alleles associated with severe AATD. Serum AAT concentrations should be determined, and allelic variants should be identified by phenotyping or genotyping. Monitoring lung function, especially through spirometry, is essential, because it provides information on the progression of the disease. Although pulmonary densitometry appears to be the most sensitive measure of emphysema progression, it should not be used in routine clinical practice to monitor patients. In general, the treatment is similar to that indicated for patients with COPD not caused by AATD. Exogenous administration of purified human serum-derived AAT is the only specific treatment approved for AATD in nonsmoking patients with severe deficiency (serum AAT concentration of < 57 mg/dL or < 11 µM), with evidence of functional loss above the physiological level.

Keywords: alpha 1-antitrypsin; Emphysema; Pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive.

Recent years have seen a growing interest in the use of portable monitoring devices for the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. These have the potential to be used in lieu of the more complicated and uncomfortable alternative, polysomnography, which has long been considered to be the gold standard for the diagnosis of this relatively prevalent condition. Following their approval in 2008 by the Center of Medicare and Medicaid Services, the federal agency which administers Medicare and Medicaid in the United States, there has been extensive discussion about the utility and validity of these devices for use in the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Although there are various models of portable monitoring devices, the literature contains little information regarding how each device should be used in specific age groups, patients presenting comorbidities, and asymptomatic patients. Additionally, studies about the cost-effectiveness of this diagnostic method are scarce and conflicting. Therefore, this objective of this study was to review what has been learned about portable monitoring devices over time, as well as to examine the recent progress, advantages, limitations, and applications of these devices in the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in different groups of patients.

Keywords: Sleep apnea, obstructive/diagnosis; Polysomnography; Diagnostic equipment; Monitoring, ambulatory.

This paper reviews in brief the role of nitric oxide in the respiratory physiology and in the pathology of some pulmonary diseases. The potential diagnostic and monitoring uses in several clinical situations are also discussed.

Keywords: respiratory tract diseases; lung diseases, obstructive; asthma; smoking; cystic fibrosis; bronchiectasis lung; lung transplantation

Early, accurate diagnosis of tuberculosis is one of the major pillars of the control of the disease. The purpose of this consensus statement is to provide health professionals with the most current, useful evidence for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in Brazil. To that end, the Tuberculosis Committee of the Brazilian Thoracic Association brought together 14 members of the Association with recognized expertise in tuberculosis in Brazil to compose the statement. A nonsystematic review of the following topics was carried out: clinical diagnosis, bacteriological diagnosis, radiological diagnosis, histopathological diagnosis, diagnosis of tuberculosis in children, and diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection.

Keywords: Tuberculosis/diagnosis; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Tuberculosis, multidrug-resistant/diagnosis; Latent tuberculosis/diagnosis.

Over the years, various recommendations have been made in pursuit of controlling resistance to antituberculosis drugs, especially multidrug resistance, in Brazil. Given the importance of standardizing those recommendations, the aim of this study was to describe the main recommendations of the Brazilian guidelines, primarily those related to the treatment and follow-up of cases of tuberculosis. From August through October of 2018, a document search was conducted via the websites of the Brazilian National Ministry of Health, the Brazilian National Tuberculosis Control Program, the JBP, and the Official Gazette of the Federal Republic of Brazil. Data were collected systematically by using a protocol designed specifically for this study. Documents published between 2004 and 2018 were selected. It was possible to understand and trace the history of the measures for the control of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Brazil from 2004, when the first documents related to the disease were published, up to 2018, when the second edition of the Brazilian National Guidelines for the Control of Tuberculosis was published. The contents of the documents were analyzed and grouped by case definition, diagnostic criteria, treatment, use of directly observed treatment; mechanisms of social protection for patients; data tools; and organization of care. This analysis allowed us to understand the efforts towards standardizing some measures in Brazil, not only identifying advances in the alignment with international prerogatives (case definition, incorporation of diagnostic technology, and treatment regimens) but also underscoring the need for greater clarity regarding the mechanisms of social protection and the organization of the care provided via the Brazilian health care system.

Keywords: Tuberculosis, multidrug-resistant; Organization and administration; Practice patterns, physicians'; Practice patterns, nurses'.

A presente publicação que reúne manuscritos sobre tuberculose (TB) foi delineada para ser divulgada no mesmo momento da realização do I Encontro Nacional de Tuberculose, que ocorrerá em Brasília, 30 de junho a 3 de julho de 2004.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder characterized by dysfunction of the CFTR gene. It is a multisystem disease that most often affects White individuals. In recent decades, various advances in the diagnosis and treatment of CF have drastically changed the scenario, resulting in a significant increase in survival and quality of life. In Brazil, the current neonatal screening program for CF has broad coverage, and most of the Brazilian states have referral centers for the follow-up of individuals with the disease. Previously, CF was limited to the pediatric age group. However, an increase in the number of adult CF patients has been observed, because of the greater number of individuals being diagnosed with atypical forms (with milder phenotypic expression) and because of the increase in life expectancy provided by the new treatments. However, there is still great heterogeneity among the different regions of Brazil in terms of the access of CF patients to diagnostic and therapeutic methods. The objective of these guidelines was to aggregate the main scientific evidence to guide the management of these patients. A group of 18 CF specialists devised 82 relevant clinical questions, divided into five categories: characteristics of a referral center; diagnosis; treatment of respiratory disease; gastrointestinal and nutritional treatment; and other aspects. Various professionals working in the area of CF in Brazil were invited to answer the questions devised by the coordinators. We used the PubMed database to search the available literature based on keywords, in order to find the best answers to these questions.

Keywords: Cystic fibrosis/diagnosis; Cystic fibrosis/therapy; Cystic fibrosis/complications; Practice guideline.

Objectives: Evaluate the results of the Brazilian Society of Tisiology and Pulmonary Medicine Board Examination and verify the factors related to acceptance. Planning: Retrospective analysis comparing scores obtained in practical and written examinations and acceptance to gender, years since graduation, years of pulmonary medicine practice, regional and national meetings attendance, place, and duration, as well as having or not attended residence or training programs. Population: Between 1992 and 1996, 199 candidates - 81 females and 108 males - took the board examination. Results: In this period, 54.3% of the candidates were approved. Mean written score was 6.27 ± 0.95 for the approved candidates and 4.30 ± 0.76 for those who were not approved (p = 0.0001, t test). Mean practical score was 7.18 ± 0.92 versus 5.17 ± 1.38 (p = 0.001). The overall mean of the written score was significantly lower than that of the practical score (53.78 ± 13.16 x 62.62 ± 15.32, p < 0.001). Univariate analysis showed that the approved group had fewer years since graduation (p = 0.001), fewer years of pulmonary medicine practice (p = 0.01); lower training attendance for a shorter period (p = 0.01), and a higher frequency of residence attendance for a longer period (p < 0.001) in the approved group. Logistic regression showed that residence (p = 0.002) and place of residence (p = 0.006) were the only predictive factors for approval. Multiple linear regression showed that only residence (coefficient 2.26, p = 0.016), place of residence (4.43, p = 0.002), and training (-1.97, p = 0.047) predicted the overall board score. Conclusion: The efficacy of the board exmination is hereby proven, since it accepts candidates with better medical background (residence). Some medical education methods, such as years of practice, meeting and training attendance need to be revised, since they do not determine approval.

Keywords: Medical education. Residence. Board certificate.

The treatment of COPD has become increasingly effective. Measures that range from behavioral changes, reduction in exposure to risk factors, education about the disease and its course, rehabilitation, oxygen therapy, management of comorbidities, and surgical and pharmacological treatments to end-of-life care allow health professionals to provide a personalized and effective therapy. The pharmacological treatment of COPD is one of the cornerstones of COPD management, and there have been many advances in this area in recent years. Given the greater availability of drugs and therapeutic combinations, it has become increasingly challenging to know the indications for, limitations of, and potential risks and benefits of each treatment modality. In order to critically evaluate recent evidence and systematize the major questions regarding the pharmacological treatment of COPD, 24 specialists from all over Brazil gathered to develop the present recommendations. A visual guide was developed for the classification and treatment of COPD, both of which were adapted to fit the situation in Brazil. Ten questions were selected on the basis of their relevance in clinical practice. They address the classification, definitions, treatment, and evidence available for each drug or drug combination. Each question was answered by two specialists, and then the answers were consolidated in two phases: review and consensus by all participants. The questions answered are practical questions and help select from among the many options the best treatment for each patient and his/her peculiarities.

Keywords: Pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive/drug therapy; pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive/prevention & control; pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive/therapy.

Some chronic respiratory diseases can cause hypoxemia and, in such cases, long-term home oxygen therapy (LTOT) is indicated as a treatment option primarily to improve patient quality of life and life expectancy. Home oxygen has been used for more than 70 years, and support for LTOT is based on two studies from the 1980s that demonstrated that oxygen use improves survival in patients with COPD. There is evidence that LTOT has other beneficial effects such as improved cognitive function, improved exercise capacity, and reduced hospitalizations. LTOT is indicated in other respiratory diseases that cause hypoxemia, on the basis of the same criteria as those used for COPD. There has been an increase in the use of LTOT, probably because of increased life expectancy and a higher prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases, as well as greater availability of LTOT in the health care system. The first Brazilian Thoracic Association consensus statement on LTOT was published in 2000. Twenty-two years la-ter, we present this updated version. This document is a nonsystematic review of the literature, conducted by pulmonologists who evaluated scientific evidence and international guidelines on LTOT in the various diseases that cause hypoxemia and in specific situations (i.e., exercise, sleep, and air travel). These recommendations, produced with a view to clinical practice, contain several charts with information on indications for LTOT, oxygen sources, accessories, strategies for improved efficiency and effectiveness, and recommendations for the safe use of LTOT, as well as a LTOT prescribing model.

Keywords: Oxygen; Hypoxia; Oxygen inhalation therapy; Delivery of health care.

Objective: To adapt the PROactive Physical Activity in COPD-clinical visit (C-PPAC) instrument to the cultural setting in Brazil and to determine the criterion validity, test-retest reliability agreement, and internal consistency of this version. Methods: A protocol for cultural adaptation and validation was provided by the authors of the original instrument and, together with another guideline, was applied in a Portuguese-language version developed by a partner research group from Portugal. The adapted Brazilian Portuguese version was then cross-sectionally administered twice within a seven-day interval to 30 individuals with COPD (57% were men; mean age was 69 ± 6 years; and mean FEV1 was 53 ± 18% of predicted) to evaluate internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Participants also completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), the modified Medical Research Council scale, the COPD Assessment Test, and Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire to evaluate criterion validity. Results: The C-PPAC instrument showed good internal consistency and excellent test-retest reliability: "amount" domain = 0.87 (95% CI, 0.73-0.94) and "difficulty" domain = 0.90 (95% CI, 0.76-0.96). Bland & Altman plots, together with high Lin's concordance correlation coefficients, reinforced that agreement. Criterion validity showed moderate-to-strong correlations of the C-PPAC with all of the other instruments evaluated, especially with the IPAQ (rho = -0.63). Conclusions: The Brazilian Portuguese version of the C-PPAC is a reliable and valid instrument for evaluating the experience of Brazilian individuals with COPD with their physical activity in daily life.

Keywords: Pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive; Validation study; Activities of daily living; Psychometrics.