A Case of Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva Complicated by Influenza Pneumonia Treated with Long-Term Intensive Care

Abstract

We provided long-term intensive care to a patient with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva（FOP）who had acute respiratory failure due to influenza pneumonia. The patient was a 36-year-old woman diagnosed with FOP at 7 years of age. When she was 33 years old, she experienced sepsis-induced pneumonia due to candidiasis, which was completely cured with artificial ventilation. Presently, she was admitted to our hospital for fever and vomiting caused by influenza A virus infection, which led to pneumonia. Artificial ventilation was started, and she was moved to the intensive care unit because of acute respiratory failure on the 18th day from the onset of disease. Administration of noradrenaline maintained the blood pressure, and she underwent tracheostomy on the same day. Therefore, she could not be weaned from artificial ventilation support；however, the chest x-ray findings improved. Her P/F ratio stabilized to more than 400 after antibiotic administration, and she was moved to a long-term care hospital. Long-term management by artificial ventilation may be required for the treatment of acute respiratory failure in FOP, and invasive procedures, such as tracheostomy and/or intrathoracic drainage, are important for the management.