A PATIENT WITH RECURRENT RESPIRATORY DISTRESS AND JOINT PAIN

A 39 year-old male presented with one week of constant progressive dyspnea, associated with productive cough and anterior chest pain that worsened with breathing. The sputum was clear. He reported multiple similar episodes in the past that started during adolescence. These episodes required hospital admissions that lasted 1 or 2 weeks; and improved with oxygen, a systemic steroid taper, and antibiotics. He carried the diagnosis of COPD based on symptoms and occasional tobacco use. There was no history of chronic sinusitis, liver disease or rheumatologically disorder.