ABSTRACT Introduction the autopsy is an essential medical procedure; however, its use has declined over the decades. In autoimmune and rheumatological diseases, anatomical and microscopic diagnosis is critical to diagnose of the cause of death. For this reason, our objective is to describe the cause of death in patients diagnosed with autoimmune and rheumatic diseases who underwent an autopsy in a Pathology reference center in Colombia. Materials and methods a retrospective and descriptive study of autopsy reports. Results between January 2004 and December 2019, 47 autopsies of patients with autoimmune and rheumatological diseases were performed. Systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis were the most common diseases. The leading cause of death was related to infections, being opportunistic infections in the majority of the cases. Conclusions our autopsy-based study was focused on patients with autoimmune and rheumatological conditions. Infections are the leading cause of death, particularly opportunistic infections, diagnosed mainly by microscopy. Thus, the autopsy should continue to be considered the “gold standard” to determine the cause of death in this population.

El avance de la investigación médica, en los campos de la biología molecular y la ingeniería genética, ha traído consigo el desarrollo de una serie de nuevos medicamentos dirigidos a bloquear diferentes vías de la respuesta inmune celular. La terapia biológica, nombre con el cual se reconoce a estos nuevos medicamentos, ofrece una nueva oportunidad terapéutica para el manejo de enfermedades crónicas progresivas. En las enfermedades pulmonares crónicas como el asma, la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC), la enfermedad pulmonar parenquimatosa difusa (EPPD) y el cáncer de pulmón, el tratamiento con medicamentos biológicos ha aportado importantes avances para comprender con mayor claridad estas enfermedades y en algunos casos gracias a la eficacia de los mismos, mejorar la calidad de vida de los pacientes que las presentan. Debido al número cada vez mayor de medicamentos de terapia biológica y su aplicación terapéutica creciente en enfermedades inflamatorias crónicas y cáncer, creemos necesario revisar su estado actual en el manejo de la patología pulmonar crónica.

The advancement of medical research in molecular biology and genetic engineering has given rise to the development of new drugs aimed at blocking different pathways of cellular immune responses. Biological therapy is a new therapeutic option for progressive chronic disease management. In chronic lung diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diffuse parenchymal lung disease (DPLD) and lung cancer, treatment with biologics has made important advances in the understanding of these diseases, and in some cases, due to their effectiveness, has contributed to the improvement in life quality of patients who suffer them. Due to the increasing number of biological therapy drugs and their therapeutic application in chronic inflammatory diseases and cancer, it is relevant to review their current status in the management of chronic lung diseases.

O avanço da pesquisa médica, nos campos da biologia molecular e da engenharia genética, trouxe consigo o desenvolvimento de uma série de novos medicamentos dirigidos a bloquear diferentes vias da resposta imune celular. A terapia biológica, nome com o qual são conhecidos estes novos medicamentos, oferece uma nova oportunidade terapêutica para o tratamento de doenças cônicas progressivas. Nas doenças pulmonares crônicas como a asma, a doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC), a doença parenquimatosa difusa pulmonar (DPDP) e o câncer de pulmão, o tratamento com medicamentos biológicos tem contribuído com importantes avanços para compreender com maior claridade estas doenças e em alguns casos graças à eficácia dos mesmos, melhorar a qualidade de vida dos pacientes que as apresentam. Devido ao número cada vez maior de medicamentos de terapia biológica e sua aplicação terapêutica crescente em doenças inflamatórias crônicas e câncer, acreditamos que é necessário revisar seu estado atual no tratamento da patologia pulmonar Crônica.