Potential of Ethenone (Ketene) to Contribute to Electronic Cigarette, or Vaping, Product Use–associated Lung Injury
Kathleen R. Attfield, Wenhao Chen, Kristin J. Cummings, Peyton Jacob, Donal F. O’Shea, Jeff Wagner, Ping Wang, Jefferson Fowles
Abstract
<p>In 2019, the United States\nexperienced an unprecedented outbreak of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette), or\nvaping, product use– associated lung injury (EVALI). Although reports of\nlipidladen macrophages in BAL fluid raised the possibility that EVALI\nrepresented exogenous lipoid pneumonia, case series that focused on\nhistopathology found patterns of acute lung injury, including diffuse alveolar\ndamage and organizing pneumonia, often with bronchiolitis. Thus, the available evidence to date suggests\nthe outbreak is characterized by an airway-centered chemical pneumonitis rather\nthan acute exogenous lipoid pneumonia.</p>