E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use Associated Lung Injury Among Three Young Adults: A Retrospective Case Series From Delaware

Background: E-cigarette or vaping associated lung injury (EVALI) is a lung disease associated with an inflammatory response to the vaping fluid. Currently, diagnosis remains elusive without definitive biomarkers. Case presentation: Herein, we describe three cases of EVALI among 18- to 21-year-old patients ranging from mild to severe. All cases presented with a combination of respiratory, gastrointestinal, and constitutional symptoms. Oxygen support and level of medical care varied based on disease severity. Bilateral pulmonary opacities were observed on chest imaging in each case. Additionally, each case had markedly elevated inflammatory markers, specifically C-reactive protein (CRP). None of these patients improved with intravenous (IV) antibiotics and all required IV corticosteroid therapy to achieve clinical improvement. Conclusion: EVALI should be suspected among young, otherwise healthy patients who present with new-onset hypoxia, non-specific gastrointestinal symptoms, and endorse a history of vaping. Though considered a diagnosis of exclusion, diagnosing EVALI requires thorough history taking. Inflammatory studies, CRP, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) should be considered adjunctive biomarkers to aid clinicians when the diagnosis remains unclear. Corticosteroids are the mainstay of treatment and patients should have close follow-up whether or not they require hospitalization.