Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia: a case report

J Med Assoc Thai. 2000 Aug;83(8):959-63.

Abstract

Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) is a disorder, characterized by a history of pneumonia (> 2 months) and eosinophilic pulmonary infiltration without any organic causes. We describe a 28-year-old woman who presented with cough, dyspnea and fever for 2 months. She was diagnosed with mild asthma and allergic rhinitis 2 years before being diagnosed with CEP. For a period of 9 months she took no medication. Her chest roentgenogram at this admission revealed patchy infiltration in both upper lung fields. Laboratory data revealed blood eosinophilia (4,284/mm3), and her serum IgE was mildly elevated (245.8 IU/ml). A computerized tomography of the chest did not show bronchiectasis. CEP was diagnosed from significant eosinophilia in bronchoalveolar larvage fluid and transbronchial biopsy revealed eosinophilic infiltration without any demonstrable infectious agent. The patient was treated with prednisolone 45 mg/day. Her symptoms disappeared and her chest roentgenogram showed nearly complete resolution in 2 and 4 days, consecutively.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Biopsy
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid
  • Chronic Disease
  • Cough / etiology
  • Dyspnea / etiology
  • Eosinophils
  • Female
  • Fever / etiology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin E / blood
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Prednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Pulmonary Eosinophilia / blood
  • Pulmonary Eosinophilia / complications
  • Pulmonary Eosinophilia / diagnosis*
  • Pulmonary Eosinophilia / drug therapy
  • Thailand
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • Prednisolone