Clinicopathological differences between acute and chronic eosinophilic pneumonia

OBJECTIVE: Considerable confusion exists regarding the proper classification of idiopathic eosinophilic pneumonia (IEP). Furthermore, there are no reports describing the clinicopathological differences between the various forms of eosinophilic pneumonias. METHODOLOGY: The histological findings in acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP) and chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) were examined and the clinical and radiological features were contrasted with them. RESULTS: Radiologically, ground glass opacity and interlobular septal thickening were characteristic of the AEP cases, while air space consolidation was seen in all CEP cases. Histologically, interstitial oedema and fibrin deposition were prominent in the AEP cases. Type II cells were detached from the alveolar walls, although the basal lamina was predominantly intact. In CEP, in addition to cellular infiltration, there was prominent intraluminal fibrosis. Disruption of the basal lamina was observed and nests of intraluminal fibrosis were directly adjacent and connected to the alveolar walls. CONCLUSIONS: An essential histological difference between AEP and CEP is the severity of basal lamina damage and the amount of subsequent intraluminal fibrosis. In AEP particularly, these findings explain the radiographical findings, as well as the rapid and complete improvement noted in such cases.     

Waterproofing spray-associated pneumonitis review: Comparison with acute eosinophilic pneumonia and hypersensitivity pneumonitis

Waterproofing spray-associated pneumonitis (WAP) proceeds to acute respiratory failure and is characterized by diffuse bilateral ground-glass opacities on computed tomography; however, the detailed characteristics of WAP are unknown. Therefore, this study identified the characteristics of WAP from comparisons with those of acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP) and hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), which show similar features to WAP.Adult patients with WAP, AEP, and HP treated in Fukujuji Hospital from 1990 to 2018 were retrospectively enrolled. Furthermore, data from patients with WAP were collected from publications in PubMed and the Japan Medical Abstracts Society and combined with data from our patients.Thirty-three patients with WAP, eleven patients with AEP, and thirty patients with HP were reviewed. Regarding age, sex, smoking habit, and laboratory findings (white blood cell count, C-reactive protein level, and serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 level), WAP and AEP were not significantly different, while WAP and HP were significantly different. The duration from symptom appearance to hospital visit was shorter in patients with WAP (median 1 day) than in patients with AEP (median 3 days, P = .006) or HP (median 30 days, P < .001). The dominant cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with WAP, AEP, and HP were different (macrophages, eosinophils, and lymphocytes, respectively).The characteristic features of WAP were rapid disease progression and macrophage dominance in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and these characteristics can be used to distinguish among WAP, AEP, and HP.     

Traction bronchiectasis on high-resolution computed tomography may predict fatal acute eosinophilic pneumonia

Background

Most patients with acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP) show rapid improvement. However, some cases of AEP prove fatal. The aims of this study were to determine the clinical, radiographic, and pathologic characteristics of patients in whom AEP has a fatal outcome and to identify predictors of a poor prognosis.

Fatal idiopathic acute eosinophilic pneumonia with acute lung injury

A fatal case of idiopathic eosinophilic pneumonia with acute lung injury is described. The patient required treatment with mechanical ventilation and intravenous corticosteroids, however, she died on the third hospital day. At autopsy, both exudative and proliferative phases of diffuse alveolar damage were observed bilaterally. Marked eosinophilic infiltrate was noted in the alveolar wall and within the alveolar cavities with occasional abscess-like features. To our knowledge, this is the first report of fatal acute eosinophilic pneumonia, and provides important information for the management of this condition.     

慢性嗜酸粒细胞肺炎的研究进展

慢性嗜酸粒细胞肺炎是一种病因不明的慢性肺嗜酸粒细胞性炎症,临床表现无特异性,其特点为周围性肺浸润影;外周血和(或)支气管肺泡灌洗液中嗜酸粒细胞数显著增高;抗感染治疗无效而对糖皮质激素的反应良好,但在减量或停用糖皮质激素时容易复发.     

Acute eosinophilic pneumonia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

A 55-year old woman with multiple myeloma was treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). She developed cutaneous and hepatic graft-vs-host disease (GVHD). Sixty-five days after HSCT, acute respiratory failure occurred. A thoracic computed tomography scan showed bilateral patchy infiltrates. Bronchoalveolar lavage revealed 40% eosinophils on differential cell count with no infectious pathogens. These findings were in favor of acute eosinophilic pneumonia. High-dose steroid treatment was started, which had a rapid and lasting favorable course. After HSCT, clinicians should be aware that acute eosinophilic pneumonia mimics infectious pneumonitis and can be associated with GVHD.     

Idiopathic acute eosinophilic pneumonia requiring ECMO in a teenager smoking tobacco and cannabis

We describe what we believe is an entirely novel case of a 15‐year‐old boy with idiopathic acute eosinophilic pneumonia and unusual, resistant hypoxemia which necessitated extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Response to corticosteroids was excellent and a full recovery was observed. Smoking cigarettes and cannabis on the day the symptoms began may have contributed to the occurrence of this rare disease. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2010;45:1246–1249. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Tracheobronchial lesions in eosinophilic pneumonia

BackgroundEosinophilic pneumonia (EP) is characterized by eosinophil infiltration in the lung parenchyma. However, tracheobronchial lesions associated with the disease have been poorly described. To clarify the frequency and characteristics of cases with tracheobronchial lesions in EP, we performed a retrospective review of EP patients.MethodsWe included 36 EP cases seen from January 2004 to December 2007 at the Kinki-Chuo Chest Medical Center. The incidence of tracheobronchial nodules and associated clinical features were analyzed.ResultsOf these 36 patients, 29 had chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP); 1, acute EP; 3, drug-induced EP; 2, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis; and 1, parasite-related EP. Only 2 of the 29 CEP cases had tracheobronchial lesions. For both of these cases, bronchoscopy revealed multiple whitish nodules on the tracheobronchial mucosa. The associated histopathological findings revealed squamous metaplasia and eosinophil infiltration in the subepithelial region. In both cases, the nodules disappeared after steroid therapy. The prevalence of tracheobronchial lesions was 6.9% in CEP patients and 5.6% in EP patients overall. EP patients were divided into 3 groups: CEP with nodules (n=2), CEP without nodules (n=27), and other EP (n=7). We found that the CEP with nodules group showed a relatively higher incidence of respiratory symptoms, higher white blood cell (WBC) count, and higher levels of peripheral and bronchoalveolar eosinophilia than the other groups.ConclusionsTracheobronchial nodules represent rare observations within the EP population, which are likely to reflect a severe disease condition.     

慢性嗜酸粒细胞肺炎临床诊治研究进展

慢性嗜酸粒细胞肺炎是一种少见的病因不明的嗜酸粒细胞肺疾病,以嗜酸粒细胞在肺中聚集为特征.慢性嗜酸粒细胞肺炎临床表现多不典型,误诊率高.本文从定义、临床表现、诊断、治疗及预后对该病作一综述,以提高对其的认识.     

慢性嗜酸粒细胞肺炎临床诊治研究进展

慢性嗜酸粒细胞肺炎是一种少见的病因不明的嗜酸粒细胞肺疾病,以嗜酸粒细胞在肺中聚集为特征。慢性嗜酸粒细胞肺炎临床表现多不典型,误诊率高。本文从定义、临床表现、诊断、治疗及预后对该病作一综述,以提高对其的认识。     

老年急性嗜酸粒细胞性肺炎1例及文献复习

目的：探讨急性嗜酸粒细胞性肺炎(acute eosinophilic pneumonia,AEP)患者的临床特点、诊治和预后,提高临床诊治水平。方法分析北京医院收治的1例老年男性 AEP 患者的临床、影像学和病理学特点,并结合文献复习加以总结。结果患者以咳嗽、咳痰、发热起病。胸部 CT 示双肺多发斑片影伴少量胸腔积液,抗感染治疗无效。经皮肺穿刺活检病理提示 AEP,给予糖皮质激素治疗后好转。结论 AEP 是一种少见病,易被误诊为细菌性肺炎,对糖皮质激素敏感,早期明确诊断,规范治疗,治愈后无复发,预后良好。     

嗜酸性粒细胞肺炎1例并文献复习

目的总结1例诊断和治疗嗜酸性粒细胞肺炎1例的临床过程。方法对本院成功治疗1例嗜酸性粒细胞肺炎病例的临床资料进行分析,并文献复习。结果此例有顽固性喘息、血嗜酸性粒细胞增高、右下肺外周浸润影像学改变,患者给予糖皮质激素,辅以抗生素,止咳化痰等对症支持治疗,病情迅速好转,嗜酸性粒细胞恢复正常,治疗四天后胸部CT右侧结节影几近完全吸收,住院12 d后好转出院。结论嗜酸性粒细胞肺炎有着特有的典型症状,体征,影像学改变,容易被误诊,给予糖皮质激素维持治疗后可显著改善症状并控制病情的发展,改善预后。     

慢性嗜酸粒细胞肺炎1例并文献复习

目的 介绍1例慢性嗜酸粒细胞肺炎(CEP)并复习近7年的9篇国内文献报道共10例,以提高对这一少见病的认识.方法 对1例确诊为CEP患者的临床及随访资料进行分析,并结合文献讨论其临床特点、诊断及治疗.结果 CEP是一种病因不明的慢性肺嗜酸粒细胞性炎症.其特点为患者可有过敏性疾病史,多数患者有咯痰、发热、不同程度的呼吸困难,部分患者可以阴性,而在体检时发现.外周血嗜酸粒细胞及红细胞沉降率大部分明显增高,胸部X线片呈肺外周非肺段分布性进展性高密度浸润影,常有"肺水肿反向征",痰和(或)支气管肺泡灌洗液嗜酸粒细胞显著增高,抗感染治疗无效,而对口服糖皮质激素(OSCT)反应良好.OSCT治疗后阴影迅速吸收,总的预后良好.结论 对具有以上特征且抗生素治疗无效的肺炎患者,应疑诊CEP,及时行支气管肺泡灌洗嗜酸粒细胞计数或经皮肺活检可以明确诊断.     

慢性嗜酸粒细胞性肺炎10例临床分析

目的 总结慢性嗜酸粒细胞性肺炎(CEP)的临床特点,提高诊治水平.方法 回顾性分析1995年1月至2011年1月在北京协和医院住院的10例CEP患者的临床资料.结果 男性5例,女性5例,合并过敏性鼻炎3例,合并支气管哮喘2例,具有过敏史者2例.主要临床表现为发热(8/10)、咳嗽(8/10)、咯痰(7/10)、呼吸困难...     

Indomethacin induced bulky lymphadenopathy and eosinophilic pneumonia

Indomethacin is one of the most popular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). Although NSAID occasionally provoke bronchospasm and hypersensitivity pneumonia, they seldom cause lymphadenopathy. This is the first report in which NSAID induced both eosinophilic pneumonia and bulky intrathoracic lymphadenopathy simultaneously. A 76-year-old Japanese man experienced high fever and dyspnoea after using an indomethacin suppository. Computed tomography scan of his chest revealed massive mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy along with diffuse infiltration in both lungs. He was diagnosed to have eosinophilic pneumonia because of eosinophilia in his peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Without using glucocorticoids, the pulmonary infiltration and lymphadenopathy subsided spontaneously. As the blastoid transformation test using the lymphocytes in his BALF was positive to indomethacin, we judged that both his eosinophilic pneumonia and mediastinal lymphadenopathy were due to a hypersensitivity reaction to indomethacin. An allergic reaction to NSAID should be considered as a rare cause of mediastinal lymphadenopathy.     

Mineral oil lipoid pneumonia in a child with anoxic encephalopathy: Treatment by whole lung lavage

We describe a case of exogenous lipoid pneumonia in a child with anoxic encephalopathy who was taking mineral oil for constipation. Computed tomography produced images suggesting this condition, and the diagnosis was confirmed by demonstrating the presence of lipid-laden alveolar macrophages in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Despite discontinuing the offending agent, the pulmonary infiltrates did not improve; however, successful resolution was obtained by whole lung ravage. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1997; 23:235–239 . © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Neutropenia associated with large granular lymphocytes responsive to corticosteroids in vitro and in vivo

We describe a patient with neutropenia associated with increased circulating large granular lymphocytes (LGL). Absolute neutropenia was accompanied by the absence of myeloid precursor cells in the bone marrow. No myeloid progenitor cells (CFU-C) could be detected by in vitro colony culture. The peripheral blood was also remarkable for the presence of a population of large granular lymphocytes demonstrable by conventional staining. These cells in flow microfluorometry studies expressed antigens Leu 4 (T-cell antigen receptor), Leu 7 (natural killer cell marker), Leu 2 (suppressor cell marker), and HLA-DR (activation marker); they lacked Leu 1 (a pan-T cell antigen), Leu 3 (helper cell marker) and Tac (interleukin 2 receptor). Hematopoietic colony formation in vitro improved with addition of corticosteroids to the culture medium or elimination of the LGL population with complement-mediated cytotoxicity. Anti-neutrophil antibodies were present prior to and following therapy. Clinically, administration of prednisone resulted in a normalization of the total white blood cell count and absolute polymorphonuclear cell number, an increase into the normal range of the number of CFU-C, and elimination of the LGL population. In this case of steroid-responsive LGL-associated neutropenia, laboratory studies suggested direct suppression of myelopoiesis by steroid-responsive LGL.     

Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia with mucous plugs in a child

Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia is a rare cause of chronic lung disease in children. A 7‐year‐old girl who attended our clinics with cough and sputum lasting for 5 years, has been evaluated for bilateral alveolar infiltration and ground‐glass opacities. Peripheral eosinophilia was detected in total cell blood count. Flexible bronchoscopy showed mucous plugs. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and cell block of mucous plugs determined hypereosinophilia. Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia was confirmed after the elimination of other eosinophilic lung diseases and the case was accepted to be idiopathic. She showed a dramatic response to oral corticosteroids. This is the first reported case of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia presenting with mucous plugs in children described to date in the literature. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2010; 45:1040–1042. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.