acute eosinophilic pneumonia

Etiology

• unknown
• believed to be caused by an inhaled antigen

Epidemiology

relatively uncommon

Pathology

• diffuse alveolar or mixed alveolar-interstitial infiltrates
• absence of parasitic infection, fungal infection or other infection

Clinical manifestations

• acute febrile illness of < 5 days duration
• cough
• pleuritic chest pain
• myalgias
• hypoxemic respiratory failure

Laboratory

• bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) shows eosinophilia, > 15-25% eosinophils in BAL fluid

Radiology

• Chest X-ray
  • diffuse pulmonary infiltrates
  • bilateral pleural effusions are common

Management

• prompt response to glucocorticoids
• many patients require mechanical ventilation

More general terms

• eosinophilic pneumonia; Andrews syndrome; pulmonary eosinophilia