Korean J Med.  2015 Sep;89(3):335-339. 10.3904/kjm.2015.89.3.335.

A Case of Desquamative Interstitial Pneumonia with an Increased Number of Eosinophils in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid

• Choi Y
• Kim TH
• Kang LH
• Kim HJ
• Jang JH
• Shin DH
• Jeon D

• KMID: 2269008
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjm.2015.89.3.335

Abstract

Here, we present a case of desquamative interstitial pneumonia (DIP) that was initially misdiagnosed as chronic eosinophilic pneumonia due to an increased number of eosinophils in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). A 56-year-old male smoker presented with a productive cough that had been present for 1 month. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) revealed multifocal patchy ground-glass and reticular opacities in the subpleural area. BALF analysis revealed an elevated level of eosinophils (37%). Thus, the patient was initially diagnosed with chronic eosinophilic pneumonia and was administered prednisolone (0.5 mg/kg/day). However, his symptoms and the diffuse infiltrative shadows on HRCT did not improve after 2 months of treatment, and a video-assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy led to the diagnosis of DIP. Prednisolone (1 mg/kg/day) was administered again, and the patient's symptoms improved. At 1 year after the end of treatment, the patient remained symptom-free.

Keyword

Idiopathic interstitial pneumonias; Bronchoalveolar lavage; Eosinophils

MeSH Terms

Biopsy
Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid*
Bronchoalveolar Lavage*
Cough
Diagnosis
Eosinophils*
Humans
Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias
Lung
Lung Diseases, Interstitial*
Male
Middle Aged
Prednisolone
Pulmonary Eosinophilia
Prednisolone