Korean J Med.  2009 Dec;77(6):764-770.

Two cases of acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia

• Cho SS
• Kim HN
• Kim DH
• Han CH
• Lee SM
• Ki JH
• Kim CJ

Abstract

Acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia (AFOP) is a histological pattern consisting of intra-alveolar fibrin in the form of fibrin "balls" and organizing pneumonia, without hyaline membranes or prominent eosinophil infiltration. Some reports suggest that the clinical course and pathological findings of AFOP are different from typical findings of bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) or eosinophilic pneumonia (EP), and its prognosis can be better or similar to that of diffuse alveolar damage (DAD). We report two cases of pathologically demonstrated AFOP experienced recently at our institute. One fatal case revealed a rapid development of respiratory failure and the need for mechanical ventilation. Another nonfatal case revealed subacute diffuse bilateral lung infiltration without the need for mechanical ventilation. Judging from our experience, the patient who required a mechanical ventilator had a poorer prognosis than the one who did not need a mechanical ventilator.

Keyword

Acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia; Diffuse alveolar damage; Mechanical ventilation

MeSH Terms

Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia
Eosinophils
Fibrin
Humans
Hyalin
Lung
Membranes
Pneumonia
Prognosis
Pulmonary Eosinophilia
Respiration, Artificial
Respiratory Insufficiency
Ventilators, Mechanical
Fibrin