Tuberc Respir Dis.  2015 Jul;78(3):258-261. 10.4046/trd.2015.78.3.258.

Loeffler's Syndrome Induced by Ingestion of Urushiol Chicken

• Jeong SO
• Oh JH
• Kwak YM
• Lee J
• Jang AS
• Kim DJ
• Park CS

• KMID: 2320652
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2015.78.3.258

Abstract

Eosinophilic lung diseases are heterogeneous disorders characterized by varying degrees of pulmonary parenchyma or blood eosinophilia. Causes of eosinophilic lung diseases range from drug ingestion to parasitic or fungal infection as well as idiopathic. The exact pathogenesis of eosinophilic lung disease remains unknown. Urushiol chicken can frequently cause allergic reactions. Contact dermatitis (both local and systemic) represents the most-common side effect of urushiol chicken ingestion. However, there has been no previous report of lung involvement following urushiol chicken ingestion until now. A 66-year-old male was admitted to our hospital with exertional dyspnea. Serial chest X-ray revealed multiple migrating infiltrations in both lung fields, with eosinophilic infiltration revealed by lung biopsy. The patient had ingested urushiol chicken on two occasions within the 2 weeks immediately prior to disease onset. His symptoms and migrating lung lesions were resolved following administration of oral corticosteroids.

Keyword

Pulmonary Eosinophilia; Urushiol; Allergens

MeSH Terms

Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Aged
Allergens
Biopsy
Chickens*
Dermatitis, Contact
Dyspnea
Eating*
Eosinophilia
Eosinophils
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Lung
Lung Diseases
Male
Pulmonary Eosinophilia
Thorax
Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Allergens

Figure

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  Figure 1 (A-C) Chest X-ray revealing decreased peribronchial opacity in the left-upper lobe (LUL) and new infiltrations in the right lung after 5 days of urushiol chicken ingestion. On day 11, infiltration in the LUL increased again.

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  Figure 2 High-resolution computed tomography revealing multifocal consolidation and ground glass appearance in both upper- and lower-lung fields.

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  Figure 3 Percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy pathology revealing interstitial thickening with fibroid exudate and infiltration of numerous eosinophils in the lung parenchyma filled the alveoli (H&E stain, ×400).

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