CARBAMAZEPINE-INDUCED PNEUMONITIS

Objective: To present a case of a rare pulmonary reaction to carbamaze pine. Clinical features: One month after starting carbamazepine therap y, a previously well 38-year-old man developed pulmonary interstitial pneumonitis associated with debilitating systemic symptoms, the cause of which was not diagnosed for a further three months. Transbronchial lung biopsy showed granulomatous inflammation consistent with an aller gic drug reaction. Intervention and outcome: The patient's clinical st atus, chest x-ray appearance and arterial blood gas tensions all norma lised after withdrawal of the drug without any specific therapy. Concl usion: Pneumonitis is a rare adverse reaction to carbamazepine therapy . However, awareness may reduce delays in both diagnosis and withdrawa l of the drug.