BRONCHIOLITIS OBLITERANS ORGANIZING PNEUM ONIA (BOOP) - CRYPTOGENIC ORGANIZING PNEUMONIA (COP) - DIAGNOSIS AND COURSE DURING TREATMENT

Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) or bronchiolitis obliterans org anizing pneumonia (BOOP) designates a disease characterized by particu lar histopathological features. Symptoms and clinical findings are mor e or less typical and the etiology of the disease is unknown in most o f the cases. We report on 7 patients in whom the diagnosis was establi shed by open lung biopsy during a workup for persistent pulmonary infi ltrates. The clinical findings, the radiological features and the cour se during treatment with corticosteroids are analyzed. In all patients the symptoms improved. In two cases we observed relapses after discon tinuing the corticosteroids or diminishing the dose. These relapses ag ain responded to steroids, but in one patient progressive pulmonary re striction was noticed despite continuous treatment.