Acute eosinophilic pneumonia. Case report and review of the litrature

A 37 year old female smoker was admitted with an acute episode of fever and pulmonary infiltrates followed by respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation in less than 24 hours. After empiric antibiotic therapy fibero ptic bronchoscopy and broncoalveolar lavage (BAL) were carried out. Abnorma l findings were limited to highly increased eosinophilic count in BAL. Bloo d eosinophils were normal. Acute eosinophilic pneumonia was diagnosed and m ethyl prednisolone was administered; 48 hours afterwards, infiltrates had p artially resolved and the patient was weaned from ventilator. After two yea rs follow up, she has not had recurrences of the episode, is asymptomatic a nd her chest Xray is normal. A review of the literature is presented and ph ysiopathological mechanisms for acute eosinophilic pneumonia are considered . Acute eosinophilic pneumonia is a rare but potentially curable cause of r espiratory failure that should be included in diagnostic considerations.