Acute interstitial pneumonia: favorable outcome with corticosteroid therapy

We report the case of a 65-year-old man with no history of respiratory dise ase who came to the emergency room complaining of fever, cough, yellowish s putum and increasing dyspnea of one week's duration. Severe respiratory ins ufficiency was evident upon examination and a chest film showed diffuse pul monary infiltrates. Microbiological tests were negative. Lung biopsy gave e vidence consistent with diffuse alveolar damage in organizing phase. Evolut ion of symptoms and blood gases was good after corticosteroid treatment was begun, although pulmonary fibrosis was still evident in a follow-up radiog raph.