Acute eosinophilic pneumonia associated with amitriptyline in a hemodialysis patient

Citation
H. Noh et al., Acute eosinophilic pneumonia associated with amitriptyline in a hemodialysis patient, YONSEI MED, 42(3), 2001, pp. 357-359
Citations number
9
Categorie Soggetti
General & Internal Medicine
Journal title
YONSEI MEDICAL JOURNAL
ISSN journal
05135796 → ACNP
Volume
42
Issue
3
Year of publication
2001
Pages
357 - 359
Database
ISI
SICI code
0513-5796(200106)42:3<357:AEPAWA>2.0.ZU;2-A
Abstract
Drugs are well known causes of eosinophilic lung disease. In many patients, drug-induced eosinophilic lung disease presents with transient eosinophili c infiltrates that disappear after discontinuation of the drug. Some patien ts, however, experience a fulminant, acute eosinophilia-like disease. Recen tly, we experienced a case of amitriptyline-associated acute eosinophilic p neumonia with respiratory failure in a diabetic hemodialysis patient. Eight days after treatment with amitriptyline, sudden fever, chill, dry cough an d dyspnea developed. Subsequently, multiple patch consolidations appeared o n the chest radiographs. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), established a diagno sis of acute eosinophilic pneumonia. After immediate discontinuation of ami triptyline, a rapid clinical and radiological improvement was observed. The present case indicates that the possibility of acute eosinophilic pneumoni a should be fully considered in dialysis patients developing unexplained re spiratory symptoms while on amitriptyline therapy.