A case of eosinophilia presenting with ipsilateral eosinophilic pleural effusion after recovery from chronic eosinophilic pneumonia
Kazumasa Akagia,b,* Kiyoyasu Fukushimab Ritsuko Miyashitab Akira Kondob Shintaro Yoshidac Hiroshi Mukaed
aDepartment of Molecular and Genomic Biomedicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
bDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Japanese Red Cross Nagasaki Genbaku Isahaya Hospital
cDepartment of Radiology, Japanese Red Cross Nagasaki Genbaku Isahaya Hospital
dDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Nagasaki University Hospital
*Present address: Division of Molecular Pharmacology, National Cancer Center Research Institute
A 69-year-old man presented with fever and fatigue lasting for two weeks. Chest CT revealed multiple consolidations in both lungs. Bronchoalveolar fluid contained 47.6% eosinocytes and he was diagnosed with chronic eosinophilic pneumonia. Prednisolone 0.5 mg/kg was administered and brought resolution. Prednisolone was tapered and discontinued after nine months; however, the symptoms relapsed one month after discontinuation. Chest CT revealed no active opacities in either lung field but right pleural effusion recurred. The effusion was exudative and dominated by eosinocytes (36%) and he was diagnosed with a relapse of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia. Prednisolone 0.5 mg/kg was re-administered and resulted in prompt improvement, and the effusion disappeared in 20 days. The presentation of eosinophilia with ipsilateral eosinophilic pleural effusion after recovery from chronic eosinophilic pneumonia is considered to be rare.
Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) Pleural effusion Recurrence
Received 25 Nov 2021 / Accepted 11 Mar 2022
AJRS, 11(3): 165-169, 2022