
Article in Japanese
A case of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia accompanied by bronchial asthma and airway mucosal lesions
Yoshiko Naito Rumi Sato Natsuko Koga Munetsugu Nishimura Tomoko Kamimura Takeharu Koga
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Asakura Medical Association Hospital
A 33-year-old man who had been treated for bronchial asthma was admitted to the hospital with fever and worsening of cough and dyspnea. Peripheral blood eosinophils had increased, and a chest radiograph showed diffuse ground-glass opacities. Bronchoscopy revealed multiple white patches on the reddened edematous bronchial mucosa, which were demonstrated as accumulations of eosinophils on biopsy. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid contained an increased number of eosinophils, and lung biopsy samples documented infiltration of eosinophils in lung tissue. Based on these observations, the patient was diagnosed as having chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) accompanied by bronchial asthma and bronchial mucosal lesions. He was treated with systemic corticosteroids, resulting in an improvement of symptoms, along with radiological and bronchial mucosal findings. This case suggests that white patches composed of accumulated eosinophils can be seen in the airway mucosa of patients with allergic diseases, such as CEP. They are ameliorated by such treatments as systemic administration of corticosteroids.
Eosinophilic lung disease Eosinophilic bronchitis Bronchial asthma Airway mucosal lesions White patch
Received 12 Apr 2014 / Accepted 20 Oct 2014
AJRS, 4(1): 81-85, 2015