Eosinophilic pneumonias

Abstract

This review starts with discussions of several infectious causes of eosinophilic pneumonia, which are almost exclusively parasitic in nature. Pulmonary infections due specifically to Ascaris, hookworms, Strongyloides, Paragonimus, filariasis, and Toxocara are considered in detail. The discussion then moves to noninfectious causes of eosinophilic pulmonary infiltration, including allergic sensitization to Aspergillus, acute and chronic eosinophilic pneumonias, Churg-Strauss syndrome, hypereosinophilic syndromes, and pulmonary eosinophilia due to exposure to specific medications or toxins.

Fig 1

Chest X-rays of tropical filarial pulmonary eosinophilia before (A) and after (B) treatment with diethylcarbamazine.

Fig 2

Representative chest X-ray (A) and CT scan (B) of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia.

Fig 3

Transbronchial lung biopsy specimen showing acute eosinophilic pneumonia. Numerous infiltrating eosinophils can be seen.

Fig 4

Lung biopsy specimen from a patient with Churg-Strauss syndrome. There is perivascular eosinophilic infiltration; though the vessel itself is relatively spared and granulomata are not present, these findings are consistent with a diagnosis of CSS. (Reprinted from reference with permission from Elsevier.)