Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia secondary to long-term use of nitrofurantoin: high-resolution computed tomography findings.

Author(s): Martins RR, Marchiori E, Viana SL, Grillo Junior LS, Capelozzi VL, Valenca LM

Affiliation(s): Armed Forces Hospital - Brasilia, Brazil. sanemar@correioweb.com.br

Publication date & source: 2008-03, J Bras Pneumol., 34(3):181-4.

Publication type: Case Reports

The authors report the case of a female patient who developed chronic eosinophilic pneumonia secondary to long-term use of nitrofurantoin for prophylaxis of recurrent urinary tract infections due to urethral stenosis. On high-resolution computed tomography scans, the pulmonary reaction to nitrofurantoin most commonly manifests as an interstitial-alveolar pattern in both lung bases. However, in this case, the alterations were most pronounced in the periphery of the upper lobes. In itself, this tomographic profile is strongly indicative of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia. The patient had previously been submitted to an open lung biopsy. The diagnosis of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia was confirmed through a review of the biopsy.