title: Bleomycin hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
abstract: Three patients developed radiologic and functional pulmonary changes after bleomycin therapy similar to ones previously associated with administration of this drug. However, biopsy specimens showed a pattern consistent with hypersensitivity pneumonitis rather than the interstitial pneumonia usually reported in bleomycin pulmonary toxicity. There was a patchy eosinophilic infiltrate surrounding small airways and distal air spaces, but no immune deposits were noted by ultrastructure or immunofluorescence using conventional techniques and a specific antibody against bleomycin. Two of the patients had peripheral eosinophilia of 12% and 16%. All three patients showed considerable improvement on chest roentgenogram after corticosteroid treatment. Our findings are consistant with the view that bleomycin hypersensitivity pneumonitis has a different pathogenesis than bleomycin interstitial pneumonitis. Its recognition as a separate entity seems warrnated because of the favorable response to steroid therapy.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000542:Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001706:Biopsy; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography
chemical_list: D001761:Bleomycin