Pulmonary hypereosinophilia.
BACKGROUND
Eosinophilic lung diseases are a diverse group of pulmonary disorders linked by the common finding of increased eosinophilia in blood and/or tissue. They usually present to the clinician as pulmonary infiltrates with eosinophilia for which the differential diagnoses is fairly broad.


METHODS
Three patients presented with subacute cough, pulmonary infiltrates and a markedly elevated eosinophil count >1.5 x 109/L. Each case exemplifies its clinical peculiarities and pearls and illustrates the diversity in this group of disorders.


METHODS
A common theme in the approach to its management is excluding infection before proceeding with therapy, often with steroids.


RESULTS
There is often a dramatic response to steroid therapy with resolution of symptoms and chest radiographic findings.


CONCLUSIONS
The arbitrary label of "pulmonary hypereosinophilia" enables the differential diagnoses to be narrowed to the 4 main categories of infections with parasites or fungus, the Churg-Strauss syndrome, chronic eosinophilic pneumonia and the idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome.
Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074. KhooKL@nuh.com.sg
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KL
Khoo
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TK
Lim
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011657:Pulmonary Eosinophilia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011239:Prednisolone