Mefloquine-induced eosinophilic pneumonia.
Mefloquine has been widely used for prophylaxis and treatment of patients with chloroquine-resistant malaria; the drug is usually well tolerated. Rarely, adverse effects may be severe, including gastrointestinal disturbances, neuropsychiatric reactions, cardiovascular manifestations, skin lesions, musculoskeletal symptoms, and bone marrow toxicity. We describe a 67-year-old woman with fever, dyspnea on exertion, peripheral blood eosinophilia, and diffuse pulmonary infiltrates on chest radiography. She had taken mefloquine for malaria prophylaxis for an 8-week trip to South Africa. A thorough work-up led to the diagnosis of eosinophilic pneumonia caused by the mefloquine. Her condition improved after the drug was discontinued. To our knowledge, this is the first report of mefloquine-induced eosinophilic pneumonia. Clinicians should be aware of this rare, potential adverse effect of mefloquine.
Katsenos
Stamatis
S
Department of Pneumonology, University Hospital, Ioannina, Greece. skatsenos@yahoo.gr
Psathakis
Kostas
K
Nikolopoulou
Melita I
MI
Constantopoulos
Stavros H
SH
D000368:Aged; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000517:prevention & control; D015767:Mefloquine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011657:Pulmonary Eosinophilia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D013019:South Africa
D000962:Antimalarials; D015767:Mefloquine