Thalidomide-Related Eosinophilic Pneumonia: A case report and brief literature review.
Thalidomide has regained value in the multimodality treatment of leprosy, multiple myeloma, prostate, ovarian and renal cancer. Complications related to arterial and venous complications are well described. However, pulmonary complications remain relatively uncommon. The most common pulmonary side-effect reported is non-specific dyspnea. We report a patient with multiple myeloma, who developed an eosinophilic pneumonia, shortly after starting thalidomide. She had complete resolution of her symptoms and pulmonary infiltrates on discontinuation of the drug and treatment with corticosteroids. Physicians should be cognizant of this potential complication in patients receiving thalidomide who present with dyspnea and pulmonary infiltrates.
Tilluckdharry
Lisa
L
Respiratory Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, USA. tillucl@ccf.org.
Dean
Robert
R
Farver
Carol
C
Ahmad
Muzaffar
M
Ann Pharmacother. 2005 May;39(5):962-5
15811905
Arch Bronconeumol. 2002 Oct;38(10):492-4
12372201
N Engl J Med. 1999 Nov 18;341(21):1606-9
10564693
Br J Haematol. 2003 Apr;121(1):191-2
12670354
J Clin Oncol. 2004 Jun 15;22(12):2477-88
15197211
South Med J. 2006 Nov;99(11):1292-4
17195429
Chest. 2007 May;131(5):1572-4
17494808
J Clin Oncol. 2002 Nov 1;20(21):4319-23
12409330
Gynecol Oncol. 2008 Dec;111(3):546-8
18191185
Br J Haematol. 2005 Mar;128(6):885-7; author reply 887-8
15755296
Rinsho Ketsueki. 2004 Sep;45(9):1064-6
15510838
Am J Ther. 2003 May-Jun;10(3):228-32
12756431
Blood. 2002 Jun 1;99(11):4247-8
12043695
Blood. 2001 Sep 1;98(5):1614-5
11520815
Ann Oncol. 2004 Jan;15(1):134-8
14679133
J Clin Oncol. 2005 Apr 1;23(10):2425-6
15800335
Arch Med Res. 2008 Feb;39(2):257-8
18164975
Thromb Haemost. 2004 Apr;91(4):834-6
15045155