title: Omalizumab as a steroid-sparing agent in chronic eosinophilic pneumonia.
abstract: Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) is an idiopathic eosinophilic pulmonary disease characterized by an abnormal and marked accumulation of eosinophils in the lung. Common presenting complaints include cough, fever, dyspnea, wheezing, and night sweats. Common laboratory abnormalities are peripheral blood and BAL eosinophilia. The pathognomonic radiographic finding is bilateral peripheral infiltrates. Corticosteroids are the mainstay of therapy, and dramatic improvement follows treatment. Relapses are common, and most patients require prolonged therapy. Side effects associated with chronic corticosteroid therapy must be monitored. Our case was that of a 36-year-old woman who had characteristic clinical and radiologic features. She was treated with corticosteroids but she needed prolonged therapy, and side effects occurred. Because the patient had high IgE levels and a positive skin prick test result, we used omalizumab for the treatment. The patient responded well. To our knowledge, this is the first CEP case in the literature successfully treated with omalizumab.
authors.affiliation: Turkish Armed Forces Rehabilitation Center, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: drhaticekaya@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Seyfettin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gümüş
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ergun
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Uçar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aydoğan
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Uğur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Muşabak
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ergun
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tozkoparan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hayati
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bilgiç
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000069444:Omalizumab; D011657:Pulmonary Eosinophilia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000069444:Omalizumab