title: Lipoid pneumonia--a case of refractory pneumonia in a child treated with ketogenic diet.
abstract: Lipoid pneumonia (LP) is a chronic inflammation of the lung parenchyma with interstitial involvement due to the accumulation of endogenous or exogenous lipids. Exogenous LP (ELP) is associated with the aspiration or inhalation of oil present in food, oil-based medications or radiographic contrast media. The clinical manifestations of LP range from asymptomatic cases to severe pulmonary involvement, with respiratory failure and death, according to the quantity and duration of the aspiration. The diagnosis of exogenous lipoid pneumonia is based on a history of exposure to oil and the presence of lipid-laden macrophages on sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) analysis. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is the imaging technique of choice for evaluation of patients with suspected LP. The best therapeutic strategy is to remove the oil as early as possible through bronchoscopy with multiple BALs and interruption in the use of mineral oil. Steroid therapy remains controversial, and should be reserved for severe cases. We describe a case of LP due to oil aspiration in 3-year-old girl with intractable epilepsy on ketogenic diet. Diagnostic problems were due to non-specific symptoms that were mimicking serious infectious pneumonia. A high index of suspicion and precise medical history is required in cases of refractory pneumonia and fever unresponsive to conventional therapy. Gastroesophageal reflux and a risk of aspiration may be regarded as relative contraindications to the ketogenic diet. Conservative treatment, based on the use of oral steroids, proved to be an efficient therapeutic approach in this case.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland. piotrbuda@plusnet.pl
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Buda
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wieteska-Klimczak
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Własienko
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazur
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ziołkowski
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jaworska
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kościesza
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dunin-Wąsowicz
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Książyk
mesh_terms: D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage / Q000379:methods; D002675:Child, Preschool; D055423:Diet, Ketogenic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000178:diet therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008899:Mineral Oil / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011017:Pneumonia, Lipid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D008899:Mineral Oil