[Chloroquine-induced drug hypersensitivity alveolitis]

This case history presents a 41-years-old man with chronic discoid erythematosus who was treated with chloroquine. After 2 weeks of treatment he developed dyspnea, purulent sputum, high fever, diffuse papular rash, and diffuse peripheral homogeneous infiltrates on chest x-ray. Rapid recovery occurred after discontinuing chloroquine. Subsequent peroral provocation with chloroquine caused symptoms suggestive of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid showed eosinophilia and a reduced CD4/CD8 ratio. Although treatment with chloroquine is often complicated by side effects, in a literature search we could not find any report on acute pneumonitis.