[A case of interferon beta-induced pneumonia]

A 58-year-old man had been treated with one intravenous injection of 120 mg of nimustine hydrochloride (ACNU), ten thrice-weekly doses of 3,000,000 U of interferon beta, and brain irradiation for cerebral glioblastoma. One month later he had fever, appetite loss, a productive cough and dyspnea. Chest radiography and CT showed diffuse, nonsegmental ground glass opacity in both lung fields. Hypoxemia and lung shadows were exacerbated day by day. Bronchoalveolar lavage revealed an increases in the total cell count and the percentages of lymphocytes and neutrophils, and a decrease of the CD 4/8 ratio. Interferon beta therapy was stopped, and steroid pulse therapy and prednisolone 40 mg administration were initiated. The symptoms, hypoxemia and lung shadows quickly improved. Reported cases of interferon beta-induced pneumonia are rare.