[Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia--a follow-up study of 12 cases]

In this study, twelve cases of CEP were followed for a mean period of 10.9 years (range 9.3-12.9 years) at National Himeji Hospital. Of the five women and seven men examined, two patients possessed preexisting asthma and one developed asthma during the course of CEP disease. None of the patients exhibited any symptoms of allergic rhinitis. All had dramatic responses to corticosteroid therapy without developing extrathoracic manifestations. During the course of CEP, one patient died from acute myocardial infarction. Relapses, which occurred in six patients, responded as well to the treatment as in the original episode. One patient continued long-term oral corticosteroids (5 mg/day) and steroid inhalants (800 micrograms/day) as treatment for asthma. Another was administered steroid inhalants (800 micrograms/day) to treat both asthma and relapsing CEP; two additional patients received 800-600 micrograms/day to prevent relapse. These data indicate that, with proper treatment, the long-term prognosis for patients with CEP is excellent.