[Idiopathic subacute pulmonary eosinophilia]

We report a case of pneumonia with hypoxaemia and a swinging fever which was resistant to antibiotics, but was associated with a hypereosinophilia (44%) noted in the bronchoalveolar lavage. Investigations as to the cause of the eosinophilic pneumonia were negative; a lung biopsy confirmed the eosinophilic infiltration and the absence of any angiitis. There was a rapid and favourable clinical outcome following steroid therapy, which was maintained for three months. No relapse has been noted in the ten months of follow up since ceasing the cortico-steroids. The diagnosis appears to be that of a sub-acute, idiopathic eosinophilic pneumonia. The similarities and differences between this case and the chronic idiopathic eosinophilic pneumonia of Carrington were discussed.