Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026
06:35
An Immunohistopathologic Study to Profile the Folate Receptor Beta Macrophage and Vascular Immune Microenvironment in Giant Cell Arteritis
Published on: February 8, 2019
Giant cell interstitial pneumonia associated with nitrofurantoin
Charles William Hargett1, Thomas A Sporn, Victor L Roggli
1Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3221, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Lung
|August 12, 2006
Summary
Nitrofurantoin can cause giant cell interstitial pneumonia (GIP). Diagnosis involves histopathology and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid analysis, showing multinucleated giant cells and altered T lymphocyte levels. Early treatment is key for a positive outcome.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Toxicology
- Pathology
Background:
- Nitrofurantoin is a common antibiotic used for urinary tract infections.
- Drug-induced lung injury is a recognized adverse effect of various medications.
- Giant cell interstitial pneumonia (GIP) is a rare but serious lung condition.
Observation:
- A case of GIP developed in a patient with a history of nitrofurantoin exposure.
- The patient presented with respiratory symptoms suggestive of interstitial lung disease.
Findings:
- Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of GIP.
- Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) analysis revealed characteristic findings: bizarre multinucleated giant cells (MGC), elevated T lymphocytes, and a low T lymphocyte helper/suppressor ratio.
- These BALF findings can support the diagnosis of GIP in the context of nitrofurantoin use.
Implications:
- This case highlights GIP as a rare but potential manifestation of nitrofurantoin toxicity.
- Early recognition and discontinuation of nitrofurantoin are crucial.
- Prompt therapeutic intervention may lead to a favorable clinical outcome for patients with nitrofurantoin-induced GIP.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Urinary Tract Infection III: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care
A healthcare provider can diagnose a urinary tract infection (UTI) through several methods:Medical History and Symptoms: The provider will take a detailed medical history and ask about symptoms such as frequent urination, burning sensation during urination, and lower abdominal pain.Urinalysis: A clean-catch urine sample is collected in a sterile container and tested for the presence of bacteria, white blood cells (leukocytes), nitrites, blood, and protein. The presence of leukocytes and...
01:29Acute Kidney Injury II: Pathophysiology
Acute kidney injury (AKI) causes are categorized into three primary categories based on the location of the injury: prerenal, intrarenal (or intrinsic), and postrenal causes. This classification guides clinical management and illustrates how different pathways can impair kidney function.Etiology and Pathophysiology of Acute Kidney Injury1. Prerenal causesEtiology: Prerenal Acute Kidney Injury, the most common type, occurs when reduced blood flow to the kidneys decreases filtration capacity...
01:27Acute Pyelonephritis I: Introduction
Pyelonephritis is a bacterial infection that primarily affects the renal parenchyma and collecting system, including the renal pelvis, tubules, and interstitial tissue of one or both kidneys. It can be classified as either acute—a sudden, severe infection—or chronic, which refers to long-term or recurrent kidney infections.The primary cause of acute pyelonephritis (APN) is bacterial infection, with Escherichia coli accounting for approximately 70-80% of cases. Other bacteria, such as Proteus,...
01:27Cryptococcal Meningitis
Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
01:28Acute Pyelonephritis II: Diagnostic Studies and Management
Introduction:For diagnosing acute pyelonephritis, a comprehensive patient history is collected to identify symptoms such as dysuria, frequent or urgent urination, flank pain, or costovertebral angle (CVA) tenderness that may suggest a kidney infection.Physical ExaminationDuring the physical examination, CVA tenderness is assessed. This involves gentle percussion over the costovertebral angle, where tenderness often indicates a kidney infection.Diagnostic TestsUrinalysis: Used to identify white...
01:28Inhibitors of Bacterial DNA Synthesis
Bacterial pathogens depend on precise and efficient DNA replication to sustain infection. Two type II topoisomerases—DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV—are critical to this process, as they resolve DNA supercoiling and unlink chromosomes during replication. Fluoroquinolones, synthetic derivatives of quinolones, exploit this mechanism by stabilizing the transient DNA–enzyme cleavage complex, preventing strand religation, and causing lethal double-strand breaks. These antibiotics are selectively...