[PneumoDoc: a computer-based decision-making system for drug-related pulmonary disease]

Establishing the diagnosis of drug-related pulmonary disease (DRPD) remains a difficult task because of the large number of drug-related toxic situations and the variety of clinical presentations. PneumoDoc is a computer-based support system designed to facilitate the diagnosis of lung disease using chronological, clinical, imaging, and cytological (alveolar lavage) input. These intrinsic items are crosschecked against extrinsic items reported in the literature (Pneumotox). Data input is in the form of yes-no questions. The final output displays the characteristic features of the observed clinical situation and calculates the probability of DRPD defined in five categories: incompatible, doubtful, compatible, suggestive, and highly suggestive. Use of multiple drugs, interaction with cardiopulmonary disease, and the absence of reported cases are limitations of the system.