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[Desquamative interstitial pneumonia-like changes in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis]
1Second Department of Internal Medicine, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan.
Abstract:
A 61-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with fever, cough and dyspnea on exertion. The chest X-ray showed diffuse reticulo-granular infiltrates. Deterioration of clinical features and remarkable elevation of BALF lymphocytes (64.3%) suggested active interstitial pneumonia. The open lung biopsy specimen showed chronic interstitial pneumonia with DIP-like pathologic change. There was a remarkable clinical, physiological and roentgenographic improvement associated with decrease of BALF lymphocytes in response to steroid therapy. BAL is useful for monitoring disease activity and tapering steroids in patients with interstitial pneumonia who respond to steroid therapy.