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Published on: October 29, 2014
Loxoprofen-induced interstitial pneumonia: a case report
Motoyasu Kato1,2, Shinichi Sasaki3,4, Yasuhito Sekimoto3,4
1Department of Respiratory Medicine, Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital, 2-1-1 Tomioka, Urayasu, Chiba, 279-0021, Japan. mtkatou@juntendo.ac.jp.
Background:
Loxoprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used in the treatment of many diseases. However, there are no case reports about loxoprofen-induced pneumonia. We have encountered a rare case of loxoprofen-induced pneumonia.
Case Presentation:
We report the case of a 71-year-old Japanese woman who was initially treated with loxoprofen for fever. She was admitted to our hospital because of worsening of her symptoms, including fever and dyspnea. Her symptoms improved after treatment with ceftriaxone. Seven days after admission, she again developed high fever. She was again treated with loxoprofen and levofloxacin. However, acute respiratory failure developed after initiation of loxoprofen treatment. Chest computed tomography showed peribronchovascular consolidation. She was diagnosed with loxoprofen-induced pneumonia for which she was administered steroids. After treatment, her dyspnea and radiological findings improved.
Conclusions:
The findings in this case report reveal an association between treatment with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and pneumonia. This rare case was diagnosed after accidental retreatment with loxoprofen. This is the first report of loxoprofen-induced pneumonia.
Insights
This case report details a rare instance of pneumonia caused by loxoprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. The patient experienced acute respiratory failure after re-administration of loxoprofen, highlighting a potential adverse drug reaction.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Pulmonology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Loxoprofen is a commonly prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for various inflammatory conditions.
- While NSAIDs have known side effects, drug-induced pneumonia is an infrequently reported adverse event.
- This report addresses the absence of documented cases linking loxoprofen specifically to pneumonia.
Observation:
- A 71-year-old woman developed worsening fever and dyspnea during loxoprofen treatment.
- Following initial improvement with antibiotics, she experienced recurrent fever and acute respiratory failure after re-initiation of loxoprofen.
- Chest CT revealed peribronchovascular consolidation, suggestive of an inflammatory pulmonary process.
Findings:
- The patient was diagnosed with loxoprofen-induced pneumonia.
- Symptoms and radiological findings resolved after discontinuation of loxoprofen and initiation of steroid therapy.
- This case represents the first documented instance of pneumonia linked to loxoprofen use.
Implications:
- This case highlights a potential, albeit rare, adverse effect of loxoprofen.
- Clinicians should consider drug-induced pneumonia in patients presenting with respiratory symptoms during NSAID therapy.
- Further investigation may be warranted to understand the mechanisms of NSAID-associated pulmonary toxicity.
