[Bromocriptine in Parkinson's disease: pleuropulmonary toxicity]

The authors report a case of pleuro-pulmonary fibrosis after 9 months of high dose bromocriptine therapy for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. When the drug was stopped there was a significant improvement of the clinical state with complete regression of chest pain and dyspnea of effort. The major inflammatory biological syndrome disappeared completely. Chest X-rays showed partial improvement with signs of pleural pneumonitis. The results of ventilatory and respiratory function tests stabilised. After one year follow-up, the causal relationship of this iatrogenic pathology has therefore been established. The initial diagnostic problems are stressed, particularly with respect to malignant disease (mesothelioma) when there has been exposure to asbestos, as in our case. The early stages must be carefully looked for so as to prevent fibrosing complications. The presence of immune complexes in our case could indicate immuno-allergic mechanism.