[Pulmonary eosinophilia: current concepts, diagnostic and therapeutic advances]

Pulmonary eosinophilia is a parenchymatous disorder with tissue eosinophilia (with or without blood eosinophilia). It remains ill understood whether from the pathophysiological, diagnostic, aetiologic or therapeutic standpoint. This paper takes stock of the principal classifications used and the necessary stages in the diagnostic approach. First, current understanding of the function of the eosinophil is discussed. The method of searching for a precise aetiological diagnosis is reviewed under the general headings of "parasitic", "fungal" and "drug induced". Pulmonary eosinophilia wih vasculitis and idiopathic eosinophilia have then considered. The authors stress the importance of establishing a eosinophilia have then considered. The authors stress the importance of establishing a precise aetiology and searching for extra pulmonary lesions or evidence of vasculitis in the management of pulmonary lesions or evidence of vasculitis in the management of pulmonary eosinophilia. As regards treatment, particularly of prolonged pulmonary eosinophilia, corticosteroids are relied upon. For some this may be after a test trial of anti-parasitic therapy.