[Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia: report of eight cases (author's transl)]

Eight cases of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) diagnosed between January 1977 and December 1979 are described. Clinical manifestations included toxic syndrome, cough and fever, lasting from 1 to 15 months. Chest x-ray revealed peripheric bilateral infiltrates, with the exception of one case. In two patients there was no peripheral eosinophilia and five received antituberculous drugs at some point during the illness. In all cases tests for fungi and parasites were negative. In only two patients was an increase in IgE found. Hystological study confirmed CEP in 7 patients through either trans-bronchial biopsy or minimal thoracotomy. Treatment with corticosteroids was dramatically effective in all patients; both clinically and radiologically. In two cases which were asymptomatic, decreased carbon monoxide diffusing capacity persisted six months later. One hundred fifteen cases of CEP published since Carrington et al. first described CEP as a separate entity of the pulmonary infiltrates with eosinophilia syndrome are reviewed.