Mesalazine-induced eosinophilic pneumonia with bone marrow infiltration: a case report and literature review

Abstract

Yunjian Zhang,1 Ling Luo,1 Xiaofang Wang,1 Xiaoyang Liu,1 Xiaoyan Wang,1 Yi Ding2 1Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, 2Department of Pathology, Jishuitan Hospital, Fourth Medical College of Peking University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China Abstract: Mesalazine-induced eosinophilic pneumonia has been rarely reported. We reported a case of mesalazine-induced eosinophilic pneumonia in a 56-year-old female who took mesalazine without a prescription for suspected ulcerative colitis. She had an elevated eosinophil count in peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Eosinophil infiltration was also noted in bone marrow aspirates. Chest radiograph and computed tomography demonstrated bilateral upper lung predominant infiltrates and spirometry showed a restrictive ventilatory defect with a reduced diffusion capacity. The patient recovered after cessation of mesalazine therapy. Mesalazine-induced lung damage should be considered in patients who develop unexplained respiratory symptoms while taking this agent. Keywords: mesalazine, pneumonia, eosinophil, colitis

Keywords

• Mesalazine
• pneumonia
• Eosinophil