Acute Eosinophilic Pneumonia Complicated with Venous Thromboembolic Disease—Diagnostic and Therapeutic Considerations

Abstract

Acute Eosinophilic Pneumonia (AEP) is a rare idiopathic disease caused by an accumulation of eosinophils in the pulmonary alveoli and interstitial tissue of the lungs. The onset of symptoms is acute; some patients develop respiratory failure. The diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms, diffuse interstitial infiltrates in the lungs on imaging studies, and eosinophilia exceeding 25% on bronchoalveolar lavage or pleural fluid smear. Smokers are primarily at increased risk for the disease. We present a case of venous thromboembolic disease (VTE) that developed in the course of AEP in a previously healthy male smoker. Complete remission of the disease was achieved with anticoagulation therapy combined with a low dose of steroids. Surprisingly, further diagnostics revealed the presence of thrombophilia: antithrombin (AT) deficiency and increased homocysteine level. According to our knowledge, this is the first case of VTE diagnosed in the course of AEP combined with thrombophilia.

Keywords

• acute eosinophilic pneumonia
• pulmonary embolism
• venous thrombosis
• thrombophilia
• antithrombin deficiency