Everyone Healthy Library
Chronic Eosinophilic Pneumonia
Condition / disease reference page from the Everyone Healthy database.
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Connected health information
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Linked signs and symptoms
10Each sign/symptom opens its own page and links back to related conditions.
Linked drugs / medications
0No linked drugs are listed yet.
Treatments, therapies and supportive options
6Grouped by treatment type. These are educational database links, not personal treatment recommendations. Evidence labels are shown only where stored in the EH database.
Linked diagnostic tests and investigations
21These are pulled from both EH diagnostic-test link tables, including the older large test-link table.
- Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) Concentration
- Apolipoprotein B Concentration
- Carbon Dioxide Total Content (TCO2)
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Protein Concentration
- erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
- Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV)
- Ferritin Concentration
- Fibrin Degradation Products (FDPs, Fibrin Split Products, FSPs, Fibrin Breakdown Products, Fbps)
- haptoglobin (Hp) concentration
- Heamatocrit (Hct)
- Hemoglobin (Hb) Concentration
- Inspiratory Capacity (IC)
- Partial Pressure of Arterial Carbon Dioxide (PCO2, PaCO2)
- Partial Pressure of Oxygen (PO2)
- Protein Electrophoresis (Blood, Serum Protein)
- Residual Volume (RV)
- Reticulocyte Absolute Count
- Spirometry
- Total Lung Capacity (TLC)
- Vital Capacity (VC)
- White Blood Cell (WBC) Count
Biological markers/agents
23This visual map shows biological markers/agents reported as increased or decreased with this condition. These are educational relationships only; test results must be interpreted by a qualified clinician because ranges vary by lab, method, age, sex and clinical context.
Often increased
12- Alpha-1 Antintrypsin (AAT)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 90–215 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsAlpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) Concentration
- Alpha-1-Globulin (Blood, Serum)Reference range exampleAll: 0.1–0.3 gm/dLLinked diagnostic testsProtein Electrophoresis (Blood, Serum Protein)
- Alpha-2-Globulin (Blood, Serum)Reference range exampleAll: 0.6–1 gm/dLLinked diagnostic testsProtein Electrophoresis (Blood, Serum Protein)
- Carbon Dioxide Total Content (TCO2)Reference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y): 20–27 mEq/L; Newborn (0 - 1month): 13–21 mEq/LLinked diagnostic testsCarbon Dioxide Total Content (TCO2)
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Total ProteinReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 15–45 mg/dL; Child (< 10y): 15–70 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsCerebrospinal Fluid Protein Concentration
- Erythrocyte Sedimentation RateReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 0–20 mm/Hr; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 0–15 mm/HrLinked diagnostic testserythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
- FerritinReference range exampleChild (0 - 16y): 7–140 µg/L; Adult ( > 16y), Female: 18–160 µg/LLinked diagnostic testsFerritin Concentration
- Fibrin Split ProductsReference range exampleAll: 0–1 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsFibrin Degradation Products (FDPs, Fibrin Split Products
- Gamma Globulin (Blood, Serum)Reference range exampleAll: 0.8–1.7 gm/dLLinked diagnostic testsProtein Electrophoresis (Blood, Serum Protein)
- haptoglobin (Hp)Reference range example45–200 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testshaptoglobin (Hp) concentration
- Partial Pressure of Arterial Carbon Dioxide (PaCO2)Reference range exampleAll: 35–45 mm HgLinked diagnostic testsPartial Pressure of Arterial Carbon Dioxide (PCO2, PaCO2)
- White Blood Cell (WBC)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 4.5–10.5 million/mL; Adult ( > 16y): 3.2–10 million/mLLinked diagnostic testsWhite Blood Cell (WBC) Count
Often decreased
11- Apolipoprotein B (Apo B)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 47–115 mg/dL; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 52–120 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsApolipoprotein B Concentration
- Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 850–1,300 mL; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 1,000–1,500 mLLinked diagnostic testsExpiratory Reserve Volume (ERV)
- Forced Expiratory Flow Between 25% and 75% of FVC (FEF25-75)Reference range exampleAll: 60–100 %Linked diagnostic testsSpirometry
- Hemoglobin (Hb)Reference range exampleFemale: 78–100 gm/dL; Male: 76–100 gm/dLLinked diagnostic testsHemoglobin (Hb) Concentration, Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) Weight Test
- Inspiratory Capacity (IC)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 2,600–3,200 mL; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 3,000–3,500 mLLinked diagnostic testsInspiratory Capacity (IC)
- Partial Pressure of Arterial Oxygen (PaO2)Reference range exampleChild (0 - 16y): 80–100 mm Hg; Newborn (0 - 1month): 60–70 mm HgLinked diagnostic testsPartial Pressure of Oxygen (PO2)
- RBC MassReference range exampleFemale: 36–48 %; Male: 42–52 %Linked diagnostic testsHeamatocrit (Hct)
- Residual Volume (RV)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 1,200–1,600 mL; Adult ( > 16y), Female: 850–1,300 mLLinked diagnostic testsPostvoid Residual Volume Test, Residual Volume (RV)
- ReticulocytesReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 24–83 109/L; 0.5–1.5 %Linked diagnostic testsReticulocyte Absolute Count, Reticulocyte Count Percent Total RBC
- Total Lung Capacity (TLC)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 4,600–5,200 mL; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 5,800–6,200 mLLinked diagnostic testsTotal Lung Capacity (TLC)
- Vital Capacity (VC)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 3,500–4,000 mL; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 4,500–5,000 mLLinked diagnostic testsVital Capacity (VC)
Introduction / full article
Chronic Eosinophilic Pneumonia
Chronic Eosinophilic pneumonia
Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) is a disease typified by an abnormal increase and accumulation of a type of blood cells called eosinophils in the lungs. [1] Usually it is insidious and the cause is unknown. [2]
Epidemiology
Affected people are mostly in the middle age range. About half are previously diagnosed with asthma. Females are more likely to have the disease. [2]
Causes
The actual mechanism by which eosinophils accumulate in the lungs is still a matter of research. Some medications however are implicated to cause the disease including penicillin, carbamazepine, naproxen, isoniazid, aminosalcylic acid and sulfonamide drugs. Parasites and fungi are also being associated with the condition. [3]
Signs and Symptoms
An affected individual may have cough, wheezes and shortness of breath. CEP is different from the acute type since in the acute one, respiratory failure may ensue in just a couple of days whereas CEP develops over weeks to months. If the person is not treated timely and properly, the shortness of breath experienced can be fatal. [3] Some people may develop a rash that is very itchy while others may have symptoms similar to that of sinusitis or rhinitis. Patients with parasitic infection particularly Schistosoma may have distended abdomen, swelling of the extremities, yellowing of the eyes and skin or signs of pulmonary hypertension. [4]
Diagnosis
Medical history is important to make a diagnosis or suspect CEP. This includes for instance the appearance of symptoms shortly after taking a drug or travel to an area where fungal or parasitic exposure is probable. [3] Laboratory exams that may be requested include blood, stool, urine and sputum exam. Imaging studies like chest radiography and echocardiography are helpful as well. [4]
Treatment
Some cases may be mild and may not need any intervention at all as the disease may spontaneously resolve. Steroids such as prednisone may be given in some cases for a long period usually in a period of months to years. When there is wheezing, the patient may be prescribed medications similar to that of asthmatic patients. If the cause is determined to be parasitic, proper drug is given. When a certain medication is thought to be causing the disease, that drug is often discontinued. [3] The long-term outlook for CEP is regarded excellent. [2]
References:
1. http://www.uptodate.com/contents/treatment-of-chronic-eosinophilic-pneum b onia
2. http://radiopaedia.org/articles/chronic-eosinophilic-pneumonia
4. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/301070-clinical#a0217