RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Nongranulomatous interstitial lung disease in Crohn's disease
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 380
OP 382
DO 10.1183/09031936.96.09020380
VO 9
IS 2
A1 G Hotermans
A1 A Benard
A1 H Guenanen
A1 G Demarcq-Delerue
A1 T Malart
A1 B Wallaert
YR 1996
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/9/2/380.abstract
AB Crohn's disease is a granulomatous systemic disorder of unknown aetiology. Obvious pulmonary involvement is exceptional. We report the case of a 33 year old woman treated with mesalazine for Crohn's disease and presenting with dyspnoea. Pulmonary function tests showed a restrictive ventilatory pattern with hypoxaemia on exertion. Chest radiography disclosed an interstitial pattern with ground glass on high resolution computer tomography. Clinical and radiological abnormalities progressed after withdrawal of mesalazine. Corticosteroids led to a partial regression but were stopped because of severe side-effects. Because of worsening of the clinical situation, open lung biopsy was performed and showed a histopathological aspect of nongranulomatous interstitial diffuse lung disease with an inflammatory lymphoid infiltration associated to some mild interstitial collagen fibrosis. Addition of cyclophosphamide to high-dose pulse steroid therapy induced a significant and sustained improvement.