Lymphoid interstitial pneumonia.

A 19-year-old man presented with dyspnea, cough and chest pains; he also complained of nausea, anorexia and postprandial vomiting and reported a 10-kg weight loss. Generalized lymphadenopathy and some rales over both lung bases were noted and a chest radiograph showed bilateral nodular lesions. Persistent leukocytosis, thrombocytosis, proteinuria and anergy to a series of natural antigens were found. The diagnosis of lymphoid interstitial pneumonia was made from material obtained at open lung biopsy. Rapid but incomplete clearing of the lung lesions resulted from steroid therapy; the other abnormalities were corrected gradually, except for the proteinuria, which persisted. The clinical improvement and the ability to work and play have been maintained for the past 20 months.