Long-term follow-up of pulmonary function in chronic eosinophilic pneumonia. Groupe d'Etude en Pathologie Interstitielle de la Société de Pathologie Thoracique du Nord.

The prognosis of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) is usually good under corticosteroid therapy (CST). The main complications are relapses when treatment is tapered or discontinued. The aim of this retrospective, multicentre study was to evaluate the long-term consequences of CEP on pulmonary function tests. Nineteen patients (mean +/- SEM age 51 +/- 16 yrs) with CEP were studied. Lung function tests were performed at the time of diagnosis and at follow-up, and included flow-volume curve. The results of the first pulmonary function test were normal in six patients, restrictive in nine, and obstructive in four. Relapses (recurrence of initial signs) occurred in nine patients. The last evaluation (mean +/- SEM follow-up of 49 +/- 44 months, range 12-142 months) showed a complete recovery in 8 of the 19 patients. One patient developed bilateral apical fibrosis. The remaining 10 patients, exhibited obstructive pulmonary function without relapse of CEP at this time. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) eosinophilia at the time of the initial evaluation tended to be higher (p = 0.05) in these 10 patients than in those with normal pulmonary function findings at follow-up. This study demonstrates: firstly, that the development of an obstructive ventilatory defect is a common finding during the course of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP); secondly, that bronchial obstruction might appear despite the absence of clinical and radiological signs of relapse; and, thirdly, that a markedly increased bronchoalveolar lavage eosinophilia at the initial evaluation is associated with a higher risk of development of bronchial obstruction. These results suggest that pulmonary function tests should be included in the management of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia.