Tropical pulmonary eosinophilia associated with pleural effusions.

A 28-year-old Indian female presented with shortness of breath, white cell count of 27,400 with 39% eosinophils, and increased interstitial markings and bilateral pleural effusions on chest x-ray. Although the clinical presentation was consistent with tropical pulmonary eosinophilia (TPE), to our knowledge there has been only one previous report in the world's literature of pleural effusion associated with TPE. We suggest that pleural effusions are not incompatible with the diagnosis of TPE and that TPE be added to the list of conditions causing eosinophilic pleural effusions.