Eosinophilic Pneumonias
Basics
Description
- Eosinophilic pneumonias (pulmonary eosinophilia) represent a heterogenous group of diseases with a similar clinical syndrome and overlapping findings on imaging.
- Primary and secondary causes (1,2,3):
- Primary:
- Acute idiopathic eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP)
- Chronic idiopathic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP)
- Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) previously called Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) (4)
- Simple pulmonary eosinophilia (SPE, i.e., Löffler syndrome) also overlaps pulmonary infiltrates with eosinophilia syndrome.
- Hypereosinophilic syndromes (HES)
- Eosinophilic bronchitis
- Secondary causes: allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), parasitic infections, drug or toxin induced
- Primary:
Epidemiology
Incidence
- Uncommon in United States, rates not specifically reported
- CEP ~1–2% of all interstitial lung disease (ILD)
Prevalence
Etiology and Pathophysiology
- No single etiology for the diverse cluster of diseases
- Idiopathic (AEP, CEP)
- Hypersensitivity (ABPA, Löffler syndrome)
- Cigarette smoking (AEP)
- Heavy dust and other occupational exposures (AEP)
- Infectious: parasites, filariae, nematodes (Löffler syndrome), specifically Ascaris most common worldwide. Others include Strongyloides hookworms, filarial nematodes, Toxocara, and Paragonimus.
- Drug induced: 120 known associations; most common: NSAIDs, minocycline, nitrofurantoin, cocaine
Genetics
No known genetic pattern
Risk Factors
Commonly Associated Conditions
- Asthma (ABPA, EGPA)
- Cystic fibrosis (ABPA)
- Atopy (notable for CEP)
- Tobacco use (AEP)
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Citation
Domino, Frank J., et al., editors. "Eosinophilic Pneumonias." 5-Minute Clinical Consult, 33rd ed., Wolters Kluwer, 2025. Medicine Central, im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/816332/all/Eosinophilic_Pneumonias.
Eosinophilic Pneumonias. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, et al, eds. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/816332/all/Eosinophilic_Pneumonias. Accessed November 3, 2024.
Eosinophilic Pneumonias. (2025). In Domino, F. J., Baldor, R. A., Golding, J., & Stephens, M. B. (Eds.), 5-Minute Clinical Consult (33rd ed.). Wolters Kluwer. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/816332/all/Eosinophilic_Pneumonias
Eosinophilic Pneumonias [Internet]. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, Stephens MBM, editors. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. [cited 2024 November 03]. Available from: https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/816332/all/Eosinophilic_Pneumonias.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - ELEC
T1 - Eosinophilic Pneumonias
ID - 816332
ED - Domino,Frank J,
ED - Baldor,Robert A,
ED - Golding,Jeremy,
ED - Stephens,Mark B,
BT - 5-Minute Clinical Consult, Updating
UR - https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/816332/all/Eosinophilic_Pneumonias
PB - Wolters Kluwer
ET - 33
DB - Medicine Central
DP - Unbound Medicine
ER -