Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia: autoimmune phenomenon or immunoallergic disease? Case report and literature review

Eosinophilic pneumonia is classified by its acute or chronic presentation, the distinguishing characteristics of which are based on the presence of cough, dyspnea, fever and pulmonary infiltrates with accumulation of inflammatory cells, predominantly eosinophils. The association of eosinophilia and rheumatologic disorders is well known, as in the case of eosinophilic fasciitis and the Churg-Strauss syndrome. The coexistence of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia and rheumatoid arthritis has been reported, either early rheumatoid arthritis of definitive disease. The pathophysiological role of eosinophils in autoimmune diseases is not well defined, however it has been shown that the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines stimulate and activates different cell groups, and can simultaneously induce autoantibodies and/or increased infiltration of eosinophils in various tissues, without an underlying autoimmune disease. The case of a young woman with rheumatic chronic eosinophilic pneumonia manifestations and the presence of autoantibodies, which resolved spontaneously, is presented here.