Lipid pneumonia

Lipid pneumonia
Classification and external resources
ICD-9-CM 516.8
OMIM 215030
MeSH D011017

Lipid pneumonia or lipoid pneumonia is a specific form of lung inflammation (pneumonia) that develops when lipids enter the bronchial tree. The disorder is sometimes called cholesterol pneumonia in cases where that lipid is a factor.[1]

History

Laughlen first described lipid pneumonia in 1925 with infants that inhaled oil droplets.[2] It is a condition that has been seen as an occupational risk for commercial diving operations but documented cases are rare.[2]

Clinical Manifestations

The pneumonia presents as a foreign body reaction causing cough, dyspnoea, and often fever. Haemoptysis has also been reported.[3]

Causes

Sources of such lipids could be either exogenous or endogenous.[4]

Exogenous: from outside the body. For example, inhaled nose drops with an oil base, or accidental inhalation of cosmetic oil. Amiodarone is an anti-arrythmic known to cause this condition. Oil pulling has also been shown to be a cause.[5] At risk populations include the elderly, developmentally delayed or persons with gastroesophageal reflux. Switching to water-soluble alternatives may be helpful in some situations.[3]

Endogenous: from the body itself, for example, when an airway is obstructed, it is often the case that distal to the obstruction, lipid-laden macrophages (foamy macrophages) and giant cells fill the lumen of the disconnected airspace.[6]

Appearance

The gross appearance of a lipid pneumonia is that in which there is an ill-defined, pale yellow area on the lung. This yellow appearance explains the colloquial term "golden" pneumonia.

At the microscopic scale foamy macrophages and giant cells are seen in the airways, and the inflammatory response is visible in the parenchyma.

Treatment

Treatment is with corticosteroids and possibly intravenous immunoglobulins.

Prognosis

Endogenous lipoid pneumonia and non-specific interstitial pneumonitis has been seen prior to the development of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis in a child.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Pelz L, Hobusch D, Erfurth F, Richter K (1972). "[Familial cholesterol pneumonia]". Helv Paediatr Acta 27 (4): 371–9. PMID 4644274.
  2. 1 2 Kizer KW, Golden JA (November 1987). "Lipoid pneumonitis in a commercial abalone diver". Undersea Biomedical Research 14 (6): 545–52. PMID 3686744. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
  3. 1 2 Moe Bell, Marvin (2015). "Lipoid pneumonia: An unusual and preventable illness in elderly patients". Canadian Family Physician 61 (9): 775–777. PMC 4569110. PMID 26371101. Retrieved 2015-09-22.
  4. ↑ "Pulmonary Pathology". Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  5. ↑ Kim JY, Jung JW, Choi JC, Shin JW, Park IW, Choi BW (February 2014). "Recurrent lipoid pneumonia associated with oil pulling". The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease 18 (2): 251–2. doi:10.5588/ijtld.13.0852. PMID 24429325.
  6. 1 2 Antoon JW, Hernandez ML, Roehrs PA, Noah TL, Leigh MW, Byerley JS (2014). "Endogenous lipoid pneumonia preceding diagnosis of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis". Clin Respir J. doi:10.1111/crj.12197. PMID 25103284.

Further reading

External links

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