Acute Eosinophilic Pneumonia Triggered By Secondhand Cigarette Smoke Exposure In An Elderly Man

The spectrum of eosinophilic lung diseases comprises a diverse group of pulmonary disorders associated with tissue or peripheral eosinophilia. Acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP) is an uncommon eosinophilic lung disease that can be idiopathic, but identifiable causes include medications, inhalational exposures and infections. Most cases in the literature are associated with first-time cigarette smoking or resuming smoking. Herein, we present a case of AEP in an elderly man triggered by exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke, in whom a transbronchial biopsy was diagnostic. The patient recovered fully with glucocorticoid therapy without recurrence after avoiding further secondhand smoke.