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Carbamazepine‐induced pneumonitis
Author(s) -
King Gregory G,
Barnes David J,
Hayes Michael J
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1994.tb126556.x
Subject(s) - carbamazepine , pneumonitis , hypersensitivity pneumonitis , medicine , epilepsy , psychiatry , lung
Objective To present a case of a rare pulmonary reaction to carba‐mazepine. Clinical features One month after starting carbamazepine therapy, a previously well 38‐year‐old man developed pulmonary interstitial pneumonitis associated with debilitating systemic symptoms, the cause of which was not diagnosed for a further three months. Transbronchial lung biopsy showed granulomatous inflammation consistent with an allergic drug reaction. Intervention and outcome The patient's clinical status, chest x‐ray appearance and arterial blood gas tensions all normalised after withdrawal of the drug without any specific therapy. Conclusion Pneumonitis is a rare adverse reaction to carbamazepine therapy. However, awareness may reduce delays in both diagnosis and withdrawal of the drug.