Drug-Induced Lung Disease

Almost any medication may result in a reaction within the lungs. These reactions are often variable and include diffuse alveolar damage, organizing pneumonia, eosinophilic pneumonia, hypersensitivity reaction, interstitial pneumonitis/fibrosis, alveolar hemorrhage, pulmonary vasculitis/pulmonary hypertension, bronchiolitis obliterans, or a sarcoid-like reaction. Because these reactions may mimic their idiopathic counterparts, yet may respond to drug cessation or alternative therapies, suspicion must be high in patients with pulmonary findings who are on certain medications. This chapter will focus on the spectrum of drug reactions with the lungs. Amiodarone-related pulmonary abnormalities will also be discussed.