Eosinophilic lung diseases

Abstract

Eosinophilic lung diseases comprise a wide range of disorders. The pulmonary differential diagnosis is broad and very complex. Eosinophilic lung diseases (infiltrates) are characterized by (a) pulmonary infiltrates with peripheral eosinophilia, (b) tissue eosinophilia confirmed by a lung biopsy or (c) pulmonary infiltrates with evidence of increased eosinophils in the bronchoalveolar fluid obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage. The authors present a summary of the diagnosis, differential diagnosis and treatment of eosinophilic lung diseases.