Pulmonary sarcoidosis:A novel sequelae of drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms:A case report

BACKGROUND Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms(DRESS)syndrome is an uncommon yet serious adverse drug hypersensitivity reaction with the presentations including rash,fever,lymphadenopathy,and internal organ involvement.Sarcoidosis is a systematic granulomatous disease with unknown etiology.We herein report a case of pulmonary sarcoidosis secondary to allopurinol-induced DRESS.CASE SUMMARY A 37-year-old man with a history of hyperuricemia was treated with allopurinol for three weeks at a total dose of 7000 milligrams before developing symptoms including anorexia,fever,erythematous rash,and elevated transaminase.The patient was diagnosed with DRESS and was treated with prednisone for 6 mo until all the symptoms completely resolved.Three months later,the patient presented again because of a progressively worsening dry cough.His chest computed tomography images showed bilateral lung parenchyma involvement with lymph node enlargement,which was confirmed to be nonnecrotizing granuloma by pathological examination.Based on radiologic and pathological findings,he was diagnosed with sarcoidosis and was restarted on treatment with prednisone,which was continued for another 6 mo.Reexamination of chest imaging revealed complete resolution of parenchymal lung lesions and a significant reduction in the size of the mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes.Following a 6-month follow-up of completion of treatment,the patient's clinical condition remained stable with no clinical evidence of relapse.CONCLUSION This is the first case in which pulmonary sarcoidosis developed as a late complication of allopurinol-induced DRESS.The case indicated that the autoimmune reaction of DRESS may play an important role in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis.

Research Progress of Pulmonary Sarcoidosis in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine

Objective:To summarize the current treatments of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine and to explore ideas for clinical treatments,rational use of traditional Chinese medicine,avoid medication errors,and make full use of the respective advantages of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine to achieve good results.Methods:We selected recent articles on pulmonary sarcoidosis and clinical observation at home and abroad,and summarized relevant traditional Chinese medicine books.Results:At present,hormone therapy is preferred in western medicine,followed by antimetabolic drugs,Anti-TNF,and also potential drug therapeutic strategies,such as"CLEAR"regimen and new target therapy.Traditional Chinese medicine through syndrome differentiation,from the whole,flexible use of dispel evil,phlegm,blood circulation,dredging collaterals,qi and other methods to achieve the effect of dissolution.Conclusion:The treatment research results of pulmonary sarcoidosis are considerable,but there are still many risk factors in Western medicine,and the benefits and treatment indications of individual drugs are still under study.Traditional Chinese medicine has certain safety and efficacy in the prevention and treatment of pulmonary sarcoidosis,but it needs modern medical technology examination.Therefore,the advantages of traditional Chinese and Western medicine should be fully combined to achieve the maximum treatment effects.

Sarcoidosis and chronic hepatitis C:A case report

Several case reports deal with the relationship between hepatitis C virus （HCV） infection and pulmonary or he- patic sarcoidosis. Most publications describe interferon m-induced sarcoidosis. However, HCV infection per se is also suggested to cause sarcoqdosis. The present case report describes a case of biopsy-verified lung and liver sarcoidosis and HCV infection, and the out- come of antiviral therapy. In March 2009, a 25-year-old man presented with moderately elevated liver enzymes without any clinical symptoms. The patient was posi- tive for HCV antibodies and HCV RNA of genotype lb. Four months later the patient became dyspnoic and pulmonary sarcoidosis was diagnosed by lung biopsy and radiography. A short course of corticosteroid treat- ment relieved symptoms. Three months later, liver biopsy showed noncaseating granulomas consisting of epithelioid histiocytes and giant cells with a small amount of peripheral lymphocyte infiltration, without any signs of fibrosis. Chronic HCV infection with co- existence of pulmonary and hepatic sarcoidosis was diagnosed. Antiviral therapy with peginterferon ~ and ribavirin at standard doses was started, which lasted 48 wk, and sustained viral response was achieved. A second liver biopsy showed disappearance of granulo- mas and chest radiography revealed normalization of mediastinal and perihilar glands. The hypothesis that HCV infection perse may have triggered systemic sar- coidosis was proposed. Successful treatment of HCV infection led to continuous remission of pulmonary and hepatic sarcoidosis. Further studies are required to un- derstand the relationship between systemic sarcoidosis and HCV infection.