Histomorphologie der arzneimittelinduzierten Alveolitiden

Pulmonary drug reactions are a relative common factor causing interstitial pulmonary diseases. The correct diagnosis is important since a causal therapy is possible by stopping the administration. A stringent correlation between dose/time of administration and the type of the reaction exists for only a few drugs. Possible hints for an increased risk to develop a drug reaction are known reactions to that specific drug, the patient's history, the type of the underlying disease, genetic poly-morphisms, occupational factors and interactions with other drugs. Still however, the tracing of a certain drug as cause of a pulmonary reaction can be difficult in the individual case and may require great efforts rarely even a biopsy. The pathologist then has to describe the patterns of reactions, exclude other causes and correlate his findings with the clinical data. In most cases however the diagnosis of a drug reaction will be by exclusion. A list of typical drug reactions is included.