Pneumonitis induced by rifampicin.

An 81-year-old man was admitted to hospital with pulmonary Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and was treated with rifampicin (RFP), isoniazid (INH), and ethambutol (EB). On day 9 he developed fever and dyspnoea. Chest radiographs showed new infiltration shadows in the right lung. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed and increased numbers of lymphocytes were recovered. Drug induced pneumonitis was suspected so the antituberculous regimen was discontinued and methylprednisolone was administered. The symptoms and infiltration shadows improved. INH and EB were reintroduced without any recurrence of the abnormal shadows. T cell subsets in the BAL fluid and a positive lymphocyte stimulation test for RFP suggest that RFP induced pneumonitis may be related to a complex immunological response.