Pulmonary complications of antirheumatic drug therapy.

Drug-induced pulmonary disease should be considered in all patients receiving these antirheumatic agents who develop new pulmonary symptoms. When a drug reaction is suspected, the possible offending agents should be discontinued, required respiratory support instituted, and infection or other pulmonary processes excluded. Pathological evaluation by lung biopsy may be needed to define the disorder and rule out infection. Treatment with corticosteroids should be considered in patients with acute pneumonitis. While significant morbidity and even death may occur with drug-induced pulmonary disease, prompt evaluation and treatment of these disorders often results in complete resolution of the process.