Tropical pulmonary eosinophilia: effect of addition of corticosteroids after failure of diethylcarbamazine therapy.

Successful response in diethylcarbamazine (DEC) therapy in tropical pulmonary eosinophilia (TPE) is not universal with a 20-40% failure rates in chronic cases. Corticosteroids have been used in such patients. However, their role in management remains ill-defined. A patient of TPE with incomplete clinical, haematological and physiological response to a standard 3 weeks DEC therapy received additional corticosteroids for the next two cycles, after which complete remission occurred. However, there was a relapse two months later with evidence of a chronic state requiring further treatment with corticosteroids with good response.