RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Pneumonitis induced by rifampicin JF Thorax JO Thorax FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Thoracic Society SP 1000 OP 1001 DO 10.1136/thorax.57.11.1000 VO 57 IS 11 A1 N Kunichika A1 N Miyahara A1 K Kotani A1 H Takeyama A1 M Harada A1 M Tanimoto YR 2002 UL http://thorax.bmj.com/content/57/11/1000.abstract AB 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.