Eosinophilic pleural effusion due to dantrolene: resolution with steroid therapy

South Med J. 2001 May;94(5):502-4.

Abstract

A quadriplegic patient with severe spasticity, treated with dantrolene (400 mg daily) for 5 years, had dyspnea, orthopnea, hypoxia, and right-sided opacity of the chest on radiograph. At thoracentesis, an exudative effusion containing 64% eosinophils was documented, with simultaneous peripheral eosinophilia of 11%. An allergic reaction to dantrolene was postulated. Despite withdrawal of the offending medication and repeated thoracenteses, symptomatic recurrence of effusion persisted for 4 days. After institution of prednisone therapy, rapid resolution of symptoms, signs, hypoxia, and radiologic abnormalities was observed. In contrast to five previously reported cases of dantrolene-associated eosinophilic pleural effusion (EPE), ours represents the first in which the patient was treated with steroids and suggests that steroid therapy may be of benefit in drug-related EPE.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Dantrolene / adverse effects*
  • Drug Hypersensitivity / diagnosis
  • Drug Hypersensitivity / drug therapy
  • Drug Hypersensitivity / etiology*
  • Eosinophilia / chemically induced*
  • Eosinophilia / diagnosis
  • Eosinophilia / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Muscle Relaxants, Central / adverse effects*
  • Muscle Spasticity / drug therapy
  • Muscle Spasticity / etiology
  • Pleural Effusion / chemically induced*
  • Pleural Effusion / diagnosis
  • Pleural Effusion / drug therapy
  • Prednisone / therapeutic use
  • Quadriplegia / complications

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Muscle Relaxants, Central
  • Dantrolene
  • Prednisone