Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptoms of Lipoid PneumoniaCommon CausesDiagnosing Lipoid PneumoniaHow Is Lipoid Pneumonia Treated?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Symptoms of Lipoid Pneumonia
Common Causes
Diagnosing Lipoid Pneumonia
How Is Lipoid Pneumonia Treated?
Lipoid pneumonia (LP) is a rare, non-infectious condition that occurs when oil or fat (lipids) molecules enter the lungs. The symptoms are similar to those of other forms of pneumonia and include a cough, high fever, and shortness of breath.
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Types of Lipid Pneumonia
There are two types of lipoid pneumonia:
Symptoms can vary significantly among individuals, ranging from asymptomatic to severe, life-threatening disease.
The symptoms that are most commonly observed in cases of lipoid pneumonia include:
The causes of lipoid pneumonia depend on the type of lipoid pneumonia.
Endogenous Lipoid Pneumonia
Endogenous lipoid pneumonia is usually related to fat storage and fat metabolism diseases, such as:
Excessive fat storage that enters lung cells can cause inflammation and cell death, damaging lung tissue, sometimes irreparably.
Exogenous Lipoid Pneumonia
Exogenous lipoid pneumonia is related to inhaling or ingesting substances that are oily or fatty in nature. Many people do not know the dangers of doing this until it is too late. The most common causes are:
Substances That Can Cause Exogenous Lipoid PneumoniaExogenous lipoid pneumonia results from the inhalation or aspiration of one of the following substances:Lip glossPetroleum jellyVapor rubOlive oilMineral oilOil-based nose drops
Substances That Can Cause Exogenous Lipoid Pneumonia
Exogenous lipoid pneumonia results from the inhalation or aspiration of one of the following substances:Lip glossPetroleum jellyVapor rubOlive oilMineral oilOil-based nose drops
Exogenous lipoid pneumonia results from the inhalation or aspiration of one of the following substances:
High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is the best imaging modality for the diagnosis of lipoid pneumonia.
Although the radiologic findings of exogenous lipoid pneumonia on HRCT, such as low-attenuation opacities, can be suggestive, definitive diagnosis often requires confirmation through bronchoalveolar lavage (fluid is introduced to the lungs via a bronchoscope and collected to analyze in the lab) or biopsy (removal of tissue) to identify lipid-laden macrophages, especially if other conditions cannot be ruled out.
If the cause of your lipoid pneumonia is endogenous, such as the result of lipid storage disease or pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, lung biopsy is needed to confirm the diagnosis because imaging is often non-specific and inconclusive.
There is currently no consensus on the best therapeutic option for the treatment of lipoid pneumonia, and treatment regimens—especially in those without symptoms—remain controversial. Treatment is primarily conservative and supportive.
In cases of exogenous lipoid pneumonia, it is imperative that you stop using the substance in question immediately. If you are experiencing symptoms, your healthcare provider may use lung lavage — lung washing to flush the fat build-up from the lungs — and prescribe immunoglobulins and systemic corticosteroids.
Other treatments might include:
Summary
Lipoid pneumonia (LP) is an inflammatory condition that results from accumulation of lipids in the alveoli. The cause of LP can be either exogenous or endogenous based on the source of the fat in the lungs.
Although there is no standard of care for treating lipoid pneumonia, the outlook for lipoid pneumonia may be more positive if treatment is initiated immediately and you have good lung health.
If you are experiencing high fever, shortness of breath, chronic cough, or coughing up blood,—especially after inhaling or ingesting household products that contain oils or fat—you should seek immediate medical attention.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sravanthi N, Dragos M.Case report of lipoid pneumonia: an unusual etiology of a lung cavity.Int J Respir Pulm Med. 2018;5(1). doi:10.23937/2378-3516/1410076Marchiori E, Zanetti G, Mano CM, Hochhegger B.Exogenous lipoid pneumonia. Clinical and radiological manifestations.Respiratory Medicine. 2011;105(5):659-666. doi:10.1016/j.rmed.2010.12.001Davidson K, Brancato A, Heetderks P, et al.Outbreak of electronic-cigarette–associated acute lipoid pneumonia — north carolina, july–august2019.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2019;68(36):784-786. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6836e1Nakashima S, Ishimatsu Y, Hara S, Kitaichi M, Kohno S.Exogenous lipoid pneumonia successfully treated with bronchoscopic segmental lavage therapy.Respiratory Care. 2015;60(1):e1-e5. doi:10.4187/respcare.03225
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sravanthi N, Dragos M.Case report of lipoid pneumonia: an unusual etiology of a lung cavity.Int J Respir Pulm Med. 2018;5(1). doi:10.23937/2378-3516/1410076Marchiori E, Zanetti G, Mano CM, Hochhegger B.Exogenous lipoid pneumonia. Clinical and radiological manifestations.Respiratory Medicine. 2011;105(5):659-666. doi:10.1016/j.rmed.2010.12.001Davidson K, Brancato A, Heetderks P, et al.Outbreak of electronic-cigarette–associated acute lipoid pneumonia — north carolina, july–august2019.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2019;68(36):784-786. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6836e1Nakashima S, Ishimatsu Y, Hara S, Kitaichi M, Kohno S.Exogenous lipoid pneumonia successfully treated with bronchoscopic segmental lavage therapy.Respiratory Care. 2015;60(1):e1-e5. doi:10.4187/respcare.03225
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Sravanthi N, Dragos M.Case report of lipoid pneumonia: an unusual etiology of a lung cavity.Int J Respir Pulm Med. 2018;5(1). doi:10.23937/2378-3516/1410076Marchiori E, Zanetti G, Mano CM, Hochhegger B.Exogenous lipoid pneumonia. Clinical and radiological manifestations.Respiratory Medicine. 2011;105(5):659-666. doi:10.1016/j.rmed.2010.12.001Davidson K, Brancato A, Heetderks P, et al.Outbreak of electronic-cigarette–associated acute lipoid pneumonia — north carolina, july–august2019.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2019;68(36):784-786. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6836e1Nakashima S, Ishimatsu Y, Hara S, Kitaichi M, Kohno S.Exogenous lipoid pneumonia successfully treated with bronchoscopic segmental lavage therapy.Respiratory Care. 2015;60(1):e1-e5. doi:10.4187/respcare.03225
Sravanthi N, Dragos M.Case report of lipoid pneumonia: an unusual etiology of a lung cavity.Int J Respir Pulm Med. 2018;5(1). doi:10.23937/2378-3516/1410076
Marchiori E, Zanetti G, Mano CM, Hochhegger B.Exogenous lipoid pneumonia. Clinical and radiological manifestations.Respiratory Medicine. 2011;105(5):659-666. doi:10.1016/j.rmed.2010.12.001
Davidson K, Brancato A, Heetderks P, et al.Outbreak of electronic-cigarette–associated acute lipoid pneumonia — north carolina, july–august2019.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2019;68(36):784-786. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6836e1
Nakashima S, Ishimatsu Y, Hara S, Kitaichi M, Kohno S.Exogenous lipoid pneumonia successfully treated with bronchoscopic segmental lavage therapy.Respiratory Care. 2015;60(1):e1-e5. doi:10.4187/respcare.03225
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