Intravenous cyclophosphamide pulse therapy in idiopathic interstitial pneumonia: Report of a case

A 70-year-old female patient with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) was reported. After the diagnosis was confirmed, she was given oral prednisolone 60mg/day in April 1986. Her conditions improved with this treatment. In June 1986, however, when the dose of prednisolone was decreased to 45mg/day, she complained of severe dyspnea and PaO2 was markedly decreased. Immediately after cyclophosphamide 400mg was administered intravenously, her conditions improved. In September 1986, when she developed actute exacerbation of IIP again, intravenous administration of cyclophosphamide (500mg) was effective as well. It is suggested that intravenous administration of cyclophosphamide might be very effective for acute exacerbation of IIP, although both corticosteroid and cyclophosphamide were unable to modify the on-going disease activity.