Desquamative Interstitial Pneumonia

The clinical, radiographic, and pathologic findings in 11 cases of desquamative interstitial pneumonia, as defined by Liebow and associates, are presented. Six of 11 patients had musculoskeletal complaints, and 2 of these patients had abnormal serum antibodies. In 9 of 11 cases there were intranuclear inclusion bodies histologically. In 4 of 12 control cases there were intranuclear inclusion bodies similar to those found in desquamative interstitial pneumonia. It is postulated that the inclusion bodies are not specific for desquamative interstitial pneumonia and do not represent viral particles. Hypersensitivity is suggested as the possible cause of desquamative interstitial pneumonia.