Nitrofurantoin-induced interstitial lung disease

Abstract

We report the case of a 55-year-old woman diagnosed with interstitial lung disease due to long-term nitrofurantoin therapy that was administered for recurrent urinary tract infection. Despite distorted pulmonary parenchymal architecture and patchy fibrosis confirmed by computed tomography of the thorax, the symptoms and radiographic findings disappeared within 3 months after the administration of prednisone. This case shows that nitrofurantoin-induced lung disease may run a benign course and respond favourably to corticosteroids, even when there is radiographic evidence of established lung fibrosis. This case report highlights the need for vigilance of pulmonary toxicity in patients taking long-term nitrofurantoin therapy.