Q. I have been diagnosed with cryptogenic organizing pneumonia. At present, this bronchiolitis obliterans-organizing pneumonia (BOOP) is not responding to prednisolone (steroid) or in combination with methoblastin. Is there any other medication that BOOP may respond to? How does one contract BOOP? Can it be contracted through a blood transfusion?

A. BOOP is a condition first recognized in 1985 as different from other known lung conditions. It is characterized by inflammation and the deposition of tissue in the small airways of the lung and the alveoli, the tiny air sacs that bring oxygen to the bloodstream. In most cases the cause is not known, but it can be associated with other generalized inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Abnormal reactions to certain drugs can also cause BOOP. Steroids are the usual treatment and 60-80% of patients will respond well to this. Care should be directed by a doctor specializing in pulmonary medicine.

http://www.epler.com/boop1.html

Medical articles available from a hospital or medical school library:

Bronchiolitis: update 2001. Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2002 Mar;8(2):112-6. Review.

Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia. Arch Intern Med. 2001 Jan 22;161(2):158-64. Review.

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