Signs & Symptoms of Endogenous Lipoid Pneumonia

Endogenous lipid pneumonia (ELP) refers to a rare condition associated with the inflammation and fibrotic changes in the composition of the lungs. The condition is caused either by inhaling a variety of fatty substances, or from an accumulation of endogenous lipid material in the lungs, usually after a bone fracture. The majority of patients with ELP are elderly; however, infants and mentally retarded persons have also been diagnosed with the condition.

Predisposing Factors

• With ELP, there can sometimes be a resemblance to acute or chronic pneumonia. Symptoms of localized granuloma (paraffinoma--a ball of immune cells) including chills, cough, lassitude, fever, malaise, shortness of breath, sputum, chest pain and haemoptysis may also be present.

  ELP also occurs in patients with a history of chronic bronchial obstruction, tumors, fat embolism, pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, and Niemann-Pick disease and Gaucher's disease, as well as disseminated lipogranulomatosis, all lipid storage diseases.

  Persons with a medical history including asthma from childhood, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or Hodgkin's disease are particularly susceptible to ELP. Moderate obstructive lung disease has also been associated with ELP due to the resultant increased residual volume and decreased diffusion capacity of the lungs, causing airway mucous plugging. People who experience those symptoms along with intermittent fevers may also be diagnosed with ELP. Gastric acid, pulmonary edema, hemorrhage and alveolar damage may also occur with ELP. Those symptoms can lead to Mendelssohn's syndrome, a chronic respiratory ailment including severe weakness and thirst. Fire eaters have also experienced ELP as an occupational hazard.

Throat Functions

• An impaired swallowing mechanism can occur as a secondary condition along with ELP. A persistent cough and shortness of breath are common in persons with ELP, symptoms that generally worsen over time. Sometimes, patients release blood-tinged sputum from the lungs, bronchi, trachea or larynx. Vital sign implications can include mild hyperventilation and lowered respiratory rates due to inadequate oxygen supply.

Oil Usage

• The habitual use of different kinds of oils have been linked to persons diagnosed with ELP. Oils may be composed of mineral, animal or vegetable such as those found in some laxatives, nasal drops, mouth spray, folk remedies, oral lubricants or insecticides. When oil or its ingredients enter the lungs, residual elements can become emulsified, which causes the ELP condition to begin. Mineral oil in particular, composed of liquid petroleum or paraffins and hydrocarbons are greatly toxic to the lungs due to their heavily saturated quality. Ingested oils may irritate lung tissue which can lead to a variety of lung diseases along with ELP such as granuloma formation, pulmonary fibrogenesis and vasculitis, as well as tissue necrosis, or progressive enzymatic degradation that cause cell death.