A Case of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Following Placenta Extract Injection.

Lee, Sang Seok; Choo, Young Kwang; Bang, Chang Seok; Kim, Youn Seup; Park, Jae Seuk; Jee, Young Koo; Kim, Doh Hyung; Myong, Na Hye

doi:2009.66.6.471

Tuberc Respir Dis > Volume 66(6); 2009 > Article

Case Report

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2009;66(6):471-476.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2009.66.6.471 Published online June 1, 2009.

A Case of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Following Placenta Extract Injection.

Sang Seok Lee, Young Kwang Choo, Chang Seok Bang, Youn Seup Kim, Jae Seuk Park, Young Koo Jee, Doh Hyung Kim, Na Hye Myong

¹Division of Pulmonology and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea. kimdh@dankook.ac.kr
²Department of Pathology, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea.

Abstract

Human placenta contains various kinds of nutritional elements essential for embryonic development. Currently, human placenta extracts are widely overused in Korea to improve certain health conditions (postmenopausal syndrome, liver function, and cosmetic purposes) without scientific evidence that they actually work. The use of placenta extracts should be restricted, due to a lack of systematic research on the therapeutic effectiveness and adverse results from these treatments. While the common adverse effects that have been reported are fever, rash, itching, nausea, vomiting, breast pain, and rare cases of anaphylactic shock, there have been no reports of pulmonary complications such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Recently, we experienced a patient with hypersensitivity pneumonitis following a placenta extract injection. To our knowledge, this is the first case of hypersensitivity pneumonitis associated with placenta extract use.

Key Words: Placenta, Placenta extract, Hypersensitivity pneumonitis