[Drug-induced respiratory disorders].

Abstract

Drugs induced respiratory disorders include bronchospasm, extrinsic alveolitis, and diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. Bronchospasm may be due to the action of pharmacodynamic agents on autonomic control of bronchial tone (beta-blockers, beta-agonists...) or to a hypersensitivity reaction (penicillins, sulfonamides, anti-inflammatory compounds...). Extrinsic alveolitis usually follows administration of anti-infective medication but other drugs may be implicated. Prolonged use of a wide variety of drugs, particularly cytotoxic agents, is necessary to provoke the onset of a diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis.