Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (Carrington's disease) and rheumatoid arthritis

We describe the case of a 60-year-old woman with chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (Carrington's disease) who developed symmetric rheumatoid factor-negative polyarthritis suggestive of rheumatoid arthritis. Although these two diseases are well documented as separate entities, 10 cases in the literature suggest possible links. However, the course in our patient raised the possibility of Churg-Strauss syndrome, a condition that may overlap with chronic eosinophilic pneumonia.