The Drug-Induced Respiratory Disease Website and App

Tryptophan (l-tryptophan, synthetic)

The recalled dietary supplement l-tryptophan induced a peculiar acute eosinophilic lung disease with parenchymal opacities, pleural effusions and eosinophilic vasculopathy called the eosinophilia myalgia syndrome (see under X). A chronic debilitating form could ensue. An impurity formed during synthesis at one plant (peak-E or EBT) may be the cause for the syndrome. L-tryptophan is no longer generally available

Frequency - Incidence

Incidence of respiratory adverse event(s) due to the specific drug as assessed by number of reported/published cases in the literature. Red digits in stars indicate: 0 = Very rare, questionable signal · 1 = < 10 cases · 2 = 10-50 cases · 3 = 50–100 cases · 4 = 100-200 cases · 5 = >200 cases

Evidence level/grade

Evidence level for respiratory adverse event(s) due to the specific drug as estimated using Hill’s (1965), Naranjo’s (1981), and Bégaud’s (1985) criteria applied to published cases. Blue digits in stars indicate: 0 = Questionable · 1 = Low · 2 = Moderate · 3 = Robust · 4 = Definite · 5 = Unquestionable, pathognomonic