The Jewish Hospital of St Louis Therapeutic Grand Rounds No. 14. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
Two examples of immunologically mediated diseases of the lung have been discussed. The first, extrinsic allergic alveolitis, is caused by sensitivity to inhalation of an organic dust. It is largely a restrictive type of lung disease and is probably caused by a combination of type 3 and type 4 allergic reactions. The second disease, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, is caused by a type 1 and type 3 allergic response to Aspergillus antigen in a basically atopic, generally asthmatic individual. It is vital to keep the diagnostic index of suspicion high so as to recognize these diseases early enough to prevent irreparable tissue damage. Extrinsic allergic alveolitis may masquerade as idopathic pulmonary fibrosis or Hamman-Rich syndrome. Allergic aspergillosis may be called Loeffler pneumonia or PIE syndrome (pulmonary infiltrates with eosiniphilia). Failure to diagnose properly may result in extensive pulmonary fibrosis or bronchiectasis and condemn the patient to a lifetime as a pulmonary cripple.
D000941:Antigens; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005658:Fungi / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011234:Precipitins; D011506:Proteins / Q000276:immunology
D000941:Antigens; D011234:Precipitins; D011506:Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E