Provocation tests in extrinsic allergic alveolitis in mushroom workers.
The clinical diagnosis of extrinsic allergic alveolitis can be supported by a positive provocation test. Twenty-eight common mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) workers, 4 oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) workers and 6 Shii Take mushroom (Lentinus edodes) workers, whose medical history indicated a possible extrinsic allergic alveolitis, were examined. The provocation test consisted of a control day, an exposure day, and half a day of follow-up observation. On the control and exposure days, the body temperature, leucocyte count and lung function were measured every 2 h. The chest X-ray and arterial blood gas sample were taken once. The exposure consisted of a 1-h presence on the common mushroom farm in spawning conditions or inhaling a suspension of spores of Pleurotus or Shii-Take in the laboratory. Eighteen of the 28 people employed on the common mushroom farm, all 4 Pleurotus workers and 4 of the 6 Shii-Take workers were diagnosed as having extrinsic allergic alveolitis, according to the following criteria: a positive history and 2 or more of the following findings: increase in leucocyte count, rise in temperature and decrease in inspiratory vital capacity (IVC) and total lung capacity (TLC).
Kamm
Y J
YJ
Department of Pulmonary Diseases, University of Nijmegen, Medical Center Dekkerswald, Groesbeek, The Netherlands.
Folgering
H T
HT
van den Bogart
H G
HG
Cox
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000542:Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D001487:Basidiomycota; D001831:Body Temperature; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D006801:Humans; D007320:Inspiratory Capacity; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies