title: Clubbing in hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Its prevalence and possible prognostic role.
abstract: To know the prevalence and prognostic significance of finger clubbing in hypersensitivity pneumonitis induced by avian antigen, this physical sign was evaluated in 82 patients who were followed up from 1 to 5 years (mean, 2.6 years). According to clinical, roentgenographic, and functional criteria, the patients were classified in one of three stages at admission as well as at least 1 year later. Digital clubbing was retrospectively recorded as present or absent by physical examination. Our results showed that 44 patients (51%) included in this study presented clubbing at the time of diagnosis. Sixteen of these patients presented with worsening of their lung disease, whereas only 5 of the 38 patients without clubbing incurred a worsening of their condition. This finding suggests that digital clubbing is frequent in pigeon breeder's disease and may help to predict clinical deterioration.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias, SSA, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sansores
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salas
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chapela
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Barquin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Selman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000542:Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic / Q000150:complications*; D001716:Bird Fancier's Lung / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D010005:Osteoarthropathy, Secondary Hypertrophic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies