title: [Use of precipitins in the diagnosis of bird fancier's lung: apropos of 2 cases].
abstract: Bird breeder's disease is a frequent diagnosis among the forms of extrinsic allergic alveolitis seen in the urban environment. We report two illustrative cases and discuss the respective roles of broncho-alveolar lavage cells and precipitating antibodies against avian antigens in the diagnostic work-up and the pathogenesis of the disease. In 1988 we evaluated over 100 sera from all over Switzerland with clinical suspicion of bird breeder's disease. In this cohort preliminary results show sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 92% for the presence of precipitins against avian antigens in the diagnosis of bird breeder's disease. The results suggest that this non-invasive test deserves revaluation as a diagnostic tool in bird breeder's disease.
authors: Département de médecine, Hôpital cantonal universitaire de Genève.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Reynaud
authors: R
authors: R
authors: de Haller
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Ribaux
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Nerbollier
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Richardet
authors: B S
authors: BS
authors: Polla
mesh_terms: D000542:Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy; D001716:Bird Fancier's Lung / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D001717:Birds / Q000276:immunology*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000032:analysis* / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D011234:Precipitins / Q000032:analysis*; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D011234:Precipitins
vernacular_title: Utilité des précipitines dans le diagnostic de la maladie des oiseleurs: à propos de deux cas.