title: Hypersensitivity pneumonitis due to an ultrasonic humidifier.
abstract: We describe a woman with hypersensitivity pneumonitis that was related to using a home ultrasonic humidifier. A micronodular infiltrate was seen in her chest radiograph. The inhalation challenge test was performed with the humidifier, and she exhibited a positive response. The cultures of the humidifier water grew Candida albicans, Rhodotorula spp., and Aspergillus spp. The test for precipitating antibodies against the humidifier water gave a positive response, and specific IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies against extracts of A. fumigatus, C. albicans, and Rhodotorula spp. were demonstrated in the patient's serum by ELISA. A strong, dose-dependent inhibition of Rhodotorula IgG-ELISA by humidifier water was observed, suggesting that Rhodotorula might be the cause of hypersensitivity pneumonitis in this patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Fernández
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Quirce
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Calleja
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cuevas
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Losada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000389:Air Conditioning / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000542:Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000032:analysis; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000032:analysis; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005260:Female; D005658:Fungi / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D014465:Ultrasonics; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; D000946:Antigens, Fungal