Hypersensitivity pneumonitis in a machinist.
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), or extrinsic allergic alveolitis, is a patchy, interstitial lung disease that involves an immunologic reaction of the lung to repeated inhalation of foreign antigens. In this report, we describe a machinist with exposure to metalworking fluids (MWFs) and biopsy-confirmed HP. Return to work, which could be equated with a retrospective workplace-specific bronchoprovocation test, proved that working within an environment in which MWFs were used was associated with clinical deterioration in the patient's pulmonary status and with clinical improvement after removal from exposure.
Freeman
A
A
University of Cincinnati Department of Environmental Health, Ohio 45267-0182, USA.
Lockey
J
J
Hawley
P
P
Biddinger
P
P
Trout
D
D
D000336:Aerosols / Q000009:adverse effects; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000542:Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008669:Metallurgy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000336:Aerosols; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D011241:Prednisone