Occupational allergic alveolitis.
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is an important occupational pulmonary disease. A variety of antigens including foreign proteins and low molecular weight chemicals have been described as etiologic agents. The immunopathogenesis appears to involve activated CD8+ cells as well as activated macrophages. The clinical disease may be acute, subacute or chronic depending upon the nature and level of exposure. Reducing exposure to known antigens is a strategy that appears promising in terms of prevention of irreversible disease.
Grammer
L C
LC
Division of Allergy Immunology, Bazley Center for Asthma and Allergic Diseases, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA.
D000542:Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D011379:Prognosis