title: Humidifier lung: possible contribution of endotoxin-induced lung injury.
abstract: A 56-year-old man was admitted with cough, fever, myalgia, and arthralgia. Chest computed tomography demonstrated bilateral diffuse ground-glass opacities predominantly in the upper lungs. Subpleural non-segmental consolidation was observed in the late phase. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis was suspected, and an environmental provocation test with the incidental use of a home ultrasonic humidifier was positive. Unlike typical hypersensitivity pneumonitis, serum KL-6 levels were normal. Although several microorganisms were isolated from the humidifier water, there was no evidence for immune sensitization. We detected high amounts of endotoxin in the humidifier water, which may have contributed to the lung injury of this patient.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Ehime University School of Medicine, Onsen-gun, Ehime.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohnishi
authors.forename: Akihito
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: Hironobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hamada
authors.forename: Seiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manabe
authors.forename: Ryoji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Katayama
authors.forename: Yoshifumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yasuhara
authors.forename: Junpei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ikezoe
authors.forename: Jitsuo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Higaki
mesh_terms: D000542:Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D000941:Antigens / Q000097:blood; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018396:Mucin-1; D009077:Mucins; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015415:Biomarkers; D004731:Endotoxins; D006023:Glycoproteins; C060192:MUC1 protein, human; D018396:Mucin-1; D009077:Mucins