title: [A case of hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by zinc fume].
abstract: A 55-year-old man with a 3-year occupational history of welding was admitted for repeated episodes of fever, cough and dyspnea after inhalation of smoke while welding galvanized steel. A computed tomography (CT) showed diffuse centrilobular nodules, panlobular ground-glass opacity and interlobular septal thickening in both lung fields, and he suffered from hypoxemia (PaO2 = 55.3Torr) while breathing room air. Percentage of lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid increased, and lung biopsy specimens at thoracoscopy revealed lymphocytic alveolitis and organization in air spaces. His symptoms and signs disappeared spontaneously only when he ceased welding. Panlobular ground-glass opacity and interlobular septal thickening improved immediately with oral corticosteroids. Patch tests using metal series gave positive reactions to zinc. We diagnosed this case as hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by zinc fumes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shizuoka City Hospital.
authors.forename: Hiroo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.forename: Takeo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.forename: Shoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shimane
authors.forename: Sumihito
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chihara
authors.forename: Noriyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Enomoto
authors.forename: Takafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suda
authors.forename: Kingo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chida
mesh_terms: D000542:Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005740:Gases; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D014896:Welding; D015032:Zinc / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D015032:Zinc