抄録
The clinical features and laboratory findings in 42 cases of hypersensitivity pneumonitis at Habikino Hospital during the past five years were discussed.
Each case showed bilateral diffuse interstitial opacities on chest X-ray. Major complaints were fever, cough and dyspnoea. Decreased vital capacity without obstructive signs, decreased diffusing capacity, hypoxia with hyperventilation, increasing BSR, and positive CRP were common findings among our cases. Lung biopsies in 3 cases revealed granulomatous alveolitis compatible with so-called hypersensitivity pneumonitis. 46 episodes were observed in 42 cases. Each episode started in summer, that is during June to September, and not a single episode in winter. The dependency on the summer was one of the most distinguishable features in our cases.
Sudden onset, repeated episode, spontaneous remission in our facility, and rapid exacerbation upon return home: these findings are suspicious of allergic reaction to an exogeneous agent in individual surroundings. In 41 cases, each serum was highly positive in anti-cryptococcul antibody by IFA method, with comparision in control cases positive less than 10%.
Saprophytic cryptococcus was isolated from the house dust in one case in Sptember, 1977.
Our postulation is that hypersensitivity pneumonitis in our cases may have resulted from inhalation of saprophytic cryptococcus.
