Abstract
A 58 year-old ethnic Korean male was admitted because of persistent cough, sputa, and exertional dyspnea. He had suffered from chronic sinusitis since age 15 and his chest roentgenogram showed diffuse nodular shadow especially in the lower lung fields. His cold hemagglutinin titer was markedly elevated, and obstructive impairment and overinflation were found in his respiratory function tests. According to these data, the case was diagnosed as diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB).
It is noteworthy that a disease equivalent to DPB has not been reported in America or Europe. Previously, we reported that the frequency of HLA-Bw 54 in patients with DPB was significantly higher (68.4%, relative risk; 16.8) than controls (11.4%). This antigen, Bw 54 is unusual, because only Japanese, Chinese, Koreans and rarely Jews have been shown to possess this antigen. These facts might suggest that the disease-susceptible gene of DPB was inherited, closely associated with Bw 54, and that DPB does not exist in races that do not possess this antigen.
