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Pulmonary Function Abnormalities in Regard to Age at the Time of Diagnosis of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis

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Respiratory Health

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((NR,volume 861))

Abstract

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is a complex syndrome caused by exaggerated immune response to inhalation of a variety of organic particles in susceptible individuals. In this study we assessed the relationship between age at the time of diagnosis and the degree of functional and radiological changes in HP. The diagnosis of HP was made on the basis of a combination of clinical symptoms, medical history, serological tests, radiologic evidence of diffuse lung disease, and absence of other identifiable causes of lung disease. We reviewed the records of 111 patients (68 women) diagnosed with HP over a period of 18 years (1995–2013). The patients were stratified into 3 age-groups: <30, 30–49, and ≥50 years old. The commonest cause of HP was avian antigens (56.8 %). Dyspnea was present in 97.3 % of patients, weight loss in 54.7 % of patients, and respiratory insufficiency in 24.3 % of patients. Lung fibrosis in chest computed tomography was found in 35.1 % of patients. Lung function was impaired more seriously in the youngest age-group, with lung diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) <40 % in 69.2 % of these patients. Restrictive pattern was present in 92.3 % of patients in this group, as compared with the 41.0 % in the whole cohort. In this group, desaturation in the six minute walk test also was most notable, amounting to a median of 11 %. In conclusion, diagnosis of HP at young age is predictive of a more severe clinical course of disease, with lung fibrosis and higher disturbances in pulmonary function.

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Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interests in relation to this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Third Division of Pulmonary Diseases, National Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases Research Institute, 26 Plocka St., 01-138, Warsaw, Poland

    U. Nowicka, E. Wiatr, E. Radzikowska, M. Martusewicz-Boros, J. Fijołek & K. Roszkowski-Śliż

  2. Lung Function Laboratory, National Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases Research Institute, 26 Plocka St., 01-138, Warsaw, Poland

    P. Boros

  3. Division of Radiology, National Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases Research Institute, 26 Plocka St., 01-138, Warsaw, Poland

    L. Jakubowska

  4. Division of Epidemiology, Mother and Child Institute, Warsaw, Poland

    K. Szamotulska

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  1. U. Nowicka
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  2. E. Wiatr
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  3. E. Radzikowska
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  4. M. Martusewicz-Boros
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  8. K. Szamotulska
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  9. K. Roszkowski-Śliż
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Correspondence to U. Nowicka .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Nursing, Public Higher Medical Professional School in Opole, Opole, Poland

    Mieczyslaw Pokorski

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Nowicka, U. et al. (2015). Pulmonary Function Abnormalities in Regard to Age at the Time of Diagnosis of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis. In: Pokorski, M. (eds) Respiratory Health. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology(), vol 861. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/5584_2015_137

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