Immunology of the lower respiratory tract

This paper discusses some of the immunological disturbances occurring in the peripheral parts of the lung. Immune responses leading to primary bronchial disease, asthma in particular, have been discussed by other speakers during the Meeting. ln one sense, almost every known disease affecting the gas exchanging parts of the lung has immunological implications. I shall confme my attention to a limited number of clinical disorders where the primary type of tissue damage is believed to depend upon certain defined immunological systems. I shall include here patterns of peripheral lung damage associated with tbe mould Aspcrgillus fiimigatus, organic dust diseases responsible for extrinsic allergic alveolitis and cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis of unknown etiology. I will discuss briefly tissue damage related to hypersensitivity in Helminth infestation and certain viruses, because these may be especially important in children.