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Asthma and extrinsic allergic alveolitis due to Merulius lacrymans
Author(s) -
O'BRIEN I. M.,
BULL J.,
CREAMER B.,
SEPU LVEDA R.,
HARRIES M.,
BURGE P. S.,
PEPYS J.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2222.1978.tb01507.x
Subject(s) - dlco , medicine , extrinsic allergic alveolitis , asthma , inhalation , immunoglobulin e , precipitin , immunology , lung , anesthesia , antibody , diffusing capacity , lung function
A teacher with breathlessness of insidious onset developed acute symptoms on return home following his discharge from hospital. His flat was found to have extensive dry rot (Merulius lacrymans). Precipitins and specific IgE and IgG antibody against M. lacrymans were present and intracutaneous testing gave a typical dual skin reaction. Pulmonary physiology demonstrated airflow obstruction with a low DLCO and KCO, and a chest X-ray showed diffuse micronodular shadowing, maximal in the mid-zones. Inhalation challenge testing provoked a combined asthmatic reaction without a change in DLCO. Rapid clinical recovery and more gradual radiographic and physiological improvement followed cessation of exposure to the antigen.