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Obstructive airways disease in non‐smoking subjects with pigeon fanciers' lung
Author(s) -
BOURKE S. J.,
CARTER R.,
ANDERSON K.,
BOYD J.,
KING S.,
DOUGLAS B.,
BOYD G.
Publication year - 1989
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.1365-2222.1989.tb02758.x
Subject(s) - medicine , chronic bronchitis , spirometry , bronchitis , immunology , small airways , respiratory disease , peripheral , lung , asthma , obstructive lung disease , copd
Summary The aim of the study was to assess the degree of airways involvement in non‐smoking subjects with extrinsic allergic alveolitis resulting from pigeon‐derived antigens. Two hundred and eight pigeon fanciers completed a questionnaire of symptoms, performed spirometry on a Vitalograph Compact spirometer and had IgG antibody to pigeon γ‐globulin measured. Eighty fanciers had the acute form of pigeon fanciers' lung (PFL) and these subjects were less likely to be current smokers ( P <0.001). Subjects with PFL had a higher prevalence of chronic bronchitis ( P <0.001), large airways ( P = 0.014) and peripheral airways obstruction ( P <0.001). The prevalence of chronic bronchitis and peripheral airways obstruction increased significantly as the level of antibody to pigeon γ‐globulin rose. Peripheral airways obstruction, as manifest by a reduced FEF 25–75% , was the most common abnormality found. Airways disease is an important feature of the acute form of PFL and consists of a hypersecretory disorder in the form of chronic bronchitis and of obstructive airways disease particularly affecting the peripheral airways.