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Dictionary of Allergies .. Farmer’s lung

Farmer's lung

Farmer's lung is caused by the allergic reaction to inhalation of thermophilic actinomycetes. Acute symptoms are chill, fever, cough and dyspnea. Fine crackles is characteristic. Pathologically, alveolitis with lymphocytes infiltration and epithelioid cell granuloma and Masson's body are characteristics. Bronchoalveolar lavage analysis shows elevated lymphocytes and diverse CD4/8 ratio (high in average). Isolation from the environment improves the symptoms. Sometimes patients need steroid therapy, 0.5 to 1.0 mg/kg of predonisolone.

Pulse therapy can be applied for severe cases. SLX analogue can prevent lymphocytes infiltration and granuloma formation in mice model. Some of acute farmer's lung show poor long term prognosis, showing emphysematous, fine granular or small nodules in chest CT. These chronic farmer's lung might be diagnosed as IIPs.

Inoue Y, Suga M. Granulomatous diseases and pathogenic microorganism.Kekkaku. 2008 Feb;83(2):115-30.

Γκέλης Ν.Δ. - Λεξικό Αλλεργίας - Εκδόσεις ΒΕΛΛΕΡOΦΟΝΤΗΣ - Κόρινθος 2013

Gelis Ν.D. - Dictionary of Allergies - VELLEROFONTIS Publications - Corinth 2013