A Case of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis by Alternaria as a Suspected Etiology

A 65-year-old man was admitted due to low grade fever, dry coughing, and dyspnea on exertion. The chest radiograph and CT scan showed diffuse ground glass opacities and small nodules in the both lung fields resulting in a diagnosis of severe interstitial pneumonia. Conservative treatment with antibiotics and bronchodilators decreased the symptoms, but the dyspnea and cough reappeared when he returned home. An inspection of his house revealed the presence of fungi under the wallpaper. His symptoms disappeared completely after these were removed. His clinical course raised the suspicion of hypersensitivity pneumonitis and these fungi believed to be the cause of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. The histological findings of a lung specimen by video-assisted thorachoscopy were compatible with hypersensitivity pneumonitis. The fungi were identified as Alternaria.

Alternaria가 원인으로 추정되는 과민성 폐장염 1예

과민성 폐장염은 원인 물질들이 호흡기로 반복적으로 흡입되어 이들 감작된 항원에 의한 면역학적 반응이 일어나 폐실질에 염증성 또는 육아종성 병변이 초래되는 면역학적 염증 질환이다. 저자들은 호흡 곤란을 주소로 내원한 남자 환자에서, 주거지의 실내 벽지에 기생한 진균인 Alternaria가 원인으로 추정된 과민성 폐장염 1예를 경험하였기에 문헌 고찰과 함께 보고하는 바이다.