Effect of contact avoidance or treatment with oral prednisolone on bronchoalveolar lavage surfactant protein A levels in subjects with farmer's lung.
AUTOR(ES)
Cormier, Y.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Surfactant protein A (SP-A) acts as an immune system modulator in the lungs and may therefore be involved in the pathogenesis of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. METHODS: The levels of SP-A in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were measured in 20 subjects with acute farmer's lung, 16 asymptomatic dairy farmers, and 14 normal controls. Eight patients had a second evaluation after one month of treatment by either contact avoidance (n = 3) or oral prednisolone (20 or 25 mg/day, n = 5). Chest radiographs and lung function measurements were also obtained in all farmers, twice in those re-evaluated after treatment. RESULTS: Patients with acute farmer's lung had significantly higher levels of SP-A than asymptomatic farmers and normal controls (p = 0.005) with mean (SE) values of 1.43 (0.29) micrograms/ml, 0.62 (0.09) microgram/ml, and 0.68 (0.11) microgram/ml, respectively. In eight subjects tested after one month of treatment the level of SP-A was unchanged although all were clinically improved. No correlations were seen between levels of SP-A in BAL fluid and numbers of BAL cells, lung function measurements, or chest radiographic scores. CONCLUSION: Although the level of SP-A is increased in the BAL fluid of patients with acute farmer's lung, it is not correlated with clinical abnormalities of this disease.
ACESSO AO ARTIGO
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=472765Documentos Relacionados
- Proceedings: Farmer's lung.
- Hyaluronate and type III procollagen peptide concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid as markers of disease activity in farmer's lung.
- Ten year follow up of farmers with farmer's lung.
- Class specific antibodies in serodiagnosis of farmer's lung.
- Relationships between radiographic change, pulmonary function, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid lymphocytes in farmer's lung disease.