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Farmer's lung disease: long-term clinical and physiologic outcome
The American Review of Respiratory Disease
|February 1, 1979
Summary
Symptomatic recurrences significantly impact farmer's lung disease progression, leading to reduced lung function. Persistent symptoms, not farming duration, are key indicators of disease severity.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Occupational Health
- Immunology
Background:
- Farmer's lung disease (FLD) is a hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by moldy hay exposure.
- Long-term effects and prognostic factors of FLD require further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the long-term clinical, physiological, and radiological outcomes of FLD.
- To identify factors influencing disease progression and patient prognosis.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 141 FLD patients was evaluated.
- Clinical assessment, pulmonary function tests, and radiological imaging were performed.
- Data analyzed for correlations between recurrences, farming status, disease duration, and lung function.
Main Results:
- Of 92 studied patients, 39% showed interstitial changes; 30% had abnormal CO diffusing capacity.
- Patients with ≥5 symptomatic recurrences had significantly reduced lung volumes and diffusing capacity.
- No significant link found between continued farming or disease duration and lung function.
Conclusions:
- Symptomatic recurrences are the primary determinant of progressive FLD.
- Persistently positive precipitins correlate with decreased CO diffusing capacity.
- Airway disease is an uncommon but possible consequence of FLD.