[Immunologic and allergic lung diseases. 2. Endogenous and exogenous immune complex diseases]

For the respiratory tract immunologic reactions of type I and type III according to Coombs and Gell are most important. The classical example for type-I-reaction is extrinsic (= "allergic") asthma. Mechanisms of sensitzation, of mediator release out of mast cells and of immunotherapy by specific hyposensitization are summarized. Immunologic type-III-reactions may lead to immune complex diseases of the lung. There are two different pathways: In the several forms of extrinsic alveolitis the interstitial lung tissue is involved, whereas the intrinsic forms of immune complex diseases mainly result in lung vasculitis. The diagnostic and therapeutical essentials of immunologic and allergic lung disease are discussed in detail.