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Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (Including Environmental Assessment): Diagnosis and Management

  • Interstitial Lung Disease (A Hajari Case, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

This article aims to provide an overview on the diagnosis and management of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP). We will focus on the issues surrounding the lack of an international consensus on the diagnosis of HP, and review the existing treatment options for HP.

Recent Findings

There is emerging international consensus that HP should be classified based on clinical, radiologic, and pathologic features and not solely on disease duration. Environmental assessment and antigen avoidance remains the most important step in managing HP. Antifibrotics may soon become a viable option for chronic HP in the near future. Well-designed prospective controlled studies are underway.

Summary

Substantial gaps still remain in our understanding of the diagnosis and management of HP. Further research should focus on establishing internationally accepted diagnostic criteria and clinical practice guidelines to aid the clinician in the challenging treatment of patients with HP.

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  1. Deparment of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA

    Wing Sun Tam, Tasnim Islam & Anoop M. Nambiar

  2. Audie L. Murphy Veterans Affairs Hospital, South Texas Health Care System, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA

    Anoop M. Nambiar

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Anoop Nambiar reports research grants and personal fees from Boehringer-Ingelheim, Genentech/Roche, Veractye, Nitto Denko, and Galapagos outside of the submitted work.

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Tam, W.S., Islam, T. & Nambiar, A.M. Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (Including Environmental Assessment): Diagnosis and Management. Curr Pulmonol Rep 8, 131–138 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13665-019-00239-6

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