Interstitial Lung Disease

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Treatment

It is extremely important to understand that the identification and avoidance of the antigen that is causing symptoms of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), called the causative agent, is the most important step in treating HP. Medications are also available to help reduce the effects of HP.

Medication Therapy

Corticosteroids are often prescribed for patients with HP because they reduce the inflammation of the air sacs in the lungs. The type of corticosteroid used is typically prednisone. If your condition does not respond quickly to prednisone, your doctor may recommend adding another immune-suppressant to your treatment, such as azathioprine (imuran). You doctor will discuss with you the dosage amount, maintenance and tapering process.

Identification of the Causitive Antigen

There are a wide range of environmental exposures, occupations and avocations, which result in contact with causative antigens that can increase the risk of developing HP. Identification of the antigen responsible for HP is of critical importance for successful treatment. If the inhaled antigen can be recognized and removed, the lung inflammation in the acute and sub-acute forms of HP is often reversible. In these cases, patients can have a complete recovery. However, finding the antigen is often more difficult than it may seem. If the antigen cannot be identified, the patient may need to consider moving away from their potential exposure, either work or home environments, if possible.

In many cases, patients with chronic HP who have had the disease for many years, have lung scarring and therefore, a full recovery is not possible. However, the hope is to halt the progression of the disease by identifying the antigen and removing it. Often times, immunosuppressive therapy is also recommended. For patients whose condition continues to worsen despite all attempts of treatment, lung transplantation may be an option. Your doctor will discuss this with you if he/she thinks that it is an option.

Experts at our Interstitial Lung Disease Center of Excellence can help facilitate detailed evaluations to identify the causative agent of HP. For more information, please see Identifying the Causative Antigen of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (HP).

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated May 8, 2007