IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL DEMONSTRATION OF THE CAUSATIVE ANTIGEN IN PIGEON HYPERSENSITIVITY PNEUMONITIS

Abstract

PURPOSE: Pigeon hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is a lung disease caused by the inhalation of organic antigens of bird origin. Specific antibodies, a positive cellular reactivity, or antigen challenge tests have been useful to approach the etiological diagnosis. Since lung biopsy has not disclosed pathognomonic findings, and the exposure to airborne dusts may explain the histopathologic manifestations, we studied whether the presence of pigeon antigen by immunohistochemistry may define the cause of the disease.