Surfactant protein A in chronic extrinsic allergic alveolitis: Table 1–

Abstract

To the Editors: The chronic form of extrinsic allergic alveolitis (EAA) may have some common features with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The clinical, radiological and histopathological presentation of both diseases may be similar. Surfactant protein (SP)-A can be detected in serum of patients with IPF and concentrations of SP-A were found to be elevated in these patients [1]. The aim of the present study was to compare serum SP-A concentrations in IPF and chronic EAA patients and detect possible relationships between SP-A levels, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid differential cell counts, high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) patterns and pulmonary function tests in both diseases. 13 patients with chronic EAA and seven patients with IPF were enrolled in the retrospective study after informed consent was obtained. The mean±sd age of IPF patients was 63.7±12.4 yrs and the mean±sd age of the EAA group 60.3±11.3 yrs. Only one IPF patient was a smoker, all others were nonsmokers. All of the enrolled subjects underwent a diagnostic programme including history assessment, physical examination, pulmonary function tests, blood tests including evaluation of SP-A serum concentrations, HRCT of the chest, bronchoscopy with BAL and transbronchial biopsy. HRCT alveolar and interstitial scores were …