Summary
Studies to detect disorders of pulmonary function were performed on 42 workers at a poultry farm. All the subjects were exposed to organic dusts and sensitised to poultry antigens. Typical signs of bird fancier's lung were recorded in two of them.
Included in all examinations were immunological diagnosis by means of counter-immunoelectrophoresis, systematic interviewing for case histories, and registration of respiratory symptoms.
Pulmonary function was recorded by means of the following techniques: analysis of ventilation (flow-volume indices), respiratory mechanics of the larger airways and lung (body box plethysmography, oesophago-balloon technique), respiratory mechanics of the small airways (closing volume), distributional analysis, diffusion analysis, and blood gas analysis.
A disorder of pulmonary function was recordable in 40 sensitised individuals. Such disorder being characterised by obstruction of the larger airways and slight inhomogeneity. The small airways were not narrowed. No restriction nor disturbed diffusion were established. The severity of obstruction was found to be related to the degree of sensitisation.
The following more clearly pronounced changes in terms of functional diagnosis were recordable from two poultry workers with allergic alveolitis: obstruction of larger airways with concomitant restriction, marked inhomogeneity, and disorder of diffusion.
The disorders, relatively discrete, led to mild PO2-reduction in sensitised individuals, whereas mild hypoxaemia was recorded from subjects with allergic alveolitis.
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Petro, W., Bergmann, K.C., Heinze, R. et al. Long-term occupational inhalation of organic dust — Effect on pulmonary function. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 42, 119–127 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01297550
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01297550