Occupational Asthma Reference

Barber CM, Burge PS, Feary JR, Parfrey H, Renzoni EA, Spencer LG, Walters GI, Wiggans RE, the of behalf on Participants GHS, Identifying causation in hypersensitivity pneumonitis: a British perspective, BMJ Open Respiratory Research, 2019;6:e000469,http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjresp-2019-000469

Keywords: HP, cause, UK,

Known Authors

Sherwood Burge, Oasys Sherwood Burge

Chris Barber, Health and Safety Laboratories, Buxton Chris Barber

Gareth Walters, Heartlands Gareth Walters

Jo Feary, Royal Brompton Hospital Jo Feary

Ruth Wiggans, Manchester University Ruth Wiggans

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Abstract

Background
Establishing whether patients are exposed to a ‘known cause’ is a key element in both the diagnostic assessment and the subsequent management of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP).

Objective
This study surveyed British interstitial lung disease (ILD) specialists to document current practice and opinion in relation to establishing causation in HP.

Methods
British ILD consultants (pulmonologists) were invited by email to take part in a structured questionnaire survey, to provide estimates of demographic data relating to their service and to rate their level of agreement with a series of statements. A priori ‘consensus agreement’ was defined as at least 70% of participants replying that they ‘Strongly agree’ or ‘Tend to agree’.

Results
54 consultants took part in the survey from 27 ILD multidisciplinary teams. Participants estimated that 20% of the patients in their ILD service have HP, and of these, a cause is identifiable in 32% of cases. For patients with confirmed HP, an estimated 40% have had a bronchoalveolar lavage for differential cell counts, and 10% a surgical biopsy. Consensus agreement was reached for 25 of 33 statements relating to causation and either the assessment of unexplained ILD or management of confirmed HP.

Conclusions
This survey has demonstrated that although there is a degree of variation in the diagnostic approach for patients with suspected HP in Britain, there is consensus opinion for some key areas of practice. There are several factors in clinical practice that currently act as potential barriers to identifying the cause for British HP patients.


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