Hypersensitivity pneumonitis with antibodies to Cryptococcus neoformans

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Abstract
Clinical and immunological studies were made in 42 patients diagnosed with hypersensitivity pneumonitis at Osaka Prefectural Habikino Hospital [Osaka, Japan] between 1973 and 1977. All sera from 41 patients tested had high titers of antibody against C. neoformans in indirect fluorescent antibody tests, and 12 also had precipitins against C. neoformans polysaccharide. Only about 10% of control sera from patients with other lung diseases had low titers of antibody against C. neoformans. Antibody against C. neoformans was also found frequently in the sera of asymptomatic members of the families of the patients. A possible relationship of G. neoformans to hypersensitivity pneumonitis is suggested.