TABLE 1

Clinical and demographic characteristics in hypersensitivity pneumonitis subgroups

SubjectsHPAbs+SubjectsHPAbsp-value
Age years6053±911053±120.59
Female6052 (86)11089 (81)0.39
Duration of symptoms before diagnosis months6025 (4–20)11027 (2–120)0.30
Former smokers6014 (23)11026 (24)0.96
Exposure to birds6047 (78)11091 (83)0.53
Diabetes mellitus6011 (18)11016 (15)0.51
Systemic hypertension609 (15)11022 (20)0.53
Dead5412 (20)1089 (8)0.02
Antibodies against avian antigens6059 (94)11057 (53)<0.0001
Unidentified antigen604 (6)11050 (47)<0.0001
HRCT chronic pattern6048 (80)11059 (54)<0.001
C-reactive protein mg·dL−1600.9 (0.02–7.1)1100.7 (0.01–3.9)0.95
BAL# lymphocytosis4949±198746±250.17
FVC % pred6057.8±1810653.8±200.20
DLCO % pred4946±228551±210.24
6MWT m42333±16871333±1160.21
PO2 mmHg4251±87150±130.90
PAP§ mmHg4739±146938±140.40

Data are presented as n, mean±sd, n (%) or median (range), unless otherwise stated. HPAbs+/HPAbs: hypersensitivity pneumonitis with and without autoantibodies, respectively; HRCT: high-resolution computed tomography; BAL: bronchoalveolar lavage; FVC: forced vital capacity; DLCO: diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide; 6MWT: 6-min walk test; PO2: oxygen tension; PAP: pulmonary artery pressure. #: performed in 81% of the HPAbs+ patients and 79% of the HPAbs patients; : measured in 42 HPAbs+ patients and 71 HPAbs patients; §: measured by echocardiography in 47 HPAbs+ patients and 69 HPAbs patients.