ABSTRACT

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) derives from the inhalation of organic and/or inorganic antigens by susceptible individuals. The authors report the case of an eighteen-year-old female, who worked as a tobacco planter in Pelotas, southern Brazil. She had been presenting progressive dyspnea, dry cough, and weight loss for 35 days. She had fine thoracic crepitations and X-ray examination revealed diffuse interstitial infiltration. The diagnosis of HP was determined by her history of exposure to tobacco, tomographic findings and anatomopathologic examination of the lung, obtained by open biopsy. Tobacco antigens were found to be the cause. As patient was treated with prednisone and tobacco exposure was discontinued, a good clinic and functional response was observed.

Keywords: Therapeutics. Extrinsic allergic alveolitis. Tobacco. Diagnosis.

RESUMO

Pneumonite de hipersensibilidade (PH) é decorrente da inalação de antígenos orgânicos e/ou inorgânicos por indivíduos suscetíveis. Relata-se o caso de uma mulher de 18 anos, plantadora de tabaco em Pelotas, no Sul do Brasil, com dispnéia progressiva, tosse seca e emagrecimento havia 35 dias. Apresentava crepitações finas no tórax e a radiografia evidenciou infiltrado intersticial difuso. O diagnóstico de PH foi estabelecido pela história de exposição, achados tomográficos e exame anatomopatológico de pulmão obtido por biópsia a céu aberto. Estabeleceram-se como causa antígenos provenientes do cultivo de tabaco. Com prednisona e o afastamento do plantio do tabaco houve boa resposta clínica e funcional.

Palavras-chave: Terapêutica. Alveolite alérgica extrínseca. Tabaco. Diagnóstico.

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