HYPERSENSITIVITY PNEUMONITIS INDUCED BY INHALATION OF MUSHROOM (PHOLIOTA-NAMEKO) SPORES

We describe the hypersensitivity pneumonitis of a 49-year-old woman wh o had been cultivating the edible mushroom 'Pholiota nameko' for three years. Her clinical manifestations and laboratory findings including transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BA LF) were consistent with those of other forms of hypersensitivity pneu monitis. Counter-immunoelectrophoresis determined the causative antige n to be the spores of Pholiota nameko. The indoor cultivation method a ppeared to play a major role in the occurrence of the hypersensitivity pneumonitis.