Case report of a 64-year-old woman with increasing dyspnea and cough.
She cared at home for 8 parakeets (Melopsittacus undulatus). Subsequen
t studies revealed a restrictive pulmonary defect and transbronchial b
iopsy, a histological bronchiolitis obliterans (BO). No significant el
evated anti-avian IgG could be detected, probably because of a transie
nt hypogammaglobulinaemia. The implication of antigenic exposure to av
ian antigens in the pathogenesis of BO is discussed.