A case of recurrent summer-tyoe hypersensitivity pneumonitis associated with her spouse's occurrence

A 57 year-old female was admitted for the treatment of hypoxia and progressive dyspnea. Her clinidal findings and chest X-ray suggested interstitial pneumonia. Analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid showed marked increase in lymphocyte, especially in OKT8. Typical histological findings of alveolitis and Masson body were revealed by transbronchial lung biopsy. From above findings, the case was diagnosed as hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Next summer, she and her husband were suffered from the same symptoms. A high level of anti-Tricosporon cutaneum antibody was identified in this case. Steroid therapy and environmental refrom were very effective for the management of this disease. We discussed clinical, pathological and environmental characteristics of the summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis.