Medication Summary
The goals of pharmacotherapy are to reduce morbidity and prevent complications. Avoiding exposure to antigen usually results in regression of disease, but corticosteroid treatment may be required in more severe cases. However, long-term outcome appears unchanged by the treatment.
Corticosteroids
Class Summary
Corticosteroids are recommended in patients with subacute or chronic disease presentations, patients with persistent symptoms, abnormal pulmonary function tests, hypoxemia, and radiographic evidence of extensive lung involvement.
Prednisone
May decrease inflammation by reversing increased capillary permeability and suppressing PMN activity.
Stabilizes lysosomal membranes and suppresses lymphocytes and antibody production.
Prednisolone (Millipred, Orapred, Prelone)
Decreases inflammation by suppressing migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and reducing capillary permeability.
Methylprednisolone (A-Methapred, Medrol, Solu-Medrol)
Decreases inflammation by suppressing migration of PMNs and reversing increased capillary permeability.
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High-resolution CT scan of lungs shows ground-glass opacification seen in an acute phase of tobacco worker's lung.
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Giant cells are a characteristic feature of acute tobacco worker's lung, which is a form of hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
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High-resolution CT (HRCT) scan shows a ground-glass appearance and reticulonodular opacities in subacute phase of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) secondary to moldy hay.