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Acute extrinsic allergic alveolitis - investigations

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The investigation of acute extrinsic allergic alveolitis should include:

  • FBC shows neutrophilia with raised or normal eosinophils
  • ESR is raised
  • blood gases show hypoxaemia
  • serum precipitins are present
  • chest radiography shows a variable appearance, including ground-glass or nodules
  • lung function tests demonstrate a transient, slight reduction in lung volume and a transient reduction in transfer factor
  • bronchoalveolar lavage shows a predominance of mast cells and lymphocytes
  • provocation test with suspected antigen if the history is unclear
  • transbronchial or open lung biopsy if the diagnosis is in doubt

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