TY - JOUR T1 - Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis From Fire-Retardant Spray in a Patient With Multiple Lung Pathologies and Elevated Immunoglobulin E JF - Ochsner Journal JO - Ochsner J SP - 425 LP - 430 DO - 10.31486/toj.20.0163 VL - 21 IS - 4 AU - Rohan Madhu Prasad AU - Tyler Kemnic AU - Abdullah Al-Abcha AU - Akhil Sharma AU - Shilpa Kavuturu Y1 - 2021/12/21 UR - http://www.ochsnerjournal.org/content/21/4/425.abstract N2 - Background: Hypersensitivity pneumonitis, also known as extrinsic allergic alveolitis, is a pulmonary disease with large knowledge gaps, including etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment.Case Report: A 58-year-old male with a pertinent history of recurrent Mycobacterium malmoense presented to a tertiary emergency department after 1 week of difficulty breathing. He also reported a productive cough and fevers. The patient was an active smoker and was recently exposed to chemical fire-retardant spray. Chest x-ray showed extensive bilateral pulmonary infiltrates. The tertiary center initiated cefpodoxime 200 mg twice daily for 5 days and home azithromycin for possible pneumonia. However, the patient returned the next day with worsening symptoms. After the patient transferred to our institution, physical examination revealed a hypoxic patient with bibasilar crackles and wheezes. Laboratory tests revealed elevated white blood cell count, sedimentation rate, and immunoglobulin E. Chest computed tomography demonstrated growth of a previously noted right upper lobe intracavitary lesion and new onset diffuse interstitial pulmonary ground-glass airspace opacities. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis panel demonstrated positive antibodies to Aspergillus fumigatus antibody precipitin 1 and Micropolyspora faeni. The patient was given oral prednisone and advice on proper respiratory precautions in the workplace.Conclusion: This case illustrates that hypersensitivity pneumonitis can develop via chemical fire-retardant spray. Additionally, patients with a smoking history and elevated immunoglobulin E should be evaluated for severe forms of the disease. ER -