Statements | % agree |
The main aim of HP management is (where possible) to identify a cause and assist patients in avoiding further exposure. | 96 |
A domestic cause of HP should be suspected if patients report that symptoms occur a few hours after a specific exposure in the home environment, or improve away from home, for example, following a 1- to 2-week holiday. | 94 |
An occupational cause of HP should be suspected if patients report that symptoms occur a few hours after a specific exposure in the workplace, or improve away from work, for example, on rest days or holidays. | 94 |
In many cases of confirmed HP it is difficult to identify a cause. | 98 |
HP is commonly attributed to ‘no identifiable exposure’. | 93 |
Identifying the cause of HP is difficult in some cases: | |
| 85 85 78 78 76 74 |
Specific IgG titres to the cause (where available) may remain elevated in the blood following cessation of exposure and are not a reliable method of identifying ongoing exposure. | 85 |
Prognosis in HP: | |
| 91 87 84 76 |
The following features are associated with ‘reversible disease’, that is, the potential for some degree of clinical improvement with cessation of exposure and/or immunosuppression: | |
| 96 |
In a proportion of biopsy proven HP, fibrosis progresses despite cessation of exposure to the cause. | 98 |
HP, hypersensitivity pneumonitis.