Vnitr Lek 2025, 71(7):451-455 | DOI: 10.36290/vnl.2025.081

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis: a comprehensive overview of pathogenesis, diagnostics and therapeutic options

Martina Doubková
Klinika nemocí plicních a tuberkulózy FN Brno a LF MU, Brno

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis, formerly known as extrinsic allergic alveolitis, is an immune-mediated interstitial lung disease triggered by repeated inhalation of organic or inorganic antigens. Current classification distinguishes between non-fibrotic and fibrotic forms, with the fibrotic phenotype associated with worse outcomes. Diagnosis requires a multidisciplinary approach. Management is based on antigen avoidance, with glucocorticoid therapy cosiderec in symptomatic patients; antifibrotic treatment may be appropriate for progressive fibrotic diseasse. Early diagnosis and identification of the causative antigen remain crucial for optimizing patient prognosis.

Keywords: hypersensitivity pneumonitis, fibrotic and non-fibrotic phenotype, antigen exposure, glucocorticoids, antifibrotic drugs.

Accepted: October 16, 2025; Published: October 31, 2025  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Doubková M. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis: a comprehensive overview of pathogenesis, diagnostics and therapeutic options. Vnitr Lek. 2025;71(7):451-455. doi: 10.36290/vnl.2025.081.
Download citation

References

  1. Raghu G, Remy-Jardin M, Ryerson CJ, et al. Diagnosis of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis in Adults. An Official ATS/JRS/ALAT Clinical Practice Guideline. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2020;202(3):e36-e69. doi: 10.1164/rccm.202005-2032ST. Erratum in: Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2021;203(1):150-151. Erratum in: Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2022;206(4):518. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  2. Koschel D, Behr J, Berger M, et al; Deutsche Gesellschaft für Pneumologie und Beatmungsmedizin e.V. (DGP) (federführende Fachgesellschaft) und; Deutsche Gesellschaft für Allergologie und klinische Immunologie e.V. (DGAKI); Deutsche Gesellschaft für Pathologie e.V. (DGP); Deutsche Gesellschaft für Arbeitsmedizin und Umweltmedizin e.V. (DGAUM); Deutsche Röntgengesellschaft e.V. (DRG); Bundesverband Deutscher Pathologen e.V. (BDP). Diagnostik und Therapie der exogen-allergischen Alveolitis [Diagnosis and Treatment of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis - S2k Guideline of the German Respiratory Society and the German Society for Allergology and Clinical Immunology]. Pneumologie. 2024;78(12):963-1002. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  3. Blanchet MR, Israël-Assayag E, Cormier Y. Inhibitory effect of nicotine on experimental hypersensitivity pneumonitis in vivo and in vitro. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2004;169(8):903-9. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  4. Raghu G, Remy-Jardin M, Richeldi L, et al. Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (an Update) and Progressive Pulmonary Fibrosis in Adults: An Official ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT Clinical Practice Guideline. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2022;205(9):e18-e47. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  5. Barnes H, Troy L, Lee CT, Sperling A, Strek M, Glaspole I. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis: Current concepts in pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment. Allergy. 2022;77(2):442-453. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  6. Vasakova M, Selman M, Morell F, et al. Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis: Current Concepts of Pathogenesis and Potential Targets for Treatment. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2019;200(3):301-308. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  7. Lacasse Y, Selman M, Costabel U, et al; HP Study Group. Clinical diagnosis of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2003;168(8):952-958. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  8. Fernández Pérez ER, Travis WD, Lynch DA, et al. Diagnosis and Evaluation of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis: CHEST Guideline and Expert Panel Report. Chest. 2021;160(2):e97-e156. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  9. Šterclová M. Exogenní alergická alveolitida - doporučený postup pro diagnózu, léčbu a sledování. Sekce intersticiálních plicních procesů České pneumologické a ftiseologické společenosti. Aktualizace2 21. 12. 2024. www.ceskapneumologie.cz. Navštíveno dne 11. 7. 2025.
  10. Salisbury ML, Gu T, Murray S, et al. Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis: Radiologic Phenotypes Are Associated With Distinct Survival Time and Pulmonary Function Trajectory. Chest. 2019 Apr;155(4):699-711. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  11. Hamblin M, Prosch H, Vašáková M. Diagnosis, course and management of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Eur Respir Rev. 2022;31(163):210169. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  12. Flaherty KR, Wells AU, Cottin V, et al; INBUILD Trial Investigators. Nintedanib in Progressive Fibrosing Interstitial Lung Diseases. N Engl J Med. 2019;381(18):1718-1727. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
  13. Shibata S, Furusawa H, Inase N. Pirfenidone in chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis: a real-life experience. Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis. 2018;35(2):139-142.
  14. Mateos-Toledo H, Mejía-Ávila M, Rodríguez-Barreto Ó, et al. An Open-label Study with Pirfenidone on Chronic Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis. Arch Bronconeumol (Engl Ed). 2020;56(3):163-169. Go to original source...




Vnitřní lékařství

Madam, Sir,
please be aware that the website on which you intend to enter, not the general public because it contains technical information about medicines, including advertisements relating to medicinal products. This information and communication professionals are solely under §2 of the Act n.40/1995 Coll. Is active persons authorized to prescribe or supply (hereinafter expert).
Take note that if you are not an expert, you run the risk of danger to their health or the health of other persons, if you the obtained information improperly understood or interpreted, and especially advertising which may be part of this site, or whether you used it for self-diagnosis or medical treatment, whether in relation to each other in person or in relation to others.

I declare:

  1. that I have met the above instruction
  2. I'm an expert within the meaning of the Act n.40/1995 Coll. the regulation of advertising, as amended, and I am aware of the risks that would be a person other than the expert input to these sites exhibited


No

Yes

If your statement is not true, please be aware
that brings the risk of danger to their health or the health of others.