pulmonary disorders
Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis
Treatment of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis
Corticosteroids Treatment of acute or subacute hypersensitivity pneumonitis is with corticosteroids, usuallyprednisone60 mg orally once a day for 1 to 2 weeks, then tapered over the next 2 to 4 weeks to 20 mg once a day, followed by weekly decrements of 2.5 mg until the drug is stopped. This regimen relieves initial symptoms but does not appear to alter long-term outcome. Treatment of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis is usually with longer courses ofprednisone30 to 40 mg orally once a day with tapering dependent on clinical response. Some patients require corticosteroid-sparing agents (eg,mycophenolate,azathioprine) for long-term treatment. 