PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Patrick Liu-Shiu-Cheong
AU  - Chris RuiWen Kuo
AU  - Struan WA Wilkie
AU  - Owen Dempsey
TI  - Feather duvet lung
AID  - 10.1136/bcr-2019-231237
DP  - 2019 Nov 01
TA  - BMJ Case Reports
PG  - e231237
VI  - 12
IP  - 11
4099  - http://casereports.bmj.com/content/12/11/e231237.short
4100  - http://casereports.bmj.com/content/12/11/e231237.full
SO  - BMJ Case Reports2019 Nov 01; 12
AB  - A 43-year-old non-smoker was referred with a 3-month history of malaise, fatigue and breathlessness. Blood avian precipitins were strongly positive. Lung function testing confirmed a restrictive pattern with impaired gas transfer. A ‘ground glass’ mosaic pattern was seen on CT imaging, suggestive of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Although he had no pet birds, on closer questioning he had recently acquired a duvet and pillows containing feathers. His symptoms, chest radiograph and lung function tests improved after removal of all feather bedding, and he was also started on oral corticosteroid therapy. Our case reinforces the importance of taking a meticulous exposure history and asking about domestic bedding in patients with unexplained breathlessness. Prompt recognition and cessation of antigen exposure may prevent the development of irreversible lung fibrosis.