[Evaluation of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay system for sero-diagnosis of summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis].

Summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis (SHP) is the most prevalent type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis in Japan. Its main causative antigenic organisms are Trichosporon species. Although this disease had been thought to be unique to Japan, more than ten patients were found in Korea, recently. It is expected that patients with SHP will be found elsewhere in the Temperate Zones, the tropics or in the subtropics. It is important in diagnosing SHP to prove specific antibody against causative antigen in patient's serum, for the existence of specific antibody indicates the patient had been exposed to, and sensitized to the antigen. In the present study, we devised Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay system using monoclonal antibody specific to T. asahii, to measure antibodies against T. asahii. We evaluated the usefulness of the system by using sera from patients with SHP, patients with other pulmonary diseases, or healthy volunteers. We found specificity and sensitivity of the system were 92.8% and 92.3%, respectively. This system was proved to be useful in diagnosing SHP.