Thanks Dr. Grief-----my sister is a non-smoker, never HAS been a smoker. She recently had a standard chest xray (AP and LAT) which was reported radiographically as hyperlucency with expanded lung fields but no focal airspace consolidation. I guess this is suggestive of emphysematous change. She does have a strong history of allergies. She is 53.....and in fairly good health otherwise. There is no indication of heart disease or kidney disease. OUESTION: would it be helpful to consider the pulmonary changes to be allergically mediated and treat accordingly ????