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In 1961 the hypothesis (later referred to as the Dutch Hypothesis (DH)) was put forward that asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema should be considered as different expressions of one disease entity, in which both endogenous (host) and exogenous (environmental) factors play a role in the pathogenesis. A hereditary predisposition to develop allergy and bronchial hyperreactivity were considered to be important denominators of disease susceptibility. Complications and complicating diseases would also contribute to the ultimate phenotype of the patient. In the present paper we discuss the relevance of this hypothesis in 1990. Until now it has not been refuted; circumstantial evidence in its favour has accumulated, but formal proof is still lacking. Further research should pay more attention to the genetic aspects of the disease. Arguments are presented against the use of the terms asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema as indicators of disease entities, and in favour of the use of an umbrella-term, e.g. chronic non-specific lung disease (CNSLD), provided that, in addition, every patient is characterized using so-called defining criteria.

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Individual antigenic components of Aspergillus fumigatus were identified by crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) using pooled rabbit hyperimmune antiserum. Patients’ sera with enhanced precipitins against A. fumigatus showed antibodies against identical antigenic components in CIE. Identification of the antigenic components by the intermediate gel technique showed high concentrations of antibodies against a small group of antigenic components. No differences were found in the indiviual antigenic components involved in the precipitation reactions between groups of sera with enhanced and normal IgE levels against A. fumigatus. Crossed immunoelectrofocusing was used to determine the isoelectric point of particular components that were identified by CIE.

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