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Query: UMLS:C0032273 (pneumoconiosis)
 1,578 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

One hundred and fifty five male cases of asbestosis certified by the London Pneumoconiosis Medical Panel during 1968-74 were followed up during 1978-9, 4-11 (mean 7.5) years after certification. Fifty nine patients had died, 23 (39%) from lung cancer, 6 (10%) from mesothelioma, and 11 (19%) from other respiratory causes. The number of observed deaths was 2.25 times greater than expected and 7.4 times greater than expected for lung cancer. Adenocarcinoma was the commonest histological type but other cell types were also increased. Finger clubbing (p less than 0.01) and percentage of predicted FEV1 (p less than 0.01) were of value in predicting death, but increasing profusion of small opacities greater than 1/0 (ILO/U-C international classification of radiographs of pneumoconiosis, 1971), duration of exposure to asbestos, time from first exposure to asbestos, and percentage of predicted vital capacity and transfer factor did not predict death.
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PMID:Mortality in cases of asbestosis diagnosed by a pneumoconiosis medical panel. 343 33

The prognostic significance of finger clubbing in asbestosis has been assessed in 167 cases certified by the London Pneumoconiosis Medical Panel from 1968 to 1974. Finger clubbing developed early in the clinical course of the disease and was associated with a lower gas transfer, a higher mortality and a greater likelihood of progression in intrapulmonary fibrosis than was found among cases without finger clubbing. Finger clubbing was not associated with heavier asbestos exposure. Its presence appears to be associated with a more severe form of disease.
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PMID:Significance of finger clubbing in asbestosis. 343 34

It is well known that silica exposure leads in an experimental model to the development of an acute fibrotic process. In human beings two main observations have already been done: (1) silica exposure is frequently associated with the development of connective tissue disease (CTD), especially progressive systemic sclerosis; (2) 10 to 20% patients with CTD developed pulmonary fibrosis. In this context we report 26 cases of coal miners who presented with clinical, radiological, biological and functional characteristics mimicking idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), with or without associated coal worker's pneumoconiosis (CWP). All were men; mean age was 68 +/- 9.2 years. Twenty-three were smokers. Duration of exposure was 28.8 +/- 9.1 years. All the patients had dyspnea (stage III, IV in the NHYA classification) and diffuse crackles. Eleven out of 26 had finger clubbing. Computed tomography showed honeycombing (23 cases), and/or ground glass opacities (6 cases) with bronchiectasis (3 cases) predominant in the lower lobes; 19 had radiological signs of CWP, micronodules (n = 16) and nodules (n = 3) predominant in the upper lobes. BAL exhibited an increased % of neutrophils (11.9 +/- 16.1%). Lung function demonstrated a restrictive pattern (TLC = 73 +/- 15.6% and VC = 80 +/- 18% of predicted values) associated with a decreased DLCO (51.8 +/- 23.6% of predicted values) and hypoxemia (at rest = 66.5 +/- 11.2 mmHg, upon effort = 56 +/- 12 mmHg). Lung biopsies were performed in four cases and demonstrated interstitial fibrosis of intraalveolar septum with an accumulation of immune and inflammatory cells similar to the one described in IPF. The association between IPF and silica exposure with or without associated CWP points out the problem of legal recognition of idiopathic-like pulmonary fibrosis as a complication of the occupational exposure of coal workers.
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PMID:["Primary" diffuse interstitial fibrosis in coal miners: a new entity? Study Group on Interstitial Pathology of the Society of Thoracic Pathology of the North]. 941 11

Asbestosis is a rare pneumoconiosis secondary to inhalation of asbestos fibers. It follows sufficient professional exposures (more than 25 fibers x years/ml). The mean latency is 20 years. Clinical symptoms include exertion dyspnea, crackles and clubbing. Chest radiography the performances of which have been enhanced by the use of the ILO score shows fine reticular or reticulonodular opacities which predominate in pulmonary bases often in association with benign pleural abnormalities. An ILO score equal or higher than 1/1 is suggestive of asbestosis in the context of a compatible professional history. Pulmonary function is typical of diffuse interstitial lung disease. High resolution CT is the most performance investigation in particular in presence of asbestosis either minimal or of recent origin. The diagnosis of asbestosis is based on the professional exposure, a compatible interstitial lung and pleural disease and the exclusion of alternative hypothesis. The diagnosis can be comforted by bronchoalveolar lavage (cytology and biometeorology). Various evolutions are possible: stability, progression to respiratory insufficiency, increased incidence of bronchial carcinoma. Life expectancy is reduced in severe cases. There is no efficient medical treatment. Asbestosis is recognized as a professional disease. A better recognition of asbestosis necessitates a performance policy of depistage in populations with significant present or past exposure and an appropriate diagnostic strategy including high-resolution-CT.
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PMID:[Asbestosis]. 1089 51