Asbestosis

Asbestosis is a form of interstitial fibrosis of the lung. It is asbestos exposure related disease. Asbestosis is a type of pneumoconiosis.

Contents 1 Pathology 2 Clinical notes 2.1 Patient history 2.1.1 Occupational exposure 2.1.2 Non-occupational exposure 2.2 Symptoms 2.3 Diagnostic 2.4 Therapy 2.5 Notes 3 Links 3.1 Related articles 3.2 References

edit Pathology

After asbestos fibers are breath into alveols, the fibers provoke immune cells in lungs and cause inflammatory reaction. A part of this reaction is fibrogenesis in interstitial space.

It seems to be histologicaly similar like the other interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, but it contains ferruginous bodies too.

edit Clinical notes

edit Patient history

Asbestosis depends on exposure time. This disease is progressive and long involved. Can be found 20 years after exposure, when the symptoms became clear. It is very important to find out patient's exposure possibilities:

edit Occupational exposure

• workers in the manufacture of asbestos products;
• asbestos miners and millers;
• construction traders;
• power plant workers;
• boilermakers;
• shipyard workers;
• firefighters.^[1]

edit Non-occupational exposure

Asbestos was used in building walls, for example in schools. Teachers who work in these buildings their entire professional lives could be in danger as well.^[2]

edit Symptoms

• shortness of breath^[2] – first when walking, climbing stairs, than at rest (asbestosis is progressive disease);
• cough^[2];
• low blood oxygen level^[3].

The most often complication is COPD^[2], respiratory insufficiency, pulmonary hypertension, cor pulmonale.

edit Diagnostic

• physical examination, lung function tests;
• X–ray;
• CT or MRI;
• lung biopsy;
• definitive diagnosis is based on microscopical examination of the biopsy by pathologist!

edit Therapy

There is only supportive therapy of progressive respiratory failure:

• treatment of COPD (bronchodilatans, corticosteroids...);
• oxygenotherapy;
• and finally lung transplantation.^[2]

edit Notes

Other asbestos exposure related diseases are:

• mesothelioma
• lung cancer

edit Links

edit Related articles

• Asbestos

edit References

1. ↑ The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO). What are High Risk Occupations? [online]. The last revision 2010, [cit. 2011-07-30]. <http://www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org/educational-resources/exposed-to-asbestos/>.
2. ↑ ^{a b c d e} KASPER, Dennis L – FAUCI, Anthony S – LONGO, Dan L, et al. Harrison's principles of Internal Medicine. 16th edition. New York : McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc, 2005. 2607 pp. pp. 1522. ISBN 0-07-139140-1.
3. ↑ American Lung Association. Asbestosis [online]. ©2011. The last revision 2011, [cit. 2011-08-06]. <http://www.lungusa.org/lung-disease/asbestosis/>.