Asbestosis

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

Asbestosis:

Pathology[edit | edit source]

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

Lung biopsy, H&E stain, ferruginous bodies and interstitial fibrosis.

It seems to be histologically similar to the other interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, but it also contains ferruginous bodies.

Clinical notes[edit | edit source]

Patient history[edit | edit source]

Asbestosis development and presentation depends on the exposure time. The disease is chronic and progressive. It can manifest 20 years after exposure, when the symptoms become clear. It is very important to find out how the patient was exposed:

Occupational exposure[edit | edit source]

workers involved in the manufacturing of asbestos products
asbestos miners and millers
power plant workers
boilermakers
shipyard workers
firefighters.^[1]

Non-occupational exposure[edit | edit source]

Asbestos was used in the construction of the walls of many buildings including schools: teachers who work in these buildings are exposed to asbestos and therefore their lives could be endangered as well.^[2]

Symptoms[edit | edit source]

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

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

Diagnosis[edit | edit source]

physical examination, lung function tests
X–ray imaging
CT or MRI
lung biopsy
definitive diagnosis is based on a microscopic examination of a lung biopsy by a pathologist!

Therapy[edit | edit source]

Unfortunately, therapy is mostly supportive and is focused on treating the progressive respiratory failure:

Treatment of COPD (bronchodilators, corticosteroids...);
Oxygen therapy;
Lung transplantation.^[2]

Notes[edit | edit source]

Other asbestos exposure related diseases are:

Links[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

↑ 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/>.
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d 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.
↑ American Lung Association. Asbestosis [online]. ©2011. The last revision 2011, [cit. 2011-08-06]. <http://www.lungusa.org/lung-disease/asbestosis/>.

4. What is Asbestosis and how to claim for it?

[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/>.

[Harrison-2] 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/>.

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