Asbestosis

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

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

Patient history
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

 * workers involved in the manufacturing of asbestos products
 * asbestos miners and millers
 * power plant workers
 * boilermakers
 * shipyard workers
 * firefighters.

Non-occupational exposure
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.

Symptoms

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

The most common complication is COPD, respiratory insufficiency, pulmonary hypertension, cor pulmonale.

Diagnosis

 * 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
Unfortunately, therapy is mostly supportive and is focused on treating the progressive respiratory failure:
 * Treatment of COPD (bronchodilators, corticosteroids...);
 * Oxygen therapy;
 * Lung transplantation.

Related articles

 * Asbestos