Asbestosis

MeshID = D001195

Asbestosis is a chronic inflammatory medical condition affecting the parenchymal tissue of the lungs. It occurs after long-term, heavy exposure to asbestos, e.g. in mining, and is therefore regarded as an occupational lung disease. Sufferers have severe dyspnea (shortness of breath) and are at an increased risk regarding several different types of lung cancer.

As clear explanations are not always stressed in non-technical literature, care should be taken to distinguish between several forms of relevant diseases. According to the [http://www.euro.who.int/document/aiq/6_2_asbestos.pdf World Health Organisation] (WHO), these may be defined as; asbestosis (the subject of this article), "lung cancer", and "mesothelioma" (generally a very rare form of cancer, but increasing in frequency as people exposed to asbestos age).

igns and symptoms

The primary symptom of asbestosis is generally the slow onset of shortness of breath on exertion.cite book |author=Sporn, Thomas A; Roggli, Victor L.; Oury, Tim D |title=Pathology of asbestos-associated diseases |publisher=Springer |location=Berlin |year=2004 |pages= |isbn=0-387-20090-8 |oclc= |doi= |accessdate=] In severe, advanced cases, this may lead to respiratory failure. Coughing is not usually a typical symptom, unless the patient has other, concomitant respiratory tract diseases.

People with extensive occupational exposure to the mining, manufacturing, handling or removal of asbestos are at risk of developing asbestosis.cite journal |author=Becklake MR |title=Asbestos-related diseases of the lung and other organs: their epidemiology and implications for clinical practice |journal=Am. Rev. Respir. Dis. |volume=114 |issue=1 |pages=187–227 |year=1976 |pmid=779552 |doi= |url=] There is also an increased risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma. Asbestosis and lung cancer require prolonged exposure to asbestos. However, cases of mesothelioma have been documented with even 1-3 months of exposure,cite journal |author=Burdorf A, Dahhan M, Swuste P |title=Occupational characteristics of cases with asbestos-related diseases in The Netherlands |journal=Ann Occup Hyg |volume=47 |issue=6 |pages=485–92 |year=2003 |pmid=12890657 |doi= |url=http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=12890657] cite journal |author= |title=Hygiene standards for airborne amosite asbestos dust. British Occupational Hygiene Society Committee on Hygiene Standards |journal=Ann Occup Hyg |volume=16 |issue=1 |pages=1–5 |year=1973 |pmid=4775386 |doi= |url=http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=4775386] and only indirect exposure (through air ventilation system.) Most cases of asbestosis do not become apparent until 5-10 years after the initial exposure to the material.

Pathogenesis

Asbestosis is the scarring of lung tissue (around terminal bronchioles and alveolar ducts) resulting from the inhalation of asbestos fibers.cite book |author= |title=Asbestosis: A Medical Dictionary, Bibliography, And Annotated Research Guide To Internet References |publisher=Icon Health Publications |location=San Diego, Calif |year=2004 |pages= |isbn=0-597-84339-2 |oclc= |doi= |accessdate=] There are two types of fibers, amphibole (thin and straight) and serpentine (curved). The former are primarily responsible for human disease as they are able to penetrate deeply into the lungs. When such fibers reach the alveoli (air sacs) in the lung, where oxygen is transferred into the blood, the foreign bodies (asbestos fibers) cause the activation of the lung's local immune system and provoke an inflammatory reaction. This inflammatory reaction can be described as chronic rather than acute, with a slow ongoing progression of the immune system in an attempt to eliminate the foreign fibres. Macrophages phagocytose (ingest) the fibers and stimulate fibroblasts to deposit connective tissue. Due to the asbestos fibres' natural resistance to digestion, the macrophage will die off, releasing certain cytokines and attracting further lung macrophages and fibrolastic cells to lay down fibrous tissue, which eventually forms a fibrous mass. The result is interstitial fibrosis. The fibrotic scar tissue causes alveolar walls to thicken, which reduces elasticity and gas diffusion, reducing oxygen transfer to the blood as well as the removal of carbon dioxide.

Asbestosis presents as a restrictive lung disease. The total lung capacity (TLC) may be reduced through alveolar wall thickening. In the more severe cases, the drastic reduction in lung function due to the stiffening of the lungs and reduced TLC may induce right-sided heart failure (cor pulmonale).cite journal |author=Roggli VL, Sanders LL |title=Asbestos content of lung tissue and carcinoma of the lung: a clinicopathologic correlation and mineral fiber analysis of 234 cases |journal=Ann Occup Hyg |volume=44 |issue=2 |pages=109–17 |year=2000 |pmid=10717262 |doi= |url=http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=10717262] cite journal |author=Burdorf A, Swuste P |title=An expert system for the evaluation of historical asbestos exposure as diagnostic criterion in asbestos-related diseases |journal=Ann Occup Hyg |volume=43 |issue=1 |pages=57–66 |year=1999 |pmid=10028894 |doi= |url=http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=10028894]

More than 50% of people affected with asbestosis develop plaques in the parietal pleura, in the space between the chest wall and lungs. Clinically, patients present with dry inspiratory crackles, clubbing of the fingers, and a diffuse fibrotic pattern in the lower lung lobes (where asbestosis is most prevalent).

Treatment

There is no curative treatment.cite book |author=Berger, Stephen A.; Castleman, Barry I. |title=Asbestos: medical and legal aspects |publisher=Aspen Publishers |location=Gaithersburg, Md |year=2005 |pages= |isbn=0-7355-5260-6 |oclc= |doi= |accessdate=] Oxygen therapy at home is often necessary to relieve the shortness of breath. Supportive treatment of symptoms includes respiratory physiotherapy to remove secretions from the lungs by postural drainage, chest percussion, and vibration. Nebulized medications may be prescribed in order to dilute secretions.

Legal issues

The first lawsuits against asbestos manufacturers were in 1929. Since then, many lawsuits have been filed against asbestos manufacturers and employers , for neglecting to implement safety measures after the link between asbestos, asbestosis and mesothelioma became known (some reports seem to place this as early as 1898 in modern times). The liability resulting from the sheer number of lawsuits and people affected has reached billions of dollars. The amounts and method of allocating compensation have been the source of many court cases, and government attempts at resolution of existing and future cases.

See also

*Pneumoconiosis

References

External links

* [http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/asbestos/ ATSDR Case Studies in Environmental Medicine: Asbestos Toxicity] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
* [http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/index.htm British Government Health and Safety Executive]
* [http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/asbestos Asbestos Exposure - National Cancer Institute, USA]
* [http://www.health.qld.gov.au/phs/Documents/ehu/2691.pdf Public Health Guidance: Asbestos, Queensland Govt., Australia]
* [http://www.epa.gov/iris/subst/0371.htm Integrated Risk Information System: Asbestos]
* [http://www.lung.ca/diseases-maladies/a-z/asbestosis-asbestose/index_e.php Information on Asbestos Induced Conditions]