Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis in workers at an indium processing facility.

Abstract

Two cases of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, including one death, occurred in workers at a facility producing indium-tin oxide (ITO), a compound used in recent years to make flat panel displays. Both workers were exposed to airborne ITO dust and had indium in lung tissue specimens. One worker was tested for autoantibodies to granulocytemacrophage-colonystimulating factor (GM-CSF) and found to have an elevated level. These cases suggest that inhalational exposure to ITO causes pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, which may occur via an autoimmune mechanism.

• Authors: Kristin J Cummings, Walter E Donat, David B Ettensohn, Victor L Roggli, Peter Ingram, Kathleen Kreiss
• Journal: American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine (Am J Respir Crit Care Med) Vol. 181 Issue 5 Pg. 458-64 (Mar 01 2010) ISSN: 1535-4970 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20019344 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural)

Chemical References

• Autoantibodies
• Tin Compounds
• indium tin oxide
• Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor

Topics

• Adult
• Autoantibodies (immunology)
• Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor (immunology)
• Humans
• Industry
• Lung (drug effects, pathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Occupational Diseases (chemically induced, immunology)
• Occupational Exposure (adverse effects)
• Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis (chemically induced, immunology, pathology)
• Tin Compounds (adverse effects)
• Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed
• United States