Long-term follow-up of beryllium sensitized workers from a single employer.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Up to 12% of beryllium-exposed American workers would test positive on beryllium lymphocyte proliferation test (BeLPT) screening, but the implications of sensitization remain uncertain.

METHODS:

Seventy two current and former employees of a beryllium manufacturer, including 22 with pathologic changes of chronic beryllium disease (CBD), and 50 without, with a confirmed positive test were followed-up for 7.4 +/-3.1 years.

RESULTS:

Beyond predicted effects of aging, flow rates and lung volumes changed little from baseline, while DLCO dropped 17.4% of predicted on average. Despite this group decline, only 8 subjects (11.1%) demonstrated physiologic or radiologic abnormalities typical of CBD. Other than baseline status, no clinical or laboratory feature distinguished those who clinically manifested CBD at follow-up from those who did not.

CONCLUSIONS:

The clinical outlook remains favorable for beryllium-sensitized individuals over the first 5-12 years. However, declines in DLCO may presage further and more serious clinical manifestations in the future. These conclusions are tempered by the possibility of selection bias and other study limitations.

• Authors: Mona Duggal, David C Deubner, Anne M Curtis, Mark R Cullen
• Journal: BMC public health (BMC Public Health) Vol. 10 Pg. 5 (Jan 04 2010) ISSN: 1471-2458 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 20047684 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Air Pollutants, Occupational
• Beryllium

Topics

• Adult
• Air Pollutants, Occupational (adverse effects)
• Berylliosis (diagnosis, epidemiology)
• Beryllium (adverse effects, immunology)
• Chronic Disease
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Hypersensitivity (diagnosis, epidemiology, etiology)
• Industry
• Lymphocyte Activation (drug effects)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Occupational Exposure (adverse effects)
• Respiratory Function Tests
• Risk Factors
• United States (epidemiology)