ST Kee, G Gamsu and P Blanc
Department of Radiology, University of California San Francisco, USA.

To examine whether diffuse pleural thickening (DPT) causes impairment of pulmonary function independent of other manifestations of asbestos- related disease, we studied individuals selected from 1,150 men with occupational asbestos exposure who had undergone pulmonary function testing and computed tomographic (CT) scanning. The CT scans revealed 84 subjects with DPT as defined for CT. Of these 84 subjects, 53 eligible study cases were matched by age with a referent group without DPT from the same exposed group. No difference was demonstrated between cases and referents in smoking history, length of exposure, latency, or the proportion with either interstitial fibrosis or pleural plaques. Individuals with DPT demonstrated significantly reduced forced vital capacity (FVC) (p = 0.002) and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) (p = 0.002) as compared with the referents. No difference was found in the two groups' FEV1 to FVC ratio (FEV1/FVC). Individuals with DPT and either interstitial fibrosis or pleural plaques showed a significantly lower FVC than did those with fibrosis or pleural plaques alone. Individuals with DPT and rounded atelectasis had similar pulmonary function to those with DPT and no rounded atelectasis. Subjects with DPT had a more frequent history of coronary bypass surgery than referents (19% versus 2%; p = 0.008). We conclude that subjects with DPT have restrictive pulmonary function and reduced diffusing capacity independent of other manifestations of asbestos- related disease.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. Arakawa, K. Honma, Y. Saito, H. Shida, H. Morikubo, N. Suganuma, and M. Fujioka Pleural Disease in Silicosis: Pleural Thickening, Effusion, and Invagination Radiology, August 1, 2005; 236(2): 685 - 693. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Diagnosis and Initial Management of Nonmalignant Diseases Related to Asbestos Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., September 15, 2004; 170(6): 691 - 715. [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. W. Cugell and D. W. Kamp Asbestos and the Pleura: A Review Chest, March 1, 2004; 125(3): 1103 - 1117. [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. J. Copley, A. U. Wells, M. B. Rubens, F. Chabat, R. E. Sheehan, A. W. Musk, and D. M. Hansell Functional Consequences of Pleural Disease Evaluated with Chest Radiography and CT Radiology, July 1, 2001; 220(1): 237 - 243. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. MUKHERJEE, N. de KLERK, L. J. PALMER, N. J. OLSEN, S. C. PANG, and A. WILLIAM MUSK Chest Pain in Asbestos-exposed Individuals with Benign Pleural and Parenchymal Disease Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., November 1, 2000; 162(5): 1807 - 1811. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				B. SINGH, P. R. EASTWOOD, K. E. FINUCANE, J. A. PANIZZA, and A. W. MUSK Effect of Asbestos-Related Pleural Fibrosis on Excursion of the Lower Chest Wall and Diaphragm Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., November 1, 1999; 160(5): 1507 - 1515. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				A. Sood and J. B. L. Gee Asbestos-Related Pleural Plaques and Diffuse Pleural Thickening: Functional Consequences Indoor and Built Environment, March 1, 1997; 6(2): 114 - 118. [Abstract] [PDF]