Published ahead of print on September 16, 2004, doi:10.1164/rccm.200402-190OC
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., Volume 171, Number 1, January 2005, 54-60
A more recent version of this article appeared on January 1, 2005
Submitted on March 5, 2004
Accepted on September 15, 2004
Beryllium Sensitization Progresses to Chronic Beryllium Disease:A Longitudinal Study of Disease Risk
Lee S Newman1*, Margaret M Mroz2, Ronald Balkissoon3, and Lisa A Maier1
1 Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, CO, USA; Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine and Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO, USA,
2 Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, CO, USA,
3 Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine and Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO, USA; Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, CO, USA
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: newmanl{at}njc.org.
The blood beryllium lymphocyte proliferation test is used in medical surveillance to identify both beryllium sensitization and chronic beryllium disease. Approximately 50% of individuals with beryllium sensitization have chronic beryllium disease at the time of their initial clinical evaluation, however, the rate of progression from beryllium sensitization to chronic beryllium disease is unknown. We followed a cohort of beryllium-sensitized patients at two-year intervals using bronchoalveolar lavage and repeated transbronchial lung biopsies to determine progression to chronic beryllium disease as evidenced by granulomatous inflammation in lung tissue. Fifty-five individuals with beryllium sensitization were followed with a range of 2 to 5 clinical evaluations. Disease developed in 17 (31%) of sensitized individuals within an average follow-up period of 3.8 years (range: 1.0-9.5 years). Thirty-eight of the 55 (69%) remained beryllium sensitized without disease after an average follow-up time of 4.8 years (range: 1.7-11.6 years) Progressors were more likely to have worked as machinists. We found no difference in average age, gender, race or ethnicity, smoking status or beryllium exposure time between those who progressed to chronic beryllium disease and those who remained sensitized without disease. We conclude that beryllium sensitization is an adverse health effect in beryllium-exposed workers and merits medical follow-up.
Key words: beryllium, berylliosis, lymphocyte proliferation test, transbronchial biopsy, medical surveillance
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
|
|
 
R. Vincent, J. Catani, Y. Creau, A.-M. Frocaut, A. Good, P. Goutet, A. Hou, F. Leray, M.-A. Andre-Lesage, and A. Soyez
Occupational Exposure to Beryllium in French Enterprises: A Survey of Airborne Exposure and Surface Levels
Ann. Hyg.,
June 1, 2009;
53(4):
363 - 372.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. W. Kamp
Pneumoconiosis
ACCP Pulmonary Med Brd Rev,
January 1, 2009;
25(0):
369 - 390.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. A Snyder, E. Demchuk, E. C McCanlies, C. R Schuler, K. Kreiss, M. E Andrew, B. L Frye, J. S Ensey, M. L Stanton, and A. Weston
Impact of negatively charged patches on the surface of MHC class II antigen-presenting proteins on risk of chronic beryllium disease
J R Soc Interface,
July 6, 2008;
5(24):
749 - 758.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. R. Dobis, R. T. Sawyer, M. M. Gillespie, J. Huang, L. S. Newman, L. A. Maier, and B. J. Day
Modulation of Lymphocyte Proliferation by Antioxidants in Chronic Beryllium Disease
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.,
May 1, 2008;
177(9):
1002 - 1011.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. A. Maier, J. W. Martyny, J. Liang, and M. D. Rossman
Recent Chronic Beryllium Disease in Residents Surrounding a Beryllium Facility
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.,
May 1, 2008;
177(9):
1012 - 1017.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. J Cummings, D. C Deubner, G. A Day, P. K Henneberger, M. M Kitt, M. S Kent, K. Kreiss, and C. R Schuler
Enhanced preventive programme at a beryllium oxide ceramics facility reduces beryllium sensitisation among new workers
Occup. Environ. Med.,
February 1, 2007;
64(2):
134 - 140.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. A. DAY, A. DUFRESNE, A. B. STEFANIAK, C. R. SCHULER, M. L. STANTON, W. E. MILLER, M. S. KENT, D. C. DEUBNER, K. KREISS, and M. D. HOOVER
Exposure Pathway Assessment at a Copper-Beryllium Alloy Facility
Ann. Hyg.,
January 1, 2007;
51(1):
67 - 80.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Muller-Quernheim, K. I. Gaede, E. Fireman, and G. Zissel
Diagnoses of chronic beryllium disease within cohorts of sarcoidosis patients
Eur. Respir. J.,
June 1, 2006;
27(6):
1190 - 1195.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. Nawrot, A. Nemmar, and B. Nemery
Update in environmental and occupational medicine 2005.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.,
May 1, 2006;
173(9):
948 - 952.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. K. Takaro and L. Pepper
Screening for Chronic Beryllium Disease
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.,
November 1, 2005;
172(9):
1230 - 1230.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. Nemery, W. W. Yew, R. Albert, C. Brun-Buisson, W. MacNee, F. J. Martinez, D. C. Angus, and E. Abraham
Tuberculosis, Nontuberculous Lung Infection, Pleural Disorders, Pulmonary Function, Respiratory Muscles, Occupational Lung Disease, Pulmonary Infections, and Social Issues in AJRCCM in 2004
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.,
March 15, 2005;
171(6):
554 - 562.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. R. Cullen
Screening for Chronic Beryllium Disease: One Hurdle Down, Two to Go
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.,
January 1, 2005;
171(1):
3 - 4.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
Copyright © 2004 American Thoracic Society
|
|
|
