Understanding Asbestosis

Asbestosis is a lung disease that causes damage and diffuse interstitial fibrosis. The term was coined by the British pathologist, Dr. Cooke, in the 1930's to describe post-mortem findings in the lungs of asbestos textile workers in the United Kingdom. Today it is widely accepted that asbestosis is undoubtedly a direct consequence of the duration and intensity of exposure to one of the types of asbestiform fibers.

The disease begins to manifest around for at least 10 years with moderate to severe exposure to asbestos. Physiological studies reveal lung, asbestosis, and the pattern of restriction, resulting in a significant decrease in both lung volume and the ability to spread. Try peribronkiolaarista fibrosis causes obstruction of airflow meek can also be seen. Reactive oxygen species arising from the transition metals on the surface of the fibers to cause oxidative damage to lung parenchyma. This will help a lot of fibrosis seen in the lung parenchyma. Cells involved in phagocytosis also affect fibrosis.

A chest radiograph can detect most of the damage caused by asbestos. Exhibition in the past is often seen as a thickening or calcification of the parietal pleura over the lower lung fields, the diaphragm and the heart border. These thickening or calcification is known as pleural plaques. Pleural effusions are usually mild or bloody exudate can also be seen. These spills can progress slowly or disappear spontaneously. As progresses asbestosis, pleural plaques, which are first observed in the lower lung fields gradually expanded in the middle and upper lung fields. This causes the characteristic appearance of lung cancer frosted glass in the chest radiographs.

The management of patients with asbestosis is primarily focused on supportive care. The therapy does not reverse the fibrosis. As with other interstitial lung diseases, the main targets for the treatment of asbestosis include permanent removal of irritants, in this case, the removal of asbestos containing products or yourself by taking on where the source, the early identification of symptoms of asbestosis, early diagnosis and correct and rapid processing aggressively suppress acute and chronic inflammatory processes are in place. All this is done to help reduce and prevent lung damage.

Glucocorticoids remain the mainstay of treatment for the removal of various forms of alveolitis in interstitial lung diseases including asbestosis. An initial dose of prednisone 0.5-1 mg / kg body weight in one dose per day is recommended. This dose is given for a period of 4 to 12 weeks, when the patient is reassessed. If the patient is assessed to be stable or, better yet, this dose is tapered to 0.25 to 0.5 mg / kg. This level was maintained for 4 to 12 weeks. Rapid withdrawal of glucocorticoids should be avoided to prevent recurrence of inflammatory processes. Another immunosuppressive agent that cyclophosphamide or azathioprine may be added if the patient continues to decrease when glucocorticoids alone. Lung transplantation may be considered after failure of maximal medical therapy to make improvements.

Asbestosis is a disease caused by an unavoidable exposure, continued to products containing asbestos. Warning methods precautions apply, especially those in high-risk occupations to minimize exposure.