What Is Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a specific disease characteristic of people whose profession is related to the inhalation of asbestos. Most often, it is diagnosed in workers employed in the field of thermal insulation, since materials to reduce thermal conductivity contain asbestos.
The risk for this disease is also high among miners, builders, workers in the textile industry, as well as people not employed in these professions, but living near mines and large industrial enterprises.
The main types of asbestos that provoke asbestosis are chrysotile, chrocidotil and amosite.
Inhalation of the finest dust provokes the deposition of asbestos fibers in the respiratory tract and deep in the lungs. At the same time, the pleura gradually thickens and interstitial tissue fibrosis develops.
There are also cases when it is not possible to trace the connection between the occurrence of asbestosis and the presence of asbestos in the patient’s environment. Benign focal lesions of the pleura and effusion, some malignant tumors of the lung and malignant pleural mesothelioma in some cases are also diagnose as “asbestosis”.
Asbestosis Symptoms
The process of development of lung tissue fibrosis begins with the accumulation of asbestos, which has a toxic effect, and its absorption by alveolar macrophages. This activates growth factors and cytokine production. At the stage of inflammation, collagen is deposited and fibrosis of the lung tissue develops.
The likelihood of developing asbestosis and subsequent complications depends on the type and geometry of asbestos fibers entering the respiratory tract, and is also significantly related to the regularity and duration of respiratory contact with asbestos dust.
Unfortunately, asbestosis at the initial stage does not have severe or specific asbestosis symptoms. Shortness of breath, progressive cough, and general malaise may develop gradually. Since asbestos can not remove from the lungs, even in the case of a change of place of work or residence, the disease can progress on the basis of toxic fibers already settled in the tissues. In 10% of cases, patients have a negative trend when conditions change, and it is impossible to avoid deterioration by eliminating the ingress of new portions of asbestos.
The defeat of the pleura is manifested:
- spikes;
- thickenings;
- effusion formation;
- pleural overlays;
- calcification;
- mesothelioma.
Cough, as a rule, is not accompanied by excitation of sputum. Indirect signs can be considered basilar dry rales, thickening of the phalanges of the fingers, right ventricular failure (cor pulmonale).
Asbestosis Diagnosis
Diagnosis of asbestosis cannot be based only on the patient’s complaints, anamnesis, visible symptoms, analysis of living conditions and the nature of the patient’s professional activity. The survey must include:
- radiography of the lungs;
- high resolution CT;
- biopsy of lung tissue (if necessary).
Only data obtained during hardware diagnostics clearly indicate the presence of pleural deposits and fibrosis. At the same time, reticular focal infiltrates are detected. Advanced asbestosis in the later stages can create a “honeycomb lung” pattern involving the middle lung fields.
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Asbestosis Treatment And Prognosis
There is no specific treatment for asbestosis. If you identify malignant mesothelioma and other complications, treatment may not be appropriate.
If asbestosis has already been complicated by right ventricular failure and hypoxemia, treatment tactics are directed to solving these problems. Pulmonary rehabilitation may indicate.
In the presence of a malignant process, the issue of surgical treatment and chemotherapy is decided.
Naturally, in all cases, a change in living and working conditions is recommended if a relationship between the disease and these factors is revealed. It is also highly desirable to stop smoking, since asbestosis in combination with nicotine addiction poses a high risk of developing non-small cell lung cancer. The incidence of this diagnosis is 10 times higher in smokers with asbestosis.
With the possibility of changing working and living conditions, the prognosis in most cases is favorable. The development of asbestosis stops spontaneously or treatment has a positive effect.
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