Asbestos-associated neoplasms of B cell lineage.
Three different neoplasms of B cell lineage, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, immunoglobulin A (IgA) myeloma and immunoglobulin G (IgG) myeloma were detected in three patients who had heavy occupational exposure to asbestos dust. Two of the patients had coexistent pulmonary asbestosis, whereas the third patient had a pleural mesothelioma subsequent to his initial presentation with myeloma. Defective cell-mediated immunity and hyperactivity of B cell function have previously been noted in patients with asbestosis. We suggest the possibility that these asbestos-related immunologic derangements may predispose to the development of immunoproliferative and lymphoproliferative neoplasms, since such tumors have been observed in a variety of other settings, characterized by protracted hyperactivity of the immune system.
D000368:Aged; D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000150:complications*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000209:etiology*; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology
D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D001194:Asbestos