title: Acute silicosis responding to corticosteroid therapy.
abstract: The course of acute silicosis usually is relentlessly progressive. Death results from cor pulmonale and respiratory failure, with mycobacterial infection a frequent serious complication. Attempts to treat the illness generally have been unavailing. We report an unusual case of acute silicosis in which improvement in clinical status, chest x-ray film findings and pulmonary function occurred following therapy with corticosteroids. To our knowledge, this is the first such case reported in the medical literature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown.
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stachura
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Castranova
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Pailes
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Lapp
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011859:Radiography; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics; D012829:Silicosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D011241:Prednisone