title: Reexamination of the blood lymphocyte transformation test in the diagnosis of chronic beryllium disease.
abstract: The T cell response to beryllium, measured in bronchoalveolar lavage by the lymphocyte transformation test (LTT), is a critical diagnostic test for discriminating between chronic beryllium disease (CBD) and other granulomatous diseases. We examined the sensitivity, reproducibility, and methods of a less invasive, peripheral blood LTT in 17 patients with CBD and in 18 beryllium-exposed control subjects. Ninety-four percent of CBD cases (16/17) had abnormal blood LTT results, and all 18 beryllium-exposed control subjects had normal blood LTT results. Split samples for 10 beryllium disease cases and eight control subjects demonstrated that the blood LTT was reproducible between two separate laboratories. The LTT was equally sensitive with 10% and 20% serum in the culture medium. We conclude that an abnormal blood LTT can be used to diagnose CBD in patients with compatible lung pathology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Denver, Colo. 80206.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mroz
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kreiss
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Lezotte
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Newman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001607:Berylliosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001608:Beryllium / Q000494:pharmacology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D012016:Reference Values; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001608:Beryllium