Sarcoidlike lung granulomatosis induced by aluminum dusts.
Interstitial lung disease developed in a 32-yr-old chemist after working 8 yr in a dusty atmosphere containing aluminum powders. Bronchoalveolar lavage disclosed a helper T-lymphocyte alveolitis, and transbronchial lung biopsies showed sarcoidlike epithelioid granulomas. These granulomas contained dust identified by mineralogic analyses as consisting mainly of aluminum particles. Nasal and liver biopsies and a Kveim test did not reveal extrapulmonary granulomatous infiltration. An extensive immunologic work-up showed none of the abnormalities classically seen in sarcoidosis, but peripheral blood lymphocytes exhibited blastic transformation in the presence of soluble aluminum compounds. About 1 yr after cessation of exposure, a chest radiograph and lung function tests remained essentially unchanged, but signs of alveolitis disappeared. This observation suggests that aluminum may cause granulomatous lung disease accompanied by a helper T-lymphocyte alveolitis, similar to that of berylliosis and sarcoidosis. Further observations would be necessary to show if this constitutes an early stage of aluminum-induced fibrosis (aluminum lung).
D000328:Adult; D000535:Aluminum / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001980:Bronchi / Q000378:metabolism; D004391:Dust / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006099:Granuloma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008903:Minerals / Q000378:metabolism; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000378:metabolism; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000473:pathology*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation
D004391:Dust; D008903:Minerals; D000535:Aluminum