title: Hard metal lung disorders: analysis of a group of exposed workers.
abstract: The experience gained during the last 5 years in the study of 36 male workers exposed to hard metal dusts (10 engaged in mixing, 12 in presintering, three in sintering and 11 in grinding) is presented. The mean age was 33.2 years (S.D., 11.8) and the mean number of years of exposure was 9.4 (S.D., 7.6). All subjects received a physical examination, chest X-rays, pulmonary function test (VC, FEV1, expiratory flows, RV, DLCO, and metacholine bronchial provocation test), skin tests, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and determination of trace metals in BAL, blood, urine, pubic hair and toe nails. Two cases of bronchial asthma, six cases of interstitial lung disease and one case with both disorders were identified; eight of these cases presented at BAL signs of alveolitis with different cytologic features. Among the other 27 asymptomatic subjects, two showed an aspecific bronchial hyperreactivity, four showed a reduced DLCO, 12 showed an inverted ratio of CD4/CD8 lymphocytes in BAL without signs of alveolitis while one subject presented both an aspecific bronchial reactivity and a reduced DLCO. The presence of aspecific bronchial hyperreactivity in asymptomatic subjects might represent a preclinical indicator of a possible evolution towards bronchial asthma. An altered DLCO, alone or associated with an inverted CD4/CD8 ratio of BAL lymphocytes, might constitute an early sign of a possible evolution towards interstitial lung disease. The association of aspecific bronchial reactivity and reduced DLCO might indicate the possible evolution towards a mixed form.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Research Center on the Biological Effects of Inhaled Dusts, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rivolta
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nicoli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferretti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomasini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; D004391:Dust / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012882:Skin Tests; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D004391:Dust; D008670:Metals; D013256:Steroids