Pulmonary function, smoking habits, and high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) early abnormalities of lung and pleural fibrosis in shipyard workers exposed to asbestos.
To evaluate the presence of asbestos-related pleural and parenchymal abnormalities and their correlation with pulmonary function and smoking habits, 119 asbestos-exposed asymptomatic workers (mean age, 46.2 years; mean duration of asbestos exposure, 8.6 years; mean latency time, 21.6 years) with normal standard P.A chest radiographs were submitted to HRCT, CO-diffusing capacity and pulmonary function tests. HRCT scans were normal only in 31 (26%) examined workers; 31 (26%) subjects showed both pleural and parenchymal involvement, and 50 (42%) and seven (6%) had exclusively pleural and parenchymal abnormalities, respectively. Based on CO-diffusing capacity and pulmonary function tests, no significant difference was demonstrated between workers with pleural lesions and subjects with normal pleura; however, lower values of FVC were observed in the nonsmoking workers with parenchymal abnormalities in comparison with nonsmoking subjects with normal parenchyma (78.2 vs. 89.7% of predicted values; p = 0.03 by student's two-tailed t test), and lower values of FEV1/FVC in the smokers with parenchymal lesions with respect to smokers with normal parenchyma (93.7 vs. 100.2% of predicted values; p = 0.005 by students' two-tailed t test). In conclusion, our results demonstrate that HRCT may detect early parenchymal abnormalities which correlate with exposure to asbestos and respiratory function impairment, including a reduction in obstructive indices in smokers occupationally exposed to asbestos, without any clinically evident disease.
Neri
S
S
National Health Service-USL 1 Tuscany, Unit of Prevention Hygiene and Safety in the Workplaces, Aulla (MS), Italy.
Boraschi
P
P
Antonelli
A
A
Falaschi
F
F
Baschieri
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D001194:Asbestos