Secondary ion mass spectroscopy demonstrates retention of beryllium in chronic beryllium disease granulomas.
OBJECTIVE
We hypothesized that beryllium (Be) might persist in lung granulomas in patients with chronic beryllium disease (CBD).


METHODS
A total of 33 Be-exposed ceramics workers underwent transbronchial biopsy. They were classified based on histopathology and Be-lymphocyte proliferation test as CBD or other categories. Lung tissue sections were analyzed using secondary ion mass spectroscopy.


RESULTS
Be was detected in the lungs of all Be-exposed groups. Be levels were increased within the granulomas of patients with CBD compared with the Be levels outside granulomas. Notably, Be was detectable in the lungs of CBD patients who had ceased exposure to Be an average of 9 years previously.


CONCLUSIONS
Be was detected in the lungs of all Be-exposed subjects, with the highest levels of persistent Be inside CBD lung granulomas. Be antigen persistence may help explain the chronicity of this granulomatous disorder.
Sawyer
Richard T
RT
Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Robert Hollis Laboratory of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, Colorado, USA. sawyerr@niaid.nih.gov
Abraham
Jerrold L
JL
Daniloff
Elaine
E
Newman
Lee S
LS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001607:Berylliosis; D001608:Beryllium / Q000032:analysis*; D001706:Biopsy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D015769:Granuloma, Respiratory Tract; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D018629:Spectrometry, Mass, Secondary Ion / Q000379:methods*
D001608:Beryllium