title: Sequential radiologic and functional pulmonary changes in patients with paraquat intoxication.
abstract: The sequential changes of paraquat-induced pulmonary damage were studied using high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in long-term follow-up. Among the cohort of 27 patients who had ingested paraquat, the HRCT findings showed a normal (n = 14) and an abnormal group (n = 13). Increased paraquat ingestion in the abnormal group was associated with more rapid and severe pulmonary changes. Ground-glass opacity on HRCT peaked on day 7 after ingestion. Between 2 weeks and 1 month, consolidation increased and pulmonary fibrosis progressed, and slow improvements were observed for up to six months. Compared with the PFT results obtained at 1 and 6.5 months, FVC, FEV1, and diffusing capacity all improved slightly. Lung changes after paraquat intoxication are functionally and radiologically reversible following treatment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, College of Medicine, University of Ulsan, 388-1, Pungnap-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.forename: Sang Bum
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Chae-Man
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Kyung-Hyen
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Do
authors.forename: Jin Seoung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Younsuck
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Koh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006540:Herbicides / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000139:chemically induced; D010269:Paraquat / Q000506:poisoning*; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D006540:Herbicides; D010269:Paraquat