Long-term follow-up of beryllium sensitized workers from a single employer.
BACKGROUND
Up to 12% of beryllium-exposed American workers would test positive on beryllium lymphocyte proliferation test (BeLPT) screening, but the implications of sensitization remain uncertain.


METHODS
Seventy two current and former employees of a beryllium manufacturer, including 22 with pathologic changes of chronic beryllium disease (CBD), and 50 without, with a confirmed positive test were followed-up for 7.4 +/-3.1 years.


RESULTS
Beyond predicted effects of aging, flow rates and lung volumes changed little from baseline, while DLCO dropped 17.4% of predicted on average. Despite this group decline, only 8 subjects (11.1%) demonstrated physiologic or radiologic abnormalities typical of CBD. Other than baseline status, no clinical or laboratory feature distinguished those who clinically manifested CBD at follow-up from those who did not.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical outlook remains favorable for beryllium-sensitized individuals over the first 5-12 years. However, declines in DLCO may presage further and more serious clinical manifestations in the future. These conclusions are tempered by the possibility of selection bias and other study limitations.
Duggal
Mona
M
Stanford University, Department of General Internal Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94306, USA. mrcullen@stanford.edu
Deubner
David C
DC
Curtis
Anne M
AM
Cullen
Mark R
MR
D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001607:Berylliosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001608:Beryllium / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D007221:Industry; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D001608:Beryllium