Chronic beryllium disease: Diagnosis and management

Journal Article · Tue Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Environmental Health Perspectives

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3433015· OSTI ID:530617

Rossman, M D ^[1]

---

1. Hospital of the Univ. of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (United States)

Chronic beryllium disease is predominantly a pulmonary granulomatosis that was originally described in 1946. Symptoms usually include dyspnea and cough. Fever, anorexia, and weight loss are common. Skin lesions are the most common extrathoracic manifestation. Granulomatous hepatitis, hypercalcemia, and kidney stones can also occur. Radiographic and physiologic abnormalities are similar to those in sarcoidosis. While traditionally the pathologic changes included granulomas and cellular interstitial changes, the hallmark of the disease today is the well-formed granuloma. Immunologic studies have demonstrated a cell-mediated response to beryllium that is due to an accumulation of CD4{sup +} T cells at the site of disease activity. Diagnosis depends on the demonstration of pathologic changes (i.e., granuloma) and evidence that the granuloma was caused by a hypersensitivity to beryllium (i.e., positive lung proliferative response to beryllium). Using these criteria, the diagnosis of chronic beryllium disease can now be made before the onset of clinical symptoms. Whether, with early diagnosis, the natural course of this condition will be the same as when it was traditionally diagnosed is not known. Currently, corticosteroids are used to treat patients with significant symptoms or evidence of progressive disease. 21 refs.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 530617
• Report Number(s): CONF-9504282--
• Journal Information: Environmental Health Perspectives, Journal Name: Environmental Health Perspectives Journal Issue: Suppl.5 Vol. 104; ISSN EVHPAZ; ISSN 0091-6765
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
ANOREXIA
BERYLLIUM
BIOLOGICAL MARKERS
DIAGNOSIS
GRANULOMAS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HEPATITIS
LUNGS
NEOPLASMS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
SYMPTOMS
TOXICITY