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Asbestos‐induced visceral pleural fibrosis reduces pulmonary compliance
Author(s) -
Valkila Eeva H.,
Nieminen Markku M.,
Moilanen Aimo K.,
Kuusisto Paula A.,
Lahdensuo Aarne H. S.,
Karvonen Juha I.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.4700280306
Subject(s) - medicine , asbestos , pulmonary fibrosis , fibrosis , asbestosis , occupational exposure , pathology , cardiology , lung , environmental health , metallurgy , materials science
Abstract To determine the nature of respiratory functional impairment caused by asbestos‐induced visceral pleural fibrosis (VPF) and to discover which pulmonary physiological variable best reveals it, we examined 59 asbestos‐exposed construction workers having asbestos‐related changes on chest radiographs. Computed tomography scans of the thorax were also performed. Visceral pleural fibrosis was diagnosed in 29 subjects: seven had only VPF, 17 had VPF and pleural plaques, and five had VPF, plaques, and asbestosis. In subjects without VPF, 23 had plaques, six had plaques and asbestosis, and one had only minor fibrotic parenchymal changes insufficient for a diagnosis of asbestosis. Flow‐volume spirometry, body plethysmography, static and dynamic compliance, and pulmonary diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide were measured. The subjects with VPF had significantly lower static ( p = 0.005) and dynamic ( p = 0.007) compliance values than those without. Other respiratory function variables failed to show any significant differences. We conclude that the measurement of static and dynamic compliance is a useful method in assessing pulmonary function impairment caused by visceral pleural fibrosis.