Patterns of lung dysfunction in chronic beryllium disease.

Abstract

Pulmonary function was studied in 41 patients with chronic beryllium disease an average of 23 years after their first exposure to beryllium. Almost all of the patients had been treated with corticosteroids. Three patterns of lung function impairment were found. Fifteen patients (36 per cent) showed an interstitial defect only. Eight patients (20 per cent) showed a restrictive defect as well. Sixteen patients (39 per cent) showed evidence of airway obstruction. Serial tests in 24 patients showed the course of beryllium lung disease to be more disabling in the patients with obstructive and restrictive defects. These patients had the most severe hypoxemia and the largest alveolar-arterial oxygen gradients. Pulmonary function tests are of value in identifying the type of physiologic impairment, which is an important determinant of prognosis of this disease.