Nonoccupational beryllium disease masquerading as sarcoidosis: identification by blood lymphocyte proliferative response to beryllium
LS Newman, K Kreiss - Am Rev Respir Dis, 1992 - atsjournals.org
LS Newman, K Kreiss
Am Rev Respir Dis, 1992•atsjournals.orgChronic granulomatous lung disease caused by industrial exposure to beryllium continues
to occur, but no community cases have been reported in more than 30 yr. With the advent of
a blood screening test that detects beryllium sensitization, physicians can discriminate
chronic beryllium disease from sarcoidosis. A 56-yr-old woman in whom sarcoidosis was
diagnosed had an unremarkable occupational history, but her husband was a beryllium
production worker. Blood and bronchoalveolar lavage lymphocyte transformation tests …
to occur, but no community cases have been reported in more than 30 yr. With the advent of
a blood screening test that detects beryllium sensitization, physicians can discriminate
chronic beryllium disease from sarcoidosis. A 56-yr-old woman in whom sarcoidosis was
diagnosed had an unremarkable occupational history, but her husband was a beryllium
production worker. Blood and bronchoalveolar lavage lymphocyte transformation tests …
Summary
Chronic granulomatous lung disease caused by industrial exposure to beryllium continues to occur, but no community cases have been reported in more than 30 yr. With the advent of a blood screening test that detects beryllium sensitization, physicians can discriminate chronic beryllium disease from sarcoidosis. A 56-yr-old woman in whom sarcoidosis was diagnosed had an unremarkable occupational history, but her husband was a beryllium production worker. Blood and bronchoalveolar lavage lymphocyte transformation tests, measuring the beryll lum-speclflc cellular Immune response, were abnormal, confirming a diagnosis of chronic beryllium disease. Chronic beryllium disease continues to occur in the nonoccupational setting and among bystanders In
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