Sarcoidlike lung granulomatosis induced by aluminum dusts

Am Rev Respir Dis. 1987 Feb;135(2):493-7. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1987.135.2.493.

Abstract

Interstitial lung disease developed in a 32-yr-old chemist after working 8 yr in a dusty atmosphere containing aluminum powders. Bronchoalveolar lavage disclosed a helper T-lymphocyte alveolitis, and transbronchial lung biopsies showed sarcoidlike epithelioid granulomas. These granulomas contained dust identified by mineralogic analyses as consisting mainly of aluminum particles. Nasal and liver biopsies and a Kveim test did not reveal extrapulmonary granulomatous infiltration. An extensive immunologic work-up showed none of the abnormalities classically seen in sarcoidosis, but peripheral blood lymphocytes exhibited blastic transformation in the presence of soluble aluminum compounds. About 1 yr after cessation of exposure, a chest radiograph and lung function tests remained essentially unchanged, but signs of alveolitis disappeared. This observation suggests that aluminum may cause granulomatous lung disease accompanied by a helper T-lymphocyte alveolitis, similar to that of berylliosis and sarcoidosis. Further observations would be necessary to show if this constitutes an early stage of aluminum-induced fibrosis (aluminum lung).

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aluminum / adverse effects*
  • Bronchi / metabolism
  • Dust / adverse effects*
  • Granuloma / chemically induced*
  • Granuloma / diagnostic imaging
  • Granuloma / immunology
  • Granuloma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Lung Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Lung Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung Diseases / immunology
  • Lung Diseases / pathology
  • Male
  • Minerals / metabolism
  • Pulmonary Alveoli / metabolism
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Sarcoidosis / pathology*
  • Therapeutic Irrigation

Substances

  • Dust
  • Minerals
  • Aluminum