A study on the prognosis of patients with asbestos pleurisy
Tamura, M.; Okamoto, Y.; Tokuyama, T.; Hamada, K.; Kasuga, H.; Yoneda, T.; Miyazaki, R.; Narita, N.
Nihon Kyobu Shikkan Gakkai Zasshi 35(10): 1047-1053
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0301-1542 PMID: 9465614 Document Number: 480135
We investigated the outcome of patients with asbestos pleurisy. The mean follow-up period of 12 patients was 6.5 +/- 3.7 years. Recurrence occurred in 5 patients (41.7%). Six of the cases recurred contralateral to the original lesion, while one recurred ipsilaterally. The mean period from onset to recurrence was 2.8 +/- 2.8 years. Five of the cases ended in death, and the mean period from onset to death was 5.0 +/- 3.1 years. Two patients died from pneumonia, 2 died from respiratory failure due to progressive pleural fibrosis, and 1 died from lung cancer. One of the 2 patients with progressive pleural fibrosis had leukopenia. It has been reported that the majority of cases of asbestos pleurisy resolve spontaneously, with a good prognosis. However, because of the possible mortality associated with respiratory failure caused by progressive pleural fibrosis, it seems prudent to follow patients with asbestos pleurisy closely.