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Search for Chronic Beryllium Disease Among Sarcoidosis Patients in Ontario, Canada

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Abstract

Chronic beryllium disease (CBD) is clinically similar to other granulomatous diseases such as sarcoidosis. It is often misdiagnosed if a thorough occupational history is not taken. When appropriate, a beryllium lymphocyte proliferation tests (BeLPT) need to be performed. We aimed to search for CBD among currently diagnosed pulmonary sarcoidosis patients and to identify the occupations and exposures in Ontario leading to CBD. Questionnaire items included work history and details of possible exposure to beryllium. Participants who provided a history of previous work with metals underwent BeLPTs and an ELISPOT on the basis of having a higher pretest probability of CBD. Among 121 sarcoid patients enrolled, 87 (72%) reported no known previous metal dust or fume exposure, while 34 (28%) had metal exposure, including 17 (14%) with beryllium exposure at work or home. However, none of these 34 who underwent testing had positive test results. Self-reported exposure to beryllium or metals was relatively common in these patients with clinical sarcoidosis, but CBD was not confirmed using blood assays in this population.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Michael Manno for assistance with statistical analyses and we thank the patients for their participation. Dr. Ribeiro was supported in part by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Brazil. This work was supported by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario (WSIB) Research Advisory Council.

Disclosures

M Ribeiro, L. G. Fritscher, A. M. Al-Musaed, M. S. Balter, V. Hoffstein, B. D. Mazer, L. A. Maier, G. M. Liss, and S. M. Tarlo have no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Marcos Ribeiro, Leandro G. Fritscher, Meyer S. Balter, Victor Hoffstein & Susan M. Tarlo

  2. Pulmonary Division, Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil

    Marcos Ribeiro

  3. Gage Occupational and Environmental Health Unit, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Ahmed M. Al-Musaed, Gary M. Liss & Susan M. Tarlo

  4. Division of Allergy and Immunology, Montreal Children’s Hospital Research Institute and Meakins-Christie Laboratories, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Bruce D. Mazer

  5. Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA

    Lisa A. Maier

  6. Department of Medicine, Toronto Western Hospital, 399 Bathurst St, EW7-449, Toronto, ON, M5T 2S8, Canada

    Marcos Ribeiro

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  1. Marcos Ribeiro
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  2. Leandro G. Fritscher
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  3. Ahmed M. Al-Musaed
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  4. Meyer S. Balter
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  5. Victor Hoffstein
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  6. Bruce D. Mazer
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  7. Lisa A. Maier
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  8. Gary M. Liss
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  9. Susan M. Tarlo
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Correspondence to Marcos Ribeiro.

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Ribeiro, M., Fritscher, L.G., Al-Musaed, A.M. et al. Search for Chronic Beryllium Disease Among Sarcoidosis Patients in Ontario, Canada. Lung 189, 233–241 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-011-9285-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-011-9285-4

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