TY - JOUR T1 - Severe emphysema in heavily indium-exposed workers: Case reports from a 10-year cohort study JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J DO - 10.1183/13993003.congress-2016.PA1166 VL - 48 IS - suppl 60 SP - PA1166 AU - Makiko Nakano AU - Kazuyuki Omae AU - Miyuki Hirata AU - Akiyo Tanaka Y1 - 2016/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/48/suppl_60/PA1166.abstract N2 - Background: Indium lung disease is a new occupational disease. The first fatal case of interstitial pneumonia due to indium exposure was reported in Japan in 2003, and indium-related lung diseases have been reported worldwide.Aim: To present three cases of heavily indium-exposed male workers with advanced or highly progressed emphysema.Methods: We conducted a follow-up study of 177 indium-exposed workers at three factories beginning in 2004 and examined the indium concentration in serum (In-S), serum biomarkers of interstitial pneumonia (KL-6), pulmonary function tests including DLco and chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). During the 10-year follow-up, three male workers showed radiologic evidence of severe emphysema.Results: All cases were smokers and showed high In-S. HRCT of Case 1 showed definitive progressive lung destruction from <10% to >75% of each upper lung field (ULF). HRCT of Case 2 showed progressive lung destruction from 50% to 75% of the left ULF. Case 3 showed stable FEV1 and no emphysematous change on HRCT; however, emphysematous changes had already occupied >75% of each ULF at the initial study. An increase of In-S during follow-up may cause the progression of emphysema compared to a stable In-S.#AgeExp. DIn-S (µg/L)KL-6 (U/mL)FEV1%DLEmphysema'04, '09, '15'04, '09, '15'04, '09, '1515'142699.7, 132.1, 37.62350, 1830, 16403.19, 2.14, 1.7315.2Progression23449.5, 10.8, 15.6259, 198, 3023.90, 3.63, 3.1666.9Progression3311390.1, 51.8, 47.01710, 1690, 19502.63, 2.59, 2.6935.2No changeExp D (y): indium exposure duration.Data for 3 casesConclusions: Heavy indium exposure causes not only interstitial pneumonia but also severe emphysema. ER -