Citation

Studnicka MJ, Menzinger G, Drlicek M, Maruna H, Neumann MG. Thorax 1995; 50(5): 583-5; discussion 589.

Affiliation

First Internal Department, Centre for Pulmonary Disease, Vienna, Austria.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

7597677

PMCID

PMC1021235

Abstract

The case history is presented of a 58 year old man who was exposed to thermoplastic dusts, mainly polyvinyl chloride (PVC), for 10 years. Radiography and high resolution computed tomographic scans of the lungs suggested both pneumoconiotic and scleroderma-like lesions. Transbronchial biopsy revealed foreign body granulomas with macrophages laden with birefringent inclusions which ultrastructurally resembled PVC dust. Biopsy samples of thickened skin showed histological evidence of extensive fibrosis. During follow up Raynaud's phenomenon and oesophageal involvement developed. The antinuclear antibody titre was 1:640, and the Sc1-70 subset was positive. It is concluded that exposure to PVC dust may cause pneumoconiosis and secondary systemic sclerosis.

Language: en