Asbestos is associated with both pleural plaques and diffuse pleural thicken ing. While the first condition is believed to be associated with no significant change in lung function, the latter clearly is associated with a decline in lung function. Some of the studies dealing with the functional effects of pleural plaques suffer from radiologic misreading of plaques, inadequate spirometry and inadequate control for the effect of gain in weight on lung function.
Garabrant DH , Fine LJ, Oliver C., Bernstein L., Peters JM: Abnormalities of pulmonary function and pleural disease among titanium metal production workers. Scand J Work Environ Health1987;13:47-51.
2.
Lockey J., Lemasters G., Rice C., Hansen K., Levin L., Shipley R., Spitz H., Wiot J.: Refractory ceramic fiber exposure and pleural plaques. Am J Respir Crit Care Med1996;154:1405-1410.
3.
Hillerdal G. , Malmberg P., Hemmingsson A.: Asbestos-related lesions of the pleura: Parietal plaques compared to diffuse thickening studied with chest roentgenography, computed tomography, lung function, and gas exchange . Am J Indust Med1990;18:627-639.
4.
Kee ST, Gamsu G., Blanc P.: Causes of pulmonary impairment in asbestos-exposed individuals with diffuse pleural thickening. Am J Respir Crit Care Med1996; 154:789-793.
5.
McLoud TC, Woods BO, Carrington CB, Epler GR, Gaensler EA: Diffuse pleural thickening in an asbestos-exposed population: Prevalence and causes. Am J Roentgenol1985;144:9-18.
6.
Gaensler EA, Jederlinic PJ, McLoud TC: Lung function with asbestos-related circumscribed plaques. Epidemiology - Silica and Asbestos. Seventh International Pneumoconiosis Conference. National Institute of Occupational Health - International Labor Organization. US Department of Health and Human Services . NIOSH Publication 90-108, Washington, 1990, pp 696-702.
7.
Hjortsberg U. , Orbaek P., Arborelius M., Ranstam J., Welinder, H.: Railroad workers with pleural plaques. I. Spirometry and nitrogen washout investigation on smoking and non-smoking asbestos-exposed workers. Am J Indust Med1988;14:635-641.
8.
Kouris SP, Parker DL, Bender AP, Williams AN: Effects of asbestos-related pleural disease on pulmonary function . Scand J Work Environ Health1991;17:179-183.
9.
Jarvholm B., Sanden A.: Pleural plaques and respiratory function. Am J Indust Med1986; 10:419-426.
10.
Oliver LC, Eisen EA, Greene R.: Asbestos-related pleural plaques and lung function. Am J Indust Med1988;14:649-656.
11.
Bourbeau J. , Ernst P., Chrome J., Armstrong B., Becklake MR: The relationship between respiratory impairment and asbestos-related pleural abnormality in an active work force. Am Rev Respir Dis1990 ;142:837-842.
12.
Schwartz DA , Fuortes LJ, Galvin JR, Burmeister LF, Schmidt LE, Leistikow BN, LaMarte FP, Merchant JA: Asbestos-induced pleural fibrosis and impaired lung function. Am Rev Respir Dis1990;141:321-326.
13.
Kilburn KH, Warshaw RH: Abnormal pulmonary function associated with diaphragmatic pleural plaques due to exposure to asbestos. Br J Indust Med1990;47:611-614.
14.
Kilburn KH, Warshaw RH: Abnormal lung function associated with asbestos disease of the pleura, the lung, and both: A comparative analysis. Thorax1991;46:33-38.
15.
Gaensler EA , Watson TR, Patton WE: Bronchospirometry. VI. Results of 1,089 examinations . J Lab Clin Med1953;41:436.
16.
Vassallo CL , Gee Jbl, Wholey MH, Vester JW: Lung scanning in hilar bronchogenic carcinoma . Am Rev Respir Dis1968;97:851-858.
17.
Siebens AA, Storey CF, Newman MM: The physiologic effects of fibrothorax and the functional results of surgical treatment. J Thoracic Surg1956 ;32:53.
18.
Gee Jbl: Occupational lung disease; in Simmons DH, Tierney DF (eds): Current Pulmonology. St. Louis, Mosby-Year Book, 1992 , vol 13, pp 230-232.
19.
Mohsenin V., Gee Jbl: Effect of obesity on the respiratory system and pathophysiology of sleep apnoea ; in Tierney DF (ed): Current Pulmonology. St. Louis, Mosby-Year Book, 1993, vol 14, p 230.
20.
Wang M., McCabe L., Hankinson JL, Shamssain MH, Gunel E., Lapp NL, Banks DE: Longitudinal and cross-sectional analyses of lung function in steelworkers . Am J Respir Crit Care Med1996;153:1907-1913.