pulmonary disorders
Beryllium Disease
Treatment of Beryllium Disease
Discontinuation of exposure Sometimes corticosteroids and immunosuppressants Patients with chronic beryllium disease should be removed from further exposure to beryllium. The natural history of chronic beryllium disease is variable, and some patients do not require treatment because the disease is stable or progresses relatively slowly. Otherwise, treatment is similar to that of pulmonary Sarcoidosis . Corticosteroids are usually started in patients with a combination of pulmonary symptoms and clinical evidence of disease progression ( Treatment references ). Spontaneous remission of chronic beryllium disease is uncommon. Patients with end-stage disease may be eligible for Lung and Heart-Lung Transplantation . Supportive measures, such as supplemental oxygen therapy, 1.Balmes JR, Abraham JL, Dweik RA, et al. An official American Thoracic Society statement: diagnosis and management of beryllium sensitivity and chronic beryllium disease.Am J Respir Crit Care Med2014;190(10):e34-e59. doi:10.1164/rccm.201409-1722ST 2.MacMurdo MG, Mroz MM, Culver DA, Dweik RA, Maier LA. Chronic Beryllium Disease: Update on a Moving Target.Chest2020;158(6):2458-2466. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2020.07.074 