Marked Recovery From Paraquat-Induced Lung Injury During Long-Term Follow-up.
10.3904/kjim.2009.24.2.95
- Author:
Kwon Hyun LEE
1
;
Hyo Wook GIL
;
Young Tong KIM
;
Jong Oh YANG
;
Eun Young LEE
;
Sae Yong HONG
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Cheonan, Korea. hwgil@schca.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Tomography;
Paraquat;
Survivors
- MeSH:
Adolescent;
Adult;
Aged;
Bronchiectasis/chemically induced;
Female;
Follow-Up Studies;
Forced Expiratory Volume;
Herbicides/*toxicity;
Humans;
Lung/*drug effects/physiopathology/radiography;
Lung Injury/*chemically induced/physiopathology/radiography/therapy;
Lung Volume Measurements;
Male;
Middle Aged;
Paraquat/*toxicity;
Pulmonary Fibrosis/chemically induced;
Recovery of Function;
Retrospective Studies;
*Survivors;
Time Factors;
Tomography, X-Ray Computed;
Vital Capacity;
Young Adult
- From:The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine
2009;24(2):95-100
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Paraquat-induced lung injury has been considered a progressive and irreversible disease. The purpose of this study was to report the long-term evolution of lung lesions in eight survivors with significant paraquat-induced lung injuries who could be followed-up for longer than 6 months. METHODS: We retrospectively examined high-resolution computed tomography and pulmonary function test of eight survivors with significant paraquat-induced lung injurys. RESULTS: High-resolution computed tomography revealed a predominant pattern of irregularly shaped consolidation with traction bronchiectasis at 1-2 months after paraquat poisoning, a mixed pattern of irregularly shaped consolidation and ground-glass opacity at 3-12 months, and a mixed pattern of consolidation, groundglass opacity, and honeycombing at 1-2 years. At 3-12 months after paraquat ingestion, the areas of consolidation had markedly decreased and the decreased lung volume had returned to normal. At 1-2 years after paraquat poisoning, the cystic changes had disappeared. At 2-3 years after paraquat poisoning, the decrease in forced vital capacity had greatly improved to the normal range. CONCLUSIONS: Recovery of nearly normal pulmonary structure and function may occur over several years following paraquat poisoning. Pulmonary function (both forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 sec) evolved toward normal in the long-term survivors of paraquat poisoning with initial prominent lung injuries.
