Differential Diagnoses For Berylliosis

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is a form of lung inflammation that affects the alveoli (tiny air sacs) and the bronchioles (small airways) of an individual's lungs. This inflammation can manifest in several ways in which are similar to the manifestations of berylliosis. Chemicals or components in organic dust can trigger the hypersensitivity reaction that results in the characteristic inflammation of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. The substance the affected individual's immune system reacts to is called an antigen. The antigen settles into the alveoli of the exposed individual's lungs, where white blood cells engulf it and cause structural and functional damage to surrounding tissues. The immune system also produces antigen-specific antibodies in the affected individual's bloodstream. Symptoms of hypersensitivity pneumonitis usually occur somewhere between four and eight hours after exposure to the particular sensitized antigen. An individual affected by this type of inflammation can experience symptoms that also commonly occur in berylliosis patients, which include fever, breathlessness, persistent cough, and fatigue.

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Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

The symptoms that occur in berylliosis patients can also be indicative of an interstitial lung disease called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The cause of this disease is not clear, but individuals who are regularly exposed to fumes and dust seem to be more susceptible to developing it. Genetic factors may also play a role in an individual's risk of developing idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. This disease causes mild scarring to form at the edges of a patient's lungs that eventually worsens and moves into the center region of the lungs. Severe scarring occurs when healthy lung tissues are replaced by fibrous and dense scar tissue the body uses to heal itself from chronic damage. As the scarring in the lungs progresses, the affected individual experiences functional lung problems that stop adequate amounts of oxygen from being delivered to tissues around their body. Symptoms of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are similar to those of berylliosis. Indicative symptoms of both diseases include breathlessness, weight loss, dry cough, and excessive fatigue.

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