$Unique_ID{BRK03525} $Pretitle{} $Title{Berylliosis} $Subject{Berylliosis Beryllium Disease Beryllium Poisoning Beryllium Granulomatosis Acute Beryllium Disease Beryllium Pneumonosis Acute Berylliosis Chronic Berylliosis Sarcoidosis Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis} $Volume{} $Log{} Copyright (C) 1987, 1989 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. 481: Berylliosis ** IMPORTANT ** It is possible the main title of the article (Berylliosis) is not the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYMS listing on the next page to find alternate names, disorder subdivisions, and related disorders covered by this article. Synonyms Beryllium Disease Beryllium Poisoning Beryllium Granulomatosis Acute Beryllium Disease Beryllium Pneumonosis DISORDER SUBDIVISIONS Acute Berylliosis Chronic Berylliosis Information on the following diseases can be found in the Related Disorders section of this report: Sarcoidosis Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis General Discussion ** REMINDER ** The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources" section of this report. Berylliosis is a metal poisoning or allergic disorder caused by exposure to beryllium dust or fumes, usually in occupational settings. Symptoms may affect the lungs, skin, eyes, blood or various other organs of the body. Symptoms can be chronic or acute and may begin after short- or long-term exposure. Some cases may be delayed as long as twenty years after initial exposure to beryllium which is a metal that is primarily used in the aerospace and nuclear power industry. Symptoms Acute Berylliosis primarily affects the lungs. Coughing, which is dry at first, later becomes violent and exhausting. Breathing becomes difficult and blood may appear in sputum. Patients may experience weight loss and chest pain. They may increasingly feel tired for no apparent reason. An allergic reaction to beryllium may be manifested in the skin as reddened patches or small raised, discolored spots on the face, neck, arms, and/or hands. Lymph nodes near affected skin areas may become enlarged. With prolonged exposure, Berylliosis may become chronic. The skin may appear to have a bluish tinge (cyanosis), accompanied by fever and weight loss. Breathing becomes progressively difficult particularly when lying down and may ease only in a standing or straight backed sitting position (orthopnea). Fingernails may become clubbed and heart problems may develop. Lesions may develop in the corneas of the eyes. Causes Berylliosis is caused by exposure to beryllium dust or fumes, usually in an occupational setting. In the absence of strict safety measures to limit exposure, workers may bring home contaminated dust in their clothes thus possibly spreading the condition to their families. Some cases may not be apparent as long as twenty years after initial exposure to beryllium. Affected Population Berylliosis affects individuals exposed to the metal beryllium. Persons employed in the aerospace, aviation or nuclear power industries, beryllium mining and processing, or fluorescent lamp manufacturing between 1943 and 1955, may be at risk for contracting this disorder. In some cases, the families of these employees may have been exposed. Some people living in the vicinity of beryllium refineries have been found to have Berylliosis. Related Disorders Symptoms of the following disorders can be similar to those of Berylliosis. Comparisons may be useful for a differential diagnosis: Sarcoidosis is characterized primarily by small round lesions (tubercles) of granulation tissue appearing in the lungs and many other parts of the body. This disorder tends to affect people of African ancestry more than other heritages. (For more information on this disorder, choose "Sarcoidosis" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database). Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis is a lung disorder resulting from repeated inhalation of organic dust, usually in a specific occupational setting. In the acute form, respiratory symptoms and fever start several hours after exposure to the dust. The chronic form is characterized by gradual changes in the lung tissue associated with several years of exposure to the irritant. (For more information on this disorder, choose "Alveolitis" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database). Therapies: Standard Preventive measures should be aimed at limiting or completely avoiding exposure to beryllium fumes or dust. In single exposure acute cases, treatment is symptomatic since effects of the beryllium are short-term and usually reversible. Corticosteroid therapy may be helpful in chronic cases, especially when treatment is begun early in the course of the disorder. Washing of the lungs with a small amount of fluid (bronchoalveolar lavage) may be helpful in chronic cases to confirm a diagnosis as well as help remove inorganic particles from the lungs. Therapies: Investigational This disease entry is based upon medical information available through September 1989. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder. Resources For more information on Berylliosis, please contact: National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) P.O. Box 8923 New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783 (203) 746-6518 American Lung Association 1740 Broadway New York, NY 10019 (212) 315-8700 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20892 (301) 496-5717 Centers for Disease Control (CDC) 1600 Clifton Road, NE Atlanta, GA 30333 (404) 639-3534 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Public Affairs Office P.O. Box 12233 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 (919) 541-3345 References INTERNAL MEDICINE, 2nd Ed.: Jay H. Stein, ed.-in-chief; Little, Brown and Co., 1987. Pp. 656-657. CHRONIC BERYLLIUM DISEASE: DIAGNOSIS, RADIOGRAPHIC FINDINGS, AND CORRELATION WITH PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTS: J.M. Aronchick, et al.; Radiology (June 1987, issue 163(3)). Pp. 677-682. TRANSMISSION OF OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE TO FAMILY CONTACTS: B. Knishkowy, et al.; Am J Ind Med (1986, issue 9(6)). Pp. 543-550. CHRONIC BERYLLIUM DISEASE IN A PRECIOUS METAL REFINERY. CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGIC AND IMMUNOLOGIC EVIDENCE FOR CONTINUING RISK FROM EXPOSURE TO LOW LEVEL BERYLLIUM FUME: M.R. Cullen, et al.; Am Rev Respir Dis (January 1987, issue 135(1)). Pp. 201-208.