RESUMEN
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The extensive industrial use of asbestos for many decades has been linked to development of benign and malignant pleuropulmonary disease. This review summarizes newer evidence and ongoing controversies that exist in the literature regarding asbestos-related parenchymal and airway diseases. RECENT FINDINGS: Asbestosis represents a significant respiratory problem despite the improvement in the workplace hygiene and a decrease in use of asbestos. The management of asbestosis remains challenging as currently there is no specific treatment. The role of asbestos exposure alone as a cause of chronic airway obstruction remains uncertain. The relationship between lung cancer and asbestos exposure alone and in combination with smoking has also been investigated. The benefit of screening for asbestos-related pleuropulmonary disease remains uncertain as does the use of computed tomography scanning for the purpose of screening. SUMMARY: Future studies will help clarify the clinical issues and shape screening strategies for asbestos-exposed individuals.
Asunto(s)
Amianto/efectos adversos , Asbestosis/etiología , Enfermedades Pulmonares/inducido químicamente , Asbestosis/diagnóstico por imagen , Humanos , Enfermedades Pulmonares/diagnóstico por imagen , Enfermedades Pulmonares Obstructivas/inducido químicamente , Enfermedades Pulmonares Obstructivas/diagnóstico por imagen , Neoplasias Pulmonares/inducido químicamente , Neoplasias Pulmonares/diagnóstico por imagen , Mesotelioma/inducido químicamente , Mesotelioma/diagnóstico por imagen , Tomografía Computarizada por Rayos XRESUMEN
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a natural event in the course of COPD and remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality associated with this disease. Clinical criteria that define an acute exacerbation are subjective and open for debate. Identifying biomarkers that would be easily measured and followed in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD seems to be highly attractive. The aim of this review is to assess the role of biomarkers, C-reactive protein (CRP) and copeptin, as prognostic predictors in COPD exacerbations. RECENT FINDINGS: Many pulmonary biomarkers have been extensively studied in the recent years. CRP and copeptin have gained particular interest. Recent data suggest that CRP is elevated during an acute exacerbation of COPD but CRP alone is neither sensitive nor specific in predicting clinical severity or outcome. Copeptin increases during acute exacerbation of COPD and may correlate with disease severity. SUMMARY: Further studies are needed to determine the role of CRP and copeptin as biomarkers that aid in diagnosis and clinical outcome in acute exacerbation of COPD.