A Case of Occupational Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Associated with Trichloroethylene

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases

article

Young Jae Kim¹  Eu Dong Hwang¹  Ah Young Leem¹  Beo Deul Kang¹  Soo Yun Chang¹  Ho Keun Kim²  In Kyu Park³  Song Yee Kim¹  Eun Young Kim¹  Ji Ye Jung¹  Young Ae Kang¹  Moo Suk Park¹  Young Sam Kim¹  Se Kyu Kim¹  Joon Chang¹  Kyung Soo Chung¹ 

[1] Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine;Department of Pathology, Yonsei University College of Medicine;Department of Thoracic Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine

关键词: Alveolitis;    Extrinsic Allergic;    Trichloroethylene;    Occupational Exposure;    Lung Diseases;   

DOI  :  10.4046/trd.2014.76.2.75

学科分类：医学（综合）

来源: The Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases

【 摘 要 】

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a toxic chemical commonly used as a degreasing agent, and it is usually found in a colorless or blue liquid form. TCE has a sweet, chloroform-like odor, and this volatile chlorinated organic chemical can cause toxic hepatitis, neurophysiological disorders, skin disorders, and hypersensitivity syndromes. However, the hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) attributed to TCE has rarely been reported. We hereby describe a case of HP associated with TCE in a 29-year-old man who was employed as a lead welder at a computer repair center. He was installing the capacitors on computer chip boards and had been wiped down with TCE. He was admitted to our hospital with complaints of dry coughs, night sweats, and weight losses for the past two months. HP due to TCE exposure was being suspected due to his occupational history, and the results of a video-associated thoracoscopic biopsy confirmed the suspicions. Symptoms have resolved after the steroid pulse therapy and his occupational change. TCE should be taken into consideration as a potential trigger of HP. Early recognition and avoidance of the TCE exposure in the future is important for the treatment of TCE induced HP.

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC