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Med. Pr. 2006;57(3):271-280

Trials of casual treatment of silicosis

Próby leczenia przyczynowego pylicy krzemowej

Iwona Idec-Sadkowska, Ryszard Andrzejak, Jolanta Antonowicz-Juchniewicz, Beata Kaczmarek-Wdowiak Medical University of Wrocław, Poland

Abstract

Silica-induced lung injury and the development of silicosis is one of the major occupational diseases. Accumulation and deposition of respirable dust containing silica mineral particles in the lung produces chronic lung disease characterized by granulomatous and fibrotic lesions. Knowledge of precise mechanisms, which induce this process is still limited, hence problems faced in the treatment of silicosis, especially the casual one. This article describes various trials of casual silicosis treatment with tetrandrine (Tet), isolated from the root of Stephania tetrandra, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists, polyvinyl-pyridine-N-oxide (PVNO), aluminum compounds, corticosteroids or bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). The existing methods are not sufficient,which warrants further investigations. At present, prevention of the disease and treatment of its complications are most important.

Key words

silicosis, causal treatment, tetrandrine, polyvinyl-pyridine-N-oxide (PVNO), TNF-antagonists, aluminum compounds, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), corticosteroid therapy