DESQUAMATIVE INTERSTITIAL PNEUMONITIS AND DIFFUSE ALVEOLAR DAMAGE IN TEXTILE WORKERS - POTENTIAL ROLE OF MYCOTOXINS

Five of 88 workers at a textile plant developed interstitial lung dise ase. Biopsy specimens from the three initial cases demonstrated desqua mative interstitial pneumonitis and diffuse alveolar damage. Two of th ese patients developed hypoxemic respiratory failure despite high-dose corticosteroid therapy, A survey of the remaining textile workers (qu estionnaires, chest radiographs, and pulmonary function tests) reveale d one new case. This patient, and one other with a compatible presenta tion, improved clinically upon leaving the workplace and did not requi re therapy, A comprehensive assessment of the work environment was per formed in search of potentially toxic respirable agents, We propose th at these cases represent desquamative interstitial pneumonitis-like re actions, occupationally related to aflatoxin inhalation.