ASBESTOS EXPOSURE - A POTENTIAL CAUSE OF RETROPERITONEAL FIBROSIS

The etiology of retroperitoneal fibrosis is unknown in 70% of the case s. The aim of our study tvas to examine the possible association betwe en occupational asbestos exposure and retroperitoneal fibrosis; only t wo cases have been reported in the literature. We gathered all the cas es of retroperitoneal fibrosis diagnosed in the Tampere University Hos pital between 1987 and 1995. We examined their hospital records to eva luate the possible etiology ofthe disease. We also sent a structured q uestionnaire to all living patients (10/13) to obtain information on t heir asbestos exposure. The chest radiographs of the patients were re- read to evaluate possible changes resulting from asbestos exposure. We found 13 cases of idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis. Seven patients (all male) had been exposed to asbestos in the past. The chest radiog raphs of the four most-exposed patients showed characteristic asbestos -related abnormalities, including bilateral pleural plaques, round ate lectasis and small irregular lung opacities. In our study, we found th at asbestos exposure and asbestos-induced changes in the lung and pleu ra were common among male retroperitoneal fibrosis patients. We sugges t that occupational exposure to asbestos may be an important etiologic al factor for retroperitoneal fibrosis. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.