Pattern of pulmonary function test abnormalities in anthracofibrosis of the lungs

TL;DR: In this article , the authors performed a study on patients with anthracosis caused by exposure to fossil fuels in previous years, and histopathological features of airways' normal-appearing tissue were compared with histopathology features of anthracotic plaques in these patients.

Abstract: Chronic multilobar segmental bronchial stenosis (CMBS) represents a chronic airway inflammatory disorder characterized by fibrotic narrowing of multiple lobar and segmental bronchi. Its pathogenesis is closely associated with chronic exposure to biomass smoke and tuberculosis infection. CMBS demonstrates high morbidity and poor prognosis, representing a condition of growing clinical significance. However, its underlying pathophysiological mechanisms remain incompletely elucidated. Epidemiological studies reveal a notably higher disease prevalence in developing countries, with particular susceptibility observed in female populations and tuberculosis-endemic cohorts. The pathogenic cascade involves an "inflammatory-oxidative damage-fibrosis" axis, wherein biomass smoke induces airway remodeling through epigenetic reprogramming and mitochondrial dysfunction. Characteristic clinical manifestations include obstructive ventilatory impairment accompanied by pulmonary hypertension. Current therapeutic strategies predominantly rely on bronchodilators and antitubercular agents, yet fail to reverse established fibrotic lesions. Future directions necessitate coordinated public health interventions for early disease detection, deeper exploration of molecular mechanisms, and the development of targeted therapeutics.

TL;DR: Anthracosis is associated with other pulmonary diseases, including TB; therefore, if anthracosis or anthracofibrosis is diagnosed, coincidental pulmonary TB should also be evaluated.

TL;DR: Anthracosilicosis can occur due to environmental exposure and was observed predominantly in older women from Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir, India, the only place across the globe with unique environmental features having the presence of both free silica and biomass fuel.

TL;DR: Selective alveolobronchography (SAB) was simultaneously performed because SAB could be done easily and the results were complementary to the direct observation which was obtained with the BF-1.8T.

TL;DR: The frequency of anthracofibrosis in foreign-born PTB patients who underwent bronchoscopy in two cities of Canada and the composition of the pigment in the lungs of patients are reported are described to suggest PTB may be a responsible or complicating condition in patients with anthrac ofibrosis.

TL;DR: Of 40 patients with simple anthracotic plaque and 22 with anthracofibrosis, only two and one patients, respectively were proven to have bronchogenic carcinoma that was not statistically more common than in the control group.

TL;DR: The frequency of tuberculosis in anthracosis was significantly more than nonanthracotic control group and anti-tuberculosis therapy promised better treatment of anthracotic subjects proved to suffer from tuberculosis showed a significant association.