Respiratory · UKMLA & AKT
Asbestosis and asbestos-related pleural disease
A free high-yield preview for the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test. Below are the key points to recognise asbestosis and asbestos-related pleural disease — the full SA Note notes add investigations, management, complications and 10 practice questions.
Key high-yield points
- Caused by inhalation of asbestos fibres - latency 20-40 years between exposure and disease
- Predominantly affects men >60 who worked in shipbuilding, construction, insulation, plumbing (1950s-1980s)
- Asbestos banned in UK 1999; ~2,500 mesothelioma deaths/year in UK
- Amphibole fibres (crocidolite 'blue', amosite 'brown') - straight, biopersistent, most pathogenic; crocidolite highest mesothelioma risk
Asbestos + smoking = multiplicative (not additive) risk for lung cancer - estimated ~50-90x baseline risk. Smoking cessation is the single most important intervention.
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