Respiratory · UKMLA & AKT
Berylliosis
A free high-yield preview for the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test. Below are the key points to recognise berylliosis — the full SA Note notes add investigations, management, complications and 10 practice questions.
Key high-yield points
- Rare occupational lung disease caused by inhaled beryllium (dust/fumes) - used in aerospace, nuclear, and dental industries
- Two forms: acute beryllium disease (toxic chemical pneumonitis - heavy short-term exposure) and chronic beryllium disease (CBD) (granulomatous, immune-mediated - far more clinically significant)
- Pathophysiology of CBD: type IV (delayed-type) hypersensitivity - beryllium acts as a hapten → CD4+ T-cell sensitisation → macrophage activation → non-caseating granuloma formation → progressive fibrosis
- HLA-DP beta-1 glutamate-69 allele confers genetic susceptibility
- Prescribed occupational disease in the UK - industrial injuries benefit may apply
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