Clinical features of eleven cases of Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex pulmonary disease associated with pneumoconiosis

• Published in: Respiratory medicine 2004-08, Vol.98 (8), p.721-725
• Main Authors: Fujita, Jiro, Kishimoto, Takumi, Ohtsuki, Yuji, Shigeto, Eriko, Ohnishi, Takayuki, Shiode, Masahiro, Yamaji, Yasufumi, Suemitsu, Ichizo, Yamadori, Ichiro, Bandoh, Shuji, Nishimura, Kazutaka, Matsushima, Toshiharu, Ishida, Toshihiko
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Humans; Inorganic dusts (pneumoconiosises) and organic dusts (byssinosis etc.); Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mycobacterium avium intracellulare complex (MAC) infection; Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection - complications; Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection - diagnostic imaging; Pneumoconiosis; Pneumoconiosis - complications; Pneumology; Retrospective Studies; Silicosis; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods; Toxicology; Welders’ pneumoconiosis
• ISSN: 0954-6111; 1532-3064
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2004.02.011

The relationship between silicosis and tuberculosis is well known. Also other mycobacteria such as Mycobacterium kansasii often occur in association with pneumoconiosis. However, there are few reports describing an association of M. avium-intracellulare complex (MAC) lung disease and pneumoconiosis. The purpose of the present study is to describe clinical features of MAC respiratory infection associated with pneumoconiosis. Eleven patients with MAC respiratory infection associated with pneumoconiosis (all men, 6 with silicosis and 5 with welders’ pneumoconiosis) were collected. A determination of whether or not MAC caused pulmonary disease was made using the 1997 criteria required by the American Thoracic Society. Radiologically, cavity formation as well as upper lung field predominance of MAC disease were observed in 8 of 11 cases (72.7%). Two of 11 patients died of respiratory failure. Our present study clearly demonstrates that clinical features of MAC respiratory infection associated with pneumoconiosis were different from MAC without underlying diseases.