Logo image
Effect of asbestos-related pleural fibrosis on excursion of the lower chest wall and diaphragm
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Effect of asbestos-related pleural fibrosis on excursion of the lower chest wall and diaphragm

BHAJAN Singh, PETER R. Eastwood, KEVIN E. Finucane, JANINE A. Panizza, ARTHUR W. Musk and Peter Eastwood
American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine, Vol.160(5), pp.1507-1515
1999
PMID: 10556113
url
PublishedView
Published (Version of Record)

Abstract

To examine mechanisms responsible for reduced lung volumes (restriction) in asbestos-related pleural fibrosis (APF), we studied diaphragm function and lower rib-cage excursion in 26 subjects with previous asbestos exposure and no evidence of asbestosis. Using posteroanterior (PA) and lateral chest radiographs taken at residual volume and at 25%, 70%, and 100% vital capacity (VC) during a slow inspiratory maneuver, we measured fractional expansion of the lower rib cage (FErc), fractional shortening of the diaphragm (FSdi), and changes ( Δ ) in diaphragm dome height (Hdo) and subphrenic volume (Vdi). Vdi was estimated by measuring the major and minor axes of the subphrenic space at 1-cm intervals, assuming an elliptical cross-sectional shape, and correcting for the volume of spinal and paraspinal tissues. Seven subjects had no evidence of APF (control), 12 had pleural plaques (PP), and seven had diffuse pleural thickening with costophrenic obliteration (DPT). Over the range of VC, results (mean ± SEM, normalized for height) in control subjects were VC = 101.2 ± 4.0 % predicted and Δ Vdi = 326 ± 8 ml/m3, and for the right hemithorax and hemidiaphragm on the PA film, FErc = 0.07 ± 0.02, FSdi = 0.32 ± 0.02 and Δ Hdo = 0.8 ± 0.2 cm/m. Relative to controls: DPT subjects had reduced VC (77.4 ± 4.9%, p < 0.01), Δ Vdi (256 ± 2 ml/m3, p < 0.01), FErc (0.01 ± 0.02, p < 0.01), FSdi (0.24 ± 0.01, p < 0.001), and Δ Hdo ( − 0.9 ± 0.06 cm/m, p < 0.01); PP subjects had reduced FSdi (0.25 ± 0.01, p < 0.001) and Δ Vdi (233 ± 47 ml/m3, p < 0.01), and no difference in FErc, Δ Hdo, or VC. We conclude that restriction in DPT is due to obliteration of the zone of apposition, and that by limiting separation of the diaphragm from the rib cage during inspiration, this reduces volume contributed by motion of the diaphragm and lower rib cage. Reduction in the latter contribution was the main cause of restriction, because the reduction in volume contributed by the diaphragm was partly compensated by flattening of its dome.

Details

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being

Source: InCites

Metrics

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Citation topics
1 Clinical & Life Sciences
1.65 Allergy
1.65.192 COPD
Web Of Science research areas
Critical Care Medicine
Respiratory System
ESI research areas
Clinical Medicine
Logo image