kaolinite and Respiratory-Insufficiency

A 62-year-old white male employed for 43 years in the polishing room of a cotton textile mill was admitted to a tertiary care center with progressive dyspnea and productive cough that had not responded to therapy for tuberculosis. In spite of aggressive antibiotic therapy and respiratory support, the patient died as a consequence of respiratory failure. Small rounded and irregular opacities had been noted on the chest radiograph. Review of job-site spirometry demonstrated a worsening restrictive pattern over a 4-year period prior to his death. Additional occupational history revealed long-term exposure to kaolin in the polishing room, and pathologic examination of lung tissue confirmed extensive fibrosis and substantial quantities of kaolin. Kaolinosis is a disease typically found among individuals involved in mining or processing this material rather than in user industries. This case illustrates the importance of obtaining a complete occupational history in reaching a diagnosis. The clinicopathologic aspects of kaolinosis are also reviewed.

Topics: Fatal Outcome; Gossypium; Humans; Kaolin; Lung; Male; Middle Aged; Occupational Diseases; Pneumoconiosis; Pulmonary Fibrosis; Respiratory Insufficiency

Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Aluminum Compounds; Aluminum Silicates; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Female; Humans; Kaolin; Magnesium Compounds; Middle Aged; Paraquat; Respiratory Insufficiency; Silicates