Asbestosis and silicosis are the most common pneumoconioses in Québec and are often associated with a gradual deterioration in pulmonary function. The authors of this publication studied the possible role of induced expectoration (IE), a non-invasive technique for analyzing bronchial inflammation, in evaluating the severity of pneumoconioses and a decline in pulmonary function. They wanted to verify whether some markers of the inflammatory and fibrosis processes can be measured in IE and whether they are predictors of clinical evolution. - The authors believe that their findings will have to be verified on a larger number of workers, but that induced expectoration could be used to evaluate workers and to follow subjects at risk.
