Beryllium Case Registry

The primary therapeutic intervention is removal from exposure. Corticosteroids, oxygen, rest, and even ventilatory support, if needed, are part of an appropriate treatment regimen. The signs and symptoms of acute chemical pneumonitis may resolve within several weeks to several months. In its most severe form, this acute disease may be fatal. Approximately 17% of the acute cases in the Beryllium Case Registry progressed to CBD (122). It is unclear whether return to work and further beryllium exposure is safe for individuals who have experienced the acute pneumonitis. 

Freiman DG, Hardy HL. Beryllium disease the relation of pulmonary pathology to clinical course and prognosis based on a study of 130 cases from the U.S. Beryllium Case Registry. Hum Pathol 1970 1 25-44. 

Peyton MF, Worcester J. Exposure data and epidemiology of the beryllium case registry, 1958. AMA Arch Ind Health 1959 19(2) 94—99. 

EPA (2003) Technical support document for a protocol to assess asbestos-related risk. EPA Documejnt 9345.4-06 Epler GR, McLoud TC, Gaensler EA (1982) Prevalence and incidence of benign asbestos pleural effusion in a working population. JAMA 247 617-622 Freiman DG, Hardy HL (1970) Beryllium disease. The relation of pulmonary pathology to clinical course and prognosis based on a study of 130 cases from the U8 Beryllium Case Registry. Hum Pathol 1 25-44... 

New cases of beryllium poisoning are still appearing. Over 80 cases have been reported to the Beryllium Case Registry between 1966 and 1974, of which 36 patients were exposed to beryllium after 1949, a time when industrial controls had been established. Most of these patients were exposed in the aviation and nuclear industries [13]. 

Mancuso TF. Dust and diseases. In Lemen R, Dement J, ed. Occupational Lung Cancer Among Beryllium Workers. Forest Park Pathatox Publishers, 1979 463 72. Infante PF, Wagoner JK, Sprince NL. Mortahty patterns from lung cancer and nonneoplastic respiratory disease among white males in the beryUium case registry. Environ Res 1980 21(l) 35-43. 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Case studies in environmental medicine Beryllium toxicity, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Atlanta, GA, 1993. 

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