Korean J Intern Med.  2009 Jun;24(2):95-100. 10.3904/kjim.2009.24.2.95.

Marked Recovery From Paraquat-Induced Lung Injury During Long-Term Follow-up

• Lee KH
• GIL HW
• Kim YT
• Yang JO
• Lee EY
• Hong SY

• KMID: 1717958
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2009.24.2.95

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Paraquat-induced lung injury has been considered a progressive and irreversible disease. The purpose of this study was to report the long-term evolution of lung lesions in eight survivors with significant paraquat-induced lung injuries who could be followed-up for longer than 6 months.
METHODS
We retrospectively examined high-resolution computed tomography and pulmonary function test of eight survivors with significant paraquat-induced lung injurys.
RESULTS
High-resolution computed tomography revealed a predominant pattern of irregularly shaped consolidation with traction bronchiectasis at 1-2 months after paraquat poisoning, a mixed pattern of irregularly shaped consolidation and ground-glass opacity at 3-12 months, and a mixed pattern of consolidation, groundglass opacity, and honeycombing at 1-2 years. At 3-12 months after paraquat ingestion, the areas of consolidation had markedly decreased and the decreased lung volume had returned to normal. At 1-2 years after paraquat poisoning, the cystic changes had disappeared. At 2-3 years after paraquat poisoning, the decrease in forced vital capacity had greatly improved to the normal range.
CONCLUSIONS
Recovery of nearly normal pulmonary structure and function may occur over several years following paraquat poisoning. Pulmonary function (both forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 sec) evolved toward normal in the long-term survivors of paraquat poisoning with initial prominent lung injuries.

Keyword

Tomography; Paraquat; Survivors

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Bronchiectasis/chemically induced
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Forced Expiratory Volume
Herbicides/*toxicity
Humans
Lung/*drug effects/physiopathology/radiography
Lung Injury/*chemically induced/physiopathology/radiography/therapy
Lung Volume Measurements
Male
Middle Aged
Paraquat/*toxicity
Pulmonary Fibrosis/chemically induced
Recovery of Function
Retrospective Studies
*Survivors
Time Factors
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Vital Capacity
Young Adult