pureheart@earthlink.net

CH Van Haecht, J Verbanck, and W Delobelle

[A patient with Wegener's granulomatosis who worked in a foundry: a
case for a causal association with silicon dioxide] Ned Tijdschr
Geneeskd, November 15, 2003; 147(46): 2294-7.


Christelijke Mutualiteit Roeselare, H. Horriestraat 35, 8800
Roeselare, België. chris.vanhaecht@cm.be


The diagnosis Wegener's granulomatosis was made in a 42-year-old man.
Occupational history revealed prolonged exposure to large amounts of
silicon dioxide in dust during work in a foundry. The illness was
stabilized with immunosuppressive treatment, but after one year the
patient developed aseptic necrosis in both hips, which ultimately led
to essential total hip arthroplasty on the left side. The patient was
unable to work since the diagnosis. Similar case reports have been
described, as well as a limited number of case-control studies. These
indicate an association between Wegener's granulomatosis and exposure
to silicon. There is growing evidence for a causal role of silicon
dioxide in the pathogenesis of auto-immune disease.

Comment in Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2003 Nov 15;147(46):2265-7