Restrictive: General Pneumoconiosis

Question 1

What are Pneumoconioses?

Answer 1

Interstitial fibrosis
Due to occupational exposure
Activates macrophages causing the fibrosis

• Requires chronic exposure to small particles that are fibrogenic

Question 2

Name the four types of Pneumoconioses

Answer 2

Coal workers pneumoconiosis

Silicosis

Asbestosis

Berylliosis

Question 3

Explain the general pathogenesis of all Pneumoconioses

Answer 3

1. If you breathe large particles from environment
   - They can be filtered via the mucus and the cilia
   - But smaller particles get to the bottom of the lung
   - The distal exchange portion which induces fibrosis in interstitium
2. Fibrosis in interstitium is mediated by the macrophages
   - Tiny particles enter, get to distal/bottom of lung,
   - Alveolar macrophages consume them, recognise as foreign, inducing fibrosis to defend against the foreign particles

• Resulting in the interstitial fibrosis we see in pneumoconiosis
• Must be small to get to the bottom of lung
• Must be chronic exposure also to end up causing long term fibrosis