Sarcoidosis
Is Sarcoidosis an Occupational Disease?
It is interesting that berylliosis (exposure to beryllium metal)
used to be called sarcoidosis until a specific test was discovered
that identified beryllium metal as the cause in this group of
patients. Clinical symptoms, signs, chest film and biopsy results
are indistinguishable from sarcoidosis. This was the first "sarcoid"
like disease proven to be occupational.
Sarcoidosis in NYC Fire Fighters
Recently, Dr. David Prezant (NYC Fire Department, Montefiore Medical
Center & Albert Einstein College of Medicine) showed that
Sarcoidosis affected NYC firefighters in numbers greater than would
be expected for the general population in NYC. His study, started in
1986 and to date has identified more than 30 firefighters with this
illness. With rare exceptions, these firefighters are now doing
well, are relatively asymptomatic and nearly all have returned to
full firefighting duties. However, a few required leave for
treatment and several have received disability benefits due to
persistent pulmonary impairment.
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