Work

Systemic chronic beryllium disease: beyond lung disease

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Systemic involvement in chronic beryllium disease (CBD) has been reported only anecdotally. METHODS: We describe a case series of six patients with CBD demonstrating systemic involvement across diverse occupational settings. RESULTS: All patients had documented occupational beryllium exposure. CBD diagnosis was confirmed by positive histology and lymphocyte proliferation test in all cases. All patients presented with signs of extrapulmonary organ involvement, including hepatic, gastric, neurologic, splenic, ocular, cutaneous, as well as possible cardiac and renal involvement. CONCLUSIONS: This series underscores the importance of including CBD in the differential diagnosis of sarcoidosis in workers with possible beryllium exposure, even in the presence of extrapulmonary manifestations. Clinicians should maintain awareness of extrapulmonary involvement in patients with CBD.

Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine

DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2025-110668

Authors: Louis Jouanjan, Gernot Zissel, Prerana Agarwal, Daiana Stolz, Björn Christian Frye

Institutions: University of Freiburg, University Medical Center Freiburg

Language: English

Topic: Sarcoidosis and Beryllium Toxicity Research

Subfield: Physiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: Medizinische Fakultät der Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg