Silicosis medical therapy
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Silicosis medical therapy On the Web |
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Silicosis is an irreversible condition with no cure. Treatment options currently focus on alleviating the symptoms and preventing complications.
Medical Therapy
- Stopping further exposure to silica and other lung irritants, including tobacco smoking.
- Cough suppressants.
- Antibiotics and antitubercular agents to prevent tuberculosis. These include isoniazid, rifampin, and pyrazinamide.
- Chest physiotherapy to help the bronchial drainage of mucus.
- Oxygen administration to avoid hypoxemia.
- Bronchodilators to facilitate breathing.
- Lung transplantation to replace the damaged lung tissue is the most effective treatment, but is associated with severe risks of its own.
Tamoxifen citrate has been used for the treatment of breast cancer for its selective estrogen receptor modulator action. It also inhibits the production of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-b) and insulin-like growth factor [2,3]. TGF-b has important roles in the formation of fibrosis such as the modulation of inflammation, wound repair, and immunity by decreasing lymphocyte proliferation and encouraging growth of fibroblasts [4]. These effects have been studied in postoperative adhesions [5], keloid fibroblast proliferation, and reducing collagen production [6,7]. In this study, we aimed to investigate possible effects of tamoxifen on progression, prevention, and treatment of the fibrotic pulmonary silicosis disease considering the anti-fibrotic effect shown in aforementioned studies[1]
References
- ↑ Yoldas O, Karaca T, Bilgin BC, Yilmaz OH, Simsek GG, Alici IO; et al. (2015). "Tamoxifen citrate: a glimmer of hope for silicosis". J Surg Res. 193 (1): 429–34. doi:10.1016/j.jss.2014.08.013. PMID 25218282.