Silicosis future or investigational therapies

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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.

Future or Investigational Therapies

• Experimental treatments include:

• Systemic glucocorticoid therapy :

• In chronic silicosis with COPD flare up, prednisolone has been used and this resulted in statistically (although not clinically) significant improvements in lung volumes, carbon monoxide diffusing capacity, and partial pressure of arterial oxygen.

• Tamoxifen citrate
• Tamoxifen citrate, a selective estrogen receptor modulator has been used for the treatment of breast cancer. 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].Investigations about the possible effects of tamoxifen on progression, prevention, and treatment of the fibrotic pulmonary silicosis disease considering the anti-fibrotic effect shown in aforementioned studies

• Whole-lung lavage (see Bronchoalveolar lavage)
• Inhalation of powdered aluminium, d-penicillamine and polyvinyl pyridine-N-oxide.
• Corticosteroid therapy.
• The herbal extract tetrandine may slow progression of silicosis.