Increased lung stiffness of persons with pleural plaques.

Forty-five men with asbestos-related pleural plaques detected at a health screening centre were investigated with measurement of lung volumes, airways resistance, ventilatory capacity, transfer factor, gas distribution, closing volume and static recoil pressures of the lung. The men were subjectively healthy, had confirmed exposure to asbestos and had normal chest radiograms apart from the presence of pleural plaques. Most of the men had been exposed to small or moderate amounts of asbestos with a mean duration of 39 years since first exposure. Sixty-seven per cent of the men were smokers or ex-smokers. The lung function was evaluated using regression formulas which included smoking variables. The results clearly demonstrate the presence of lung parenchymal involvement with increased stiffness of the lungs and decreased lung volumes. The change in elastic recoil pressure of the lungs, in total lung capacity and residual volume show significant correlation with measures of asbestos exposure and extent of pleural changes. No synergistic effects between tobacco smoking and asbestos exposure on lung function could be demonstrated. Measurements of the static elastic lung recoil (Pst(max) and Cst/TLC) and total lung capacity were the most sensitive tests for separating the pleural plaque carriers from the controls.