Asbestosis Requiring Lung Transplantation in a Retired Hairdresser: An Occupational Exposure to Comb Through.

Abstract

Asbestosis is a form of fibrotic interstitial lung disease caused by the inhalation of excessive asbestos fibres. We describe a patient who developed asbestosis due to occupational exposures while working as a hairdresser in the 1970s and 1980s. Not appreciating this profession as a risk factor for developing asbestosis led to several treatment strategies that were ineffective and eventually led to the need for lung transplantation. More recent changes to governmental policy have effectively reduced the incidence of such an exposure risk; however, given the long latency of the disease, we emphasise that a broad occupational history including potential historic exposures remains an important component of the assessment of interstitial lung disease. We also outline many reasons for a second wave of asbestosis-related lung disease that is only now emerging and encourage clinicians to continue to maintain asbestosis on the differential for working up undifferentiated fibrotic lung disease.