Thin-section CT abnormalities and pulmonary gas exchange impairment in workers exposed to asbestos.

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between abnormalities at thin-section computed tomography (CT) and indexes of pulmonary gas exchange impairment at rest and during moderate exercise in workers exposed to asbestos.

Materials And Methods: Eighty-two workers with long-term exposure to asbestos and abnormal thin-section CT findings underwent respiratory physiologic measurements at rest (lung diffusing capacity, Dlco) and during exercise (oxygen uptake-corrected alveolar-arterial pressure difference for oxygen, DeltaP[A-a]O(2)/VO(2)). CT results were compared with physiologic measurements of impairment in gas exchange (Dlco < 70% predicted value and/or DeltaP[A-a]O(2)/VO(2) > 20 mm Hg.