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Progressive systemic sclerosis associated with exposure to trichloroethylene.
Journal of Occupational Medicine. : Official Publication of the Industrial Medical Association
|June 1, 1987
Summary
Exposure to the organic solvent trichloroethylene may trigger progressive systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). A case study details a fatal scleroderma diagnosis in a woman following dermal exposure to this industrial degreasing agent.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Dermatology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Progressive systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) pathogenesis remains unclear, but associations with environmental factors like organic solvents exist.
- Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a widely used industrial solvent with historical medical applications.
Observation:
- A 47-year-old woman developed fatal progressive systemic sclerosis after a single 2.5-hour dermal exposure to trichloroethylene.
- The patient presented with proximal scleroderma, reflux esophagitis, hemolytic anemia, pulmonary disease, pericarditis, and renal insufficiency within 10 months.
Findings:
- Renal and skin biopsies confirmed findings consistent with progressive systemic sclerosis.
- This case highlights a potential link between trichloroethylene exposure and the development of scleroderma.
Implications:
- Environmental exposure to trichloroethylene may be an underrecognized trigger for scleroderma.
- Further research is warranted to investigate the causal relationship between solvent exposure and autoimmune diseases.