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Late-onset damage from occupational asbestos exposure: case report
Chaïmaâ Zeroual1, Merieme Benzakour1, Mina Moudatir1
1Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Ibn Rochd University Hospital Center, Casablanca, Morocco.
AME Case Reports
|May 7, 2025
Summary
Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) can be caused by asbestos exposure. Corticosteroid therapy combined with azathioprine shows promise for managing this rare condition.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Environmental Medicine
- Oncology
Background:
- Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF), or Ormond's disease, involves fibrosis in the retroperitoneal space, impacting vital structures.
- While often idiopathic, RPF can stem from secondary causes including medications, neoplasms, infections, surgery, or environmental exposures.
- Prolonged occupational asbestos exposure is a rare but significant identified cause of RPF.
Observation:
- A 64-year-old male presented with right low back pain and deteriorating health.
- Clinical findings included right flank tenderness and a left thyroid nodule.
- The patient was diagnosed with RPF secondary to occupational asbestos exposure.
Findings:
- The patient received a right JJ stent and combined corticosteroid therapy.
- Management protocols for asbestos-related RPF are not well-defined.
- Initial use of azathioprine (AZA) alongside corticosteroids demonstrated encouraging outcomes.
Implications:
- Corticosteroids are standard for benign RPF, often requiring immunosuppressants like AZA to prevent relapse.
- This case highlights the importance of considering occupational exposures in RPF diagnosis.
- Further research into AZA's efficacy for asbestos-induced RPF is warranted.
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