Berylliosis (Chronic Beryllium Disease)

Berylliosis, also known as chronic beryllium disease (CBD), is a granulomatous disease caused by exposure to beryllium. CBD has a variable clinical course with cough, fever, night sweats, and fatigue being the most common symptoms. A definitive diagnosis of berylliosis is based on occupational history, positive blood or bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) beryllium lymphocyte proliferation test (BeLPT), and granulomatous inflammation on lung biopsy. The current Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines reduce the permissible exposure limit for beryllium to .2 mcg/m3 averaged over 8 hours or less than 2 mcg/m3 over a 15 minute period. It is an incurable occupational lung disease, but symptoms can be treated with glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive agents. CBD is more likely to develop in individuals who work in industries that manufacture and process beryllium. Overall, there is nothing unique about berylliosis; it is similar to many other granulomatous lung disorders.