Constrictive bronchiolitis in soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In this descriptive case series, 80 soldiers from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, with inhalational exposures during service in Iraq and Afghanistan were evaluated for dyspnea on exertion that prevented them from meeting the U.S. Army's standards for physical fitness.

Methods

The soldiers underwent extensive evaluation of their medical and exposure history, physical examination, pulmonary-function testing, and high-resolution computed tomography (CT). A total of 49 soldiers underwent thoracoscopic lung biopsy after noninvasive evaluation did not provide an explanation for their symptoms. Data on cardiopulmonary-exercise and pulmonary-function testing were compared with data obtained from historical military control subjects.

Results

Among the soldiers who were ref

SUBMITTER: King MS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3296566 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature