Silicosis medical therapy

Silicosis is an irreversible condition with currently no cure. Treatment options currently focus on alleviating the symptoms and preventing complications.

• There is no evidence-based medical therapy for the treatment of silicosis.
• Generally, management of silicosis aims to manage other respiratory comorbidities (e.g. COPD or tuberculosis) and to treat silicosis-associated complications.
• Management goals include avoidance of exposure to silica, optimization of respiratory function, and preventive care.

• A modest short-term randomized clinical trial demonstrated that systemic steroids may be effective in the management of steroids, but the benefit has not been well-established^[1]
• Whole-lung lavage is recommended in acute silicosis to improve gas exchange and eliminate residual alveolar debris, although not routinely recommended because of the ill effects^[2]

• Systemic steroid therapy are not recommended for the indication of chronic silicosis alone. However, systemic steroids may be administered to patients who are diagnosed with silicosis and have other indications like COPD flare up for the use of steroids^[3]

• Smoking cessation
• Supplemental oxygen is administered to prevent complications of chronic hypoxemia
• Bronchodilators may facilitate breathing if airflow limitation is present on spirometry.

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