ABSTRACT
Sulfur mustard is a chemical warfare agent that was widely used against Iranian veterans. The most prevalent effect of this agent on the respiratory system was chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The aim of this study was evaluation of bronchiectasis as a late complication of chemical gas injury. One hundred fifty two patients who had been exposed to chemical weapons were selected. Complete history, physical examination, chest x-ray, HRCT of chest, and spirometry were performed. Among one hundred fifty two patients with pulmonary complications of chemical gas inhalation thirty four patients with bronchiectasis were diagnosed. Others were mostly asthma, chronic bronchitis and, rarely, large airway stenosis and interstitial fibrosis. Bronchiectatic lesions were mostly identified as bilateral 67.6%, and 33.4% of cases were unilateral. The most common sites were RLL, LLL, RML, Lingual and LUL in order. Abnormality of spirometric parameters were found in all of them. The most common finding was obstructive pattern [58%]. No significant difference was seen between Spiro metric values and age in the patients with bronchiectasis and patients with asthma and chronic bronchitis. Bronchiectasis is a late pulmonary complication of sulfur mustard gas inhalation and should be considered in chemical gas victims with pulmonary problems