Development of bronchiectasis; a late sequela of mustard gas exposure

ABSTRACT

Bronchiectasis following inhalation of chemical gases, mainly ammonia, has been occasionally reported in literature. The widespread use of sulfur mustard gas, as a warfare agent by Iraqi forces, during the Iran-Iraq war, has resulted in chronic lung diseases including bronchiectasis, among Iranian veterans exposed to this agent. In this cross-sectional clinical study, we present 16 proven cases of bronchiectasis following a single episode of inhalation of sulfur mustard gas. Both diffuse and focal forms of bronchiectasis were encountered in this group of patients. In the majority of patients, pulmonary function tests showed either obstructive or mixed obstructive and restrictive patterns. The lesions were more frequently in the lower lung lobes. Bronchiectasis is a relatively common chronic pulmonary sequela of sulfur mustard gas injury. The observation that only a subset of victims exposed to mustard gas have developed bronchiectasis underlines the hypothesis that individual susceptibility is important for development of bronchiectasis