Authors’ response: A systematic review of the association between pleural plaques and changes in lung function

Relations between vital capacity, CO diffusion capacity and computed tomographic findings of former asbestos-exposed patients: a cross-sectional study

“…Further ICOERD-based scores were tested weighting differently the pleural and pulmonary extensions and additional findings; e.g. a score adding additional points for calcification and the additional attributes PB and RA, a score from the addition of the pleural point values (1-6) and the mentioned extra points with the pulmonary point values (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18), and a score as addition of the above mentioned score with the score of the parenchymal fibrosis. Since these scores could not demonstrate sufficient predictive value or specificity, the score systems were not presented here.…”

“…So far, there are different views on the effect of plaques on lung function: Some studies show that a deterioration of lung function, e.g. as a restriction of vital capacity (VC) and forced expiratory vital capacity over 1 s (FEV 1 ), can be detected in patients with proven exposure to asbestos and pulmonary fibrosis in X-ray or CT scans [11][12][13]; only a few publications also consider CO diffusion capacity (D LCO ) [14][15][16]. According to our own studies, limitations in diffusion capacity are the most sensitive parameter for determining a disease with an asbestosrelated cause [17].…”