Distinct inflammatory profiles in mustard lung: A study of sulfur mustard-exposed patients with serious pulmonary complications

Mustard Lung (ML) refers to respiratory complications caused by sulfur mustard (SM) exposure, a chemical warfare agent. This study explores the inflammatory profile of SM-exposed veterans with serious ML, aiming to distinguish it from other respiratory diseases. The aim is also to comprehend the role of inflammatory markers in disease severity. A study was conducted on 257 male SM-exposed veterans and 64 unexposed control subjects. Inflammatory markers in serum and sputum samples were measured using the ELISA technique. Clinical evaluations identified the SM-exposed group as the patients with serious problems. Statistical analyses were conducted to compare groups. SM-exposed veterans exhibited decreased serum levels of IL-1 alpha, IL-8, IL-17, GM-CSF, and NO compared to controls, while other markers did not differ significantly. Intriguingly, inflammatory patterns in ML subgroups, including those resembling Bronchiolitis Obliterans (BO), Chronic Bronchitis (CB), and asthma, differed from the corresponding cases of these diseases as reported in prior literature. Additionally, certain factors demonstrated notable decreases in concentration in severe ML cases compared to controls. The study reveals substantial changes in inflammatory markers in ML patients, highlighting their distinctive profile compared to other respiratory conditions. Despite some similarities with asthma, BO, and CB, the ML shows discernible variations in the levels of most inflammatory markers. Furthermore, the severity of ML impacted the serum levels of specific factors. These findings support the notion of classifying ML as a separate pulmonary condition, distinct from CB, BO, and asthma, opening avenues for further research and tailored treatment strategies.