Cardiac, pulmonary and renal function in Yusho patients

Background: Thirty-five years after the Yusho incident, some symptoms, signs and laboratory abnormalities are still found in Yusho patients. Objective: To describe the cardiovascular, respiratory and renal abnormalities caused by Yusho, especially in relation to blood polychlorinated dibenzofuran concentration. Methods: A total of 358 officially registered patients with Yusho participated in this study. Medical records of the patients obtained from the annual nationwide health examinations held from 2001 to 2003 were used in the study. The symptoms, signs and laboratory findings in cardiac, respiratory and renal systems were compared with blood concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran (PeCDF). Results: Airway symptoms such as cough and sputum were frequently seen in Yusho patients, whereas other symptoms, signs and laboratory abnormalities were not remarkable. There were marginal relationships between cough and blood concentration of PCBs, and between sputum and 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF. Conclusion: Organs of the respiratory system remain affected by Yusho 35 years after the incident, whereas little effect on cardiac and renal systems is observed.