Acute respiratory distress syndrome induced by hydrogen fluoride gas inhalation

A 21-year old man was referred to our hospital with severe respiratory distress and diffuse infiltrative shadows on chest radiograph. He had been exposed to irritant gas when polishing the inside of a stainless tank using a chemical cleaner containing hydrofluoric acid and nitric acid. He felt sick immediately after exposure and experienced respiratory distress within a few hours. He was successfully treated with intensive care including mechanical ventilation and administration of high dose methylprednisolone. Later, his illness was diagnosed as acute lung damage induced by hydrogen fluoride gas inhalation based on the findings of increased fluoride concentration in serum and urine specimen, and decreased serum calcium level.