title: A study of immunological indices for diagnosis of chronic berylliosis.
abstract: The results of the Be-induced leukocyte migration inhibition test (Be-MIT), the lymphocyte transformation test (LI), the E-rosette formation test (E-RFC), the old tuberculin test (OT), and sero-immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, IgM) measurements on 13 cases of berylliosis, 44 members of the observation group, and 51 members of the contact group are reported. In the Be-MIT, 2 of the berylliosis patients were new cases that had been diagnosed and treated for a long time, and both tested positive (18%). Fourteen patients from the observation group tested positive (32%), and 15 from the contact group tested positive (30%). The 8 cases in the control group tested negative; 7 patients from the observation group and 3 of the berylliosis cases tested negative after being treated. The lymphocyte transformation rates of the observation group and the berylliosis group were significantly lower than that of the control group (P less than 0.01). Both Et-RFC and Ea-RFC contents in the group with berylliosis were much lower than those in the control group (P less than 0.01). OT tests were performed on 8 berylliosis patients and 10 healthy men. Seven patients showed negative reactions and one showed a positive reaction. All the healthy men showed positive reactions. The IgG and IgA levels of the observation group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P less than 0.01). The Be-MIT could detect active beryllium disease at an early stage as well as Be-sensitive individuals. This test could be used as a supplementary diagnostic index for the differential diagnosis of berylliosis and for the evaluation of a curative effect.
authors.affiliation: Human Research Institute for Labor Protection against Nonferrous Metal, Changsha, Hunan, China.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001607:Berylliosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D002464:Cell Migration Inhibition; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000378:metabolism; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012397:Rosette Formation; D014374:Tuberculin Test
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G