title: Serum autoantibodies in silicosis and non-silicosis cement workers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study serum autoantibodies and immunoglobulin levels in cement workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples for numerous antibodies were collected from 30 silicosis and 42 non-silicosis cement workers. Spirometry of the silicosis workers was also studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum IgA mean level showed a significant increase in the silicosis group compared to the non-silicosis group. Elevated titers of serum anti-smooth muscle antibodies (ASMA) and anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) were detected only in the silicosis group. The duration of exposure showed a significant positive correlation with serum IgA, ASMA and anti-GBM, and a significant negative correlation with serum IgG. Serum anti-GBM showed a significant positive correlation with IgG while the inverse titer (1/titer) of anti-GBM showed highly significant positive correlations with serum IgA and ASMA. The percent predicted FVC was the ventilatory function most closely associated with immunological parameters in silicosis group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum IgA, ASMA, and anti-GBM are the principal immunologic parameters associated with silicosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Safia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beshir
authors.forename: Weam A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Shaheen
authors.forename: Safaa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elserougy
authors.forename: Hisham M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Aziz
mesh_terms: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000633:toxicity; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000633:toxicity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004391:Dust; D004534:Egypt; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D066192:Manufacturing Industry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000276:immunology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000633:toxicity*; D012829:Silicosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D013147:Spirometry
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D000906:Antibodies; D001323:Autoantibodies; D004391:Dust; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; C051951:antiglomerular basement membrane antibody; D012822:Silicon Dioxide
keywords: anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM); anti-smooth muscle antibodies (ASMA); immunoglobulins; silica dust; silicosis