Korean J Occup Environ Med.  1990 Feb;2(1):34-43.

The Serum Alpha-antitrypsin Concentration of Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis Patients

• Cha BS
• Chung HK
• Hong JP

Abstract

This study was performed to investigate associations between serum alpha(1)-antitrypsin(AAT) concentration and radiological categories of coal workers' pneumoconlosis(CWP), between AAT concentration and pulmonary complications such as tuberculosis and emphysema, and to study associations between AAT concentration and FEV(1.0)% in CWP patients, We classified 254 CWP patients in D Hospital into categories of small opacity profusion. And we selected 86 subjects by with or without emphysematous finding in each categories by proportional stratified sampling method. Semm AAT concentrations were quantkated by single radial immunodiffusion method, and the findings of chest radiographs were evaluated by radilogist. The results were as follows: 1. Serum AAT concentrations were not significantly different among groups of radiological categories of small opacities. 2. Complication of emphysema was associated with smoking habits sigmficantlyl(chi square=12.16, p<0,01). And AAT concentraLion was higher in smokers and ex-smokers than in non-smokers. Serum AAT concentration was significantly higher in the cases with emphysema than in the cdses without emphybema{p<0.01). 3. Serum AAT concentration of the group with active pulmonary tuberculosis was significantly higher than with inactive or without: pulmonary tuberculosis group(p<0.1). 4. Serum AAT concentration of the group with low FEV(1.0)% was significantly higher than with high or normal group(p<0.05).

Keyword

alpha1-antitrypsin; coal workers pneumoconiosis; emphysema; pulmonary tuberculosis; FEV1.0%; smoking habits

MeSH Terms

Anthracosis
Coal*
Emphysema
Humans
Immunodiffusion
Pneumoconiosis*
Radiography, Thoracic
Smoke
Smoking
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, Pulmonary
Coal
Smoke