Short communication, Note
The relationship between asbestos bodies, serum immunoglobulin levels and X-ray changes in asbestos workers
V. Cvetanov
; Tbe Institute for Occupational Health, Health Service, Skopje, Macedonia
J. Karadžinska-Bislimovska
; Tbe Institute for Occupational Health, Health Service, Skopje, Macedonia
J. Vasevski
; Tbe Institute for Occupational Health, Health Service, Skopje, Macedonia
N. Ežova
; Tbe Institute for Occupational Health, Health Service, Skopje, Macedonia
E. Stikova
; Tbe Institute for Occupational Health, Health Service, Skopje, Macedonia
Abstract
In this study 52 workers from an asbestos factory were examined. They were placed in three groups: Group 1, directly exposed to asbestos with X-ray changes of the lungs indicative of asbestosis, Group 2 also directly exposed to asbestos, but without X-ray changes, and Group 3 not directly exposed to asbestos. The lungs and pleura of all the examined workers were X-rayed in the anteroposterior projection. Sputum samples were taken to determine the presence of asbestos bodies, and the level of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM and IgA) was determined in sera. In workers exposed to asbestos, a correlation between the number of asbestos bodies and X-ray changes was not found. The level of immunoglobulins in Group 1 workers was significantly higher than in Groups 2 and 3. In the former group, there were significantly more workers with increased IgG level than in the latter groups.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
152607
URI
Publication date:
15.6.1989.
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