1. Serologic changes in pneumoconiosis and progressive massive fibrosis of coal workers.
- Author
-
Pearson DJ, Mentnech MS, Elliott JA, Price CD, Taylor G, and Major PC
- Subjects
- Adult, Aged, Antibodies, Antinuclear analysis, Antibodies, Bacterial analysis, Humans, Immunoglobulin G immunology, Male, Middle Aged, Mycobacterium tuberculosis immunology, Pulmonary Fibrosis etiology, Rheumatoid Factor analysis, Autoantibodies analysis, Coal Mining, Pneumoconiosis immunology, Pulmonary Fibrosis immunology
- Abstract
Serum from 109 coal workers with simple pneumoconiosis, 114 with progressive massive fibrosis, and 130 with normal chest radiographics as control subjects was examined for rheumatoid and antinuclear factors, and antibodies against both native human IgG and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. A significantly greater prevalence of autoantibodies was observed in subjects with pneumoconiosis than in control subjects; however, a rheumatoid factor prevalence of 16% with observed inthe control subjects. No serologic differences were observed between subjects with simple pneumoconiosis and those with progressive massive fibrosis.
- Published
- 1981
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