Markers of injury and fibrosis in occupational interstitial lung diseases (OILD)

Aim: to reveal the role of biomarkers in the progression of OILD. Methods: 13 pneumoconiosis (PC), 26 exogenous allergic alveolitis (EAA) and 20 exogenous toxic alveolitis (ETA) patients (mean age 54,8±0,7 yrs, 59,4±2,5 yrs. and 57,1±2,1 yrs. correspondingly) were investigated. Exposition factors in PC were silica (0,7), welding aerosols (0,3) 59,4±2,5, ETA were metals (0,15), irritants (0,15), drugs (0,4), dyes (0,3); in EAA – animals and birds (0,25), dyes (0,4), antibiotics (0,35). The blood levels of CC16, Alveomucin (Alv) and KL6 were detected by ELISA methods. Results: Clinical, CT signs, lung function parameters proved the activity of the disease in EAA-, ETA-patients. The progression/remission of alveolites was observed in 15/12 cases of ETA, in 14/6 cases of EAA correspondingly. The level of Alv, KL6 and CC16 were significant higher in active EAA (p Conclusion: Alv, KL6 and CC16 may be useful in evaluation of the activity of alveolitis and in differential diagnosis with PC. In alveolitis remission, Alv is more preferable as the marker of fibrosis in PC and ETA. CC16 as injury marker is in value only for the disease activity, but not in PC diagnostics.