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Serum beta-glucuronidase activity in a population of ex-coalminers
N A Cobben1, M Drent, J De Vries
1Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Background:
The aim of this study was to investigate whether BGD activity is of additional value in the assessment of pulmonary inflammation caused by coal dust exposure.
Design And Methods:
Ex-coalminers were included in this study. Forty-eight healthy male subjects, without a relevant medical history, were used as controls.
Results:
In ex-coalminers serum BGD activity was higher compared to the control group. Moreover, ex-coalminers with a normal chest radiograph and normal serum LDH demonstrated elevated serum BGD compared to the control group. However, no relation was found in the total group of ex-coalminers between serum BGD activity and pulmonary function parameters.
Conclusions:
Our study adds in vivo human evidence to the already existing animal data that BGD is a potential biomarker useful in monitoring pulmonary inflammation caused by coal dust exposure.