[Immunological parameters in the diagnosis of silicotuberculosis]

The study has defined criteria for the concomitant development of tuberculosis as secondary to silicosis. Factorial and discriminant analyses identified the most significant factors of immune homeostasis in silicotuberculosis. The major signs of possible development of tuberculosis in the presence of silicosis are the elevated levels of total IgE and IgG, fibronectin; the cells expressing CD4+ and CD20+ markers; and the decreased concentration of the mucinic antigen 3EG5. The findings were used to construct models of immunity in tuberculosis, silicosis, and silicotuberculosis. The use of a complex of immunological studies promoted the better early diagnosis of silicotuberculosis.