Liver functions in silica-exposed workers in Egypt: possible role of matrix remodeling and immunological factors

Brick manufacturing constitutes an important industrial sector in Egypt with considerable exposure to silica.

We aimed for evaluating hepatic functions in silica-exposed workers in the clay brick industry, and the possible role of matrix remodeling and immunological factors.

A case-control study, 87 workers as exposed and 45 as control subjects. Questionnaire, clinical examination, and laboratory investigations: liver functions, matrix metalloproteinase-9, immunoglobulins G and E, and anti-liver kidney microsomal antibody.

In the exposed workers, mean levels of liver functions, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and IgG and IgE were significantly higher. In the silicotic subgroup the mean level of GGT was almost twice the level in the non-silicotic subjects. Logistic regression showed that abnormal GGT and ALT were associated with production workers.

Workers in the clay brick industry showed evidence of liver disease that could be related to matrix remodeling.