Serum immunoglobulins in workers exposed to silicogenic risk with tuberculin-negative test and hyperergia

Changes in serum proteins and immunoglobulins IgG, IgA, and IgM were analysed comparatively in workers exposed to silicogenic particles in dependence on the hyperergic test or negative tuberculin test. Hypoalbuminemia with an increase in alpha-2 globulins was found in both groups. In addition, increase in gamma globulins was noticed in the group of hyperergic subjects. The electrophoretic picture in the hyperergic patients resembled that reported in human pulmonary tuberculosis. In the hyperergic group, a significant increase in IgG and occasionally in IgA was found. In the tuberculin-negative subjects, a less definite immunologic picture was found, with a slight but significant decrease in IgG while IgA was normal. In both groups, IgM were significantly decreased.