Serum procollagen type III peptide in coal workers' pneumoconiosis: a five-year follow-up study

Several studies have suggested the use of serum type III procollagen peptide (PIIIP) as a marker in fibrotic lung disease. To test serum PIIIP as a biomarker for progression of coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP), a follow-up study was conducted among 156 coal miners. A five-year progression of simple CWP was determined from paired chest X-ray readings and related to serum PIIIP measured in 1987 (n = 73) and in 1992 (n = 104). Although in eight subjects CWP had progressed, none of these subjects had abnormal levels of serum PIIIP, nor were they different from nonprogressed miners with regard to exposure, age, or smoking habits. The results suggest that the use of serum PIIIP as a biomarker to screen for coal workers' pneumoconiosis is limited.