Ehsan Rafeemanesh - Department of occupational medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Mohammad Soukhtanloo - Department of occupational medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Habibollah Esmayli - Department of occupational medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Pegah Kheradmand - Department of occupational medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Fatemeh Ahmadi - Department of occupational medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Introduction: Silicosis is a chronic progressive occupational disease which is usually recognized at later stages of the disease. The aim of this study was to evaluatethe levels of LDH, CA125, HS-CRP, MDA, SOD, MMP9, MMP2 and Copper as biomarkers for silicosis. Materials and Methods: Three groups were recruited in this study:12 agate grinding workers with silicosis, 26 agate grinding workers exposed to silica dust but without silicosis and 17 Healthy individuals. Required data were collected in annual medical survey through interview, general health questionnaire, spirometry and chest radiography. Serum samples were analyzed for LDH, CA125, Copper, HS-CRP,MDA, SOD, MMP2 and MMP9. Diagnosis of silicosis was based on history of occupational exposure to silica dust and chest x-ray findings by an occupational medicine specialist. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20. Results: A total of 55 male workers were included in this study. The mean age of participants was 40.12±9.56 years and the mean duration of employment was18.27±12.54 years which were statistically different among the groups. There were significant differences according to spirometric parameters and plasmalevels of HS-CRP and CA125 among 3 groups. In patients with silicosis all the spirometric parameters were lower compared to the other 2 groups. Both serum hs-CRP and CA125 concentrations were significantly higher in cases compared with controls. Significant negative correlations were also observed between values of hs-CRP and most of the spirometric parameters. Conclusion: These findings indicate that HS-CRP and CA125 are increased in silicotic patients, suggesting that these biomarkers are involved in the onset of disease and correlated with the severity of silicosis.

Agate grinding workers, Biomarker, Silicosis, Spirometry.