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Exposure to silica and risk of ANCA‐associated vasculitis
Author(s) -
Bartůňková J.,
Pelclová D.,
Fenclová Z.,
Šedivá A.,
Lebedová J.,
Tesař V.,
Hladíková M.,
Klusáčková P.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.20327
Subject(s) - silicosis , medicine , vasculitis , anti neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody , odds ratio , etiology , tuberculosis , gastroenterology , pathology , disease
Background Exposure to silica dust is considered to be one of etiological factors of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) ‐associated vasculitis (AAV). Methods Subjects exposed to silica dust in Central Bohemia and followed in the Department of Occupational Medicine, Charles University, were selected for study. A group of 86 men exposed to SiO 2 for at least 5 years were examined. The association between occupational exposure to silica dust and ANCA positivity is analyzed. Results The subjects had a mean age of 66.7 years, and mean exposure to silica of 22.3 years. ANCA were detected significantly more frequently in patients group (17.1%; P‐ANCA 18×, C‐ANCA 3×) than in controls (n = 28, mean age 64.2 years, P‐ANCA 1×, i.e., 3.6%). ANCA positivity was found less frequently (7.1%) in the group with history of SiO 2 exposure without signs of pronounced silicosis, than in the group with simple (30.3%) or complicated silicosis (36.0%). Odds ratio for ANCA positivity and relative risk estimate in patients with silicosis were highly significant. Among possible predictor factors for ANCA positivity, silicosis and tuberculosis were relevant. No typical AAV was present among the patients. Conclusion Long‐term silica exposure may be one of the exogenous factors contributing to ANCA production, however, silica exposure alone, without typical silicosis, was not associated with ANCA positivity. Am. J. Ind. Med. 49:569–576, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.