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Prevalence of connective tissue disease in silicosis (1985–2006)—a report from the state of michigan surveillance system for silicosis
Author(s) -
Makol Ashima,
Reilly Mary Jo,
Rosenman Kenneth D.
Publication year - 2011
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.20917
Subject(s) - medicine , silicosis , connective tissue disease , vasculitis , medical record , dermatology , disease , pathology , autoimmune disease
Background The risk of developing clinical connective tissue disease (CTD) has been reported to be increased among individuals with silica exposure. Methods We reviewed the medical records of individuals reported to the Michigan Silicosis Surveillance system from 1985 to 2006 to confirm the diagnosis of silicosis and determine the presence of CTDs. Results From 1985 to 2006, 1,022 cases were confirmed to have silicosis. Medical records of 790 cases were available. Thirty‐three individuals had rheumatoid arthritis (RA) [prevalence 4.2% (prevalence ratio (RR) ranged from 2.26, 95% CI: 1.57–3.25 to 6.96, 95% CI: 2.93–16.53) depending on the reference rate used], two had scleroderma [prevalence 0.3% (RR 28.3, 95% CI: 6.09–129.98)], one had systemic lupus erythematosus [prevalence 0.1% (RR 2.53, 95% CI: 0.30–21.64)], two had Sjogrens syndrome [prevalence 0.3% (RR 0.42, 95% CI: 0.09–2.08)], and six had anti‐neutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA) vasculitis [prevalence 0.8% (RR 25.3, 95% CI: 6.34–101.04)]. There was no difference between those with and without CTD with respect to age, race, industry type, history of tuberculosis, application for workers' compensation, or severity of fibrotic changes on chest X‐ray. Conclusions A two‐ to eightfold risk for RA and systemic lupus erythematosus, with a greater than 24‐fold risk for scleroderma and ANCA vasculitis was found in individuals with silicosis. The most common CTD among silicotics in the Michigan disease registry was RA. Though not classically included in the category of CTD, ANCA‐associated vasculitis was found to have a much greater prevalence amongst silicosis patients than the general population. Am. J. Ind. Med. 54:255–262, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.