Serum beta-glucuronidase activity in a population of ex-coalminers.

N.A.M. Cobben, M. Drent*, J. de Vries, E.F.M. Wouters, M.P. van Dieijen-Visser, R.F. Henderson

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate whether BGD activity is of additional value in the assessment of pulmonary inflammation caused by coal dust exposure. DESIGN AND METHODS: Ex-coalminers were included in this study. Forty-eight healthy male subjects, without a relevant medical history, were used as controls. RESULTS: In ex-coalminers serum BGD activity was higher compared to the control group. Moreover, ex-coalminers with a normal chest radiograph and normal serum LDH demonstrated elevated serum BGD compared to the control group. However, no relation was found in the total group of ex-coalminers between serum BGD activity and pulmonary function parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Our study adds in vivo human evidence to the already existing animal data that BGD is a potential biomarker useful in monitoring pulmonary inflammation caused by coal dust exposure.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)659-664
Number of pages6
JournalClinical Biochemistry
Volume32
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 1999

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