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CISDOC database

Document ID (ISN)64864
CIS number 95-1314
ISSN - Serial title 0355-3140 - Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health
Year 1994
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Boujemaa W., Lauwerys R., Bernard A.
Title Early indicators of renal dysfunction in silicotic workers
Bibliographic information June 1994, Vol.20, No.3, p.180-183. 17 ref.
Abstract The aim of the study was to determine whether silicosis is associated with renal alterations detectable in urinary or blood-borne indicators of nephrotoxicity. Subjects comprised 116 male workers who had been exposed to silica for a least two years and had been diagnosed as having silicosis and 61 age-matched controls. The considered outcome measures were the concentrations of beta2-microglobulin and creatinine in serum and the urinary excretion of albumin, retinol-binding protein and beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase. Compared with the controls, the silicotic subjects excreted, on average, slightly higher amounts of albumin, retinol-binding protein and beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase. The concentration of beta2-microglobulin in the serum of silicotic subjects showed a tendency to rise that became significant in the subgroup with pseudotumoral opacities. These results confirm that silicosis is associated with some infraclinical renal alterations. However, in the absence of a relationship with length of exposure or severity of silicosis, the implication of silica in their causation needs to be examined further.
Descriptors (primary) renal dysfunction; silica; exposure tests; nephrotoxic effects; medical supervision; silicosis
Descriptors (secondary) proteinuria; questionnaire survey; urine monitoring; statistical evaluation; blood monitoring; case-control study
Document type D - Periodical articles
Country / State or ProvinceBelgium
Subject(s) Dust, aerosols and related diseases
Broad subject area(s) Occupational medicine, epidemiology
Browse category(ies) Diseases of the kidney and the urinary system
Biological monitoring
Pneumoconioses