The level of serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha and epidermal growth factor in patients with medicament-like dermatitis by trichloroethylene and its clinical significance / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the level of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) in patients with medicament-like dermatitis by trichloroethylene (DMLT).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using radioimmunoassay methods, serum TNF-alpha, EGF were measured in 39 patients with DMLT and in 20 controls.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The levels of serum TNF-alpha, EGF in patients with DMLT [(0.278 +/- 0.092) ng/L, (6.71 +/- 2.28) microg/L, respectively] were significantly higher than those of the controls [(0.128 +/- 0.029) ng/L, (4.31 +/- 1.13) microg/L respectively, P<0.05, P<0.01].</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The increased levels of serum TNF-alpha, EGF in patients with DMLT may be related to the following causes (1) Trichloroethylene and its metabolite may irritate the macrophagocyte and monocyte in human body to release TNF-alpha into blood stream; (2) Severe damage of epithelial tissue in patients with DMLT may promote more EGF synthesis to accelerate the regeneration and repair of epithelial tissue.</p>