RESUMO
AIM: To study serum autoantibodies and immunoglobulin levels in cement workers. METHODS: Blood samples for numerous antibodies were collected from 30 silicosis and 42 non-silicosis cement workers. Spirometry of the silicosis workers was also studied. RESULTS: Serum IgA mean level showed a significant increase in the silicosis group compared to the non-silicosis group. Elevated titers of serum anti-smooth muscle antibodies (ASMA) and anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) were detected only in the silicosis group. The duration of exposure showed a significant positive correlation with serum IgA, ASMA and anti-GBM, and a significant negative correlation with serum IgG. Serum anti-GBM showed a significant positive correlation with IgG while the inverse titer (1/titer) of anti-GBM showed highly significant positive correlations with serum IgA and ASMA. The percent predicted FVC was the ventilatory function most closely associated with immunological parameters in silicosis group. CONCLUSION: Serum IgA, ASMA, and anti-GBM are the principal immunologic parameters associated with silicosis.