RELATIONSHIP OF SERUM ELASTIN PEPTIDE LEVEL TO SINGLE-BREATH TRANSFER-FACTOR FOR CARBON-MONOXIDE IN FRENCH COAL-MINERS

Background - Clinical and epidemiological studies have given discordan t results on the usefulness of the level of circulating elastin peptid e (EP), a potential marker of both elastin destruction (a key phenomen on in pulmonary emphysema) and neosynthesis, for assessing structural changes in the lung extracellular matrix. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between levels of EP and forced expir atory volume in one second (FEV1) and single breath transfer factor fo r carbon monoxide (TLCO and KCO) in coal miners. Methods - The study p opulation comprised 227 working coal miners aged 34-50 years consistin g of 75 miners heavily exposed to underground coal dust with pulmonary radiographs classified as 0/1 or 1/0 by the International Labour Offi ce classification, 75 exposed miners with radiographs classified as no rmal (0/0), and 77 miners slightly exposed to coal dust with normal ra diographs. The subjects answered a standardised questionnaire and perf ormed spirometric tests and a carbon monoxide (CO) transfer test. Resu lts - No association was observed between EP levels and % predicted FE V1 (or FEV1/FVC). The level of EP increased significantly with decreas ed % predicted TLCO (r = -0.20). Miners in the lowest % predicted KCO quintile had higher EP levels than the rest (3.28 (1.37) vs 2.47 (1.16 )). A significantly lower EP level was observed in miners with radiogr aphs classified as 1/0 or 0/1, especially in those with round opacitie s, compared with miners with a normal radiograph, and in current smoke rs compared with the rest. Conclusions - The results of this study sug gest that the level of EP may reflect some remodelling activity in emp hysema and lung fibrosis.