Research Watch, COLUMNS-Silica, April 2005

Occupational Exposure in ANCA-Positive Patients: A Case-Control Study

Journal: Kidney International. 2005 May; 67(5): 1961-6

Authors: S. Beaudreuil, G. Lasfargues, L. Laueriere, Z.E. Ghoul, F. Fourquet, C. Longuet, J.M. Halimi, H. Nivet, M. Buchler

Summary: An epidemiologic study to investigate whether the presence of Antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies are associated with silica or any other form of occupational exposure, regardless of underlying disease. ANCAs are valuable biomarkers for the diagnosis and follow-up of small vessel vasculitis, the research states. The results provided support for the hypothesis that the presence of ANCA in plasma might be partially related to occupational silica exposure.