Can Serum Chitotriosidase Levels, Immune, and Oxidative Stress Parameters Be Early Diagnostic Indicators in Patients With Silicosis?

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the enzyme activity of chitotriosidase as a biomarker in early diagnosis silicosis and to investigate immune system response and oxidative stress caused by silica exposure.

Materials And Methods: Silicosis patients (n = 116), exposed to silica without disease (n = 76), and healthy individuals (n = 55) were included. Serum levels of chitotriosidase, proinflammatory cytokines, oxidant-antioxidant, and immune parameters were measured.

Results: Serum chitotriosidase enzyme levels in the silicosis group were statistically significantly higher than the exposure and control groups. Inflammatory biomarkers and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine levels were found to be statistically significantly higher in the silicosis and exposure group compared with the controls, while superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were lower.

Conclusions: Increased serum chitotriosidase level emerged as a biomarker that can not only distinguish silicosis from exposure and healthy controls but also indicate early pulmonary effects of silica.