ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Otorinolaringologia 2000 March;50(1):1-5

Copyright © 2009 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Assay of secretory a immunoglobulins (SIgA) in nasal secretions in a population with a high vocational risk for the onset of sinonasal adenocarcinoma

Ricci E., Cardarelli L., Turbiglio M.

Università degli Studi - Torino Dipartimento di Fisiopatologia Clinica - Sezione ORL II *Istituto di Medicina del Lavoro

Assay of secretory a immunoglobulins (SIgA) in nasal secretions in a population with a high vocational risk for the onset of sinonasal adenocarcinoma.
Background. Sinonasal neoplasms often have a vocational cause. Exposure to wood dust represents one of the main risk factors. Valid instruments for diagnosis are required in order to define the presence of epithelial alterations that through the transition to precancerous lesions may lead to the onset of manifest neoplastic disease. Pathological alterations of nasal mucosa have repercussions on local immune status. In healthy subjects, the predominant immunoglobulin class at the mucisal level is secretory IgA (SIgA). This study aimed to highlight any alterations in the local production of SIgA in workers subject to irritation caused by wood dust.
Methods. Esperimental design: a retrospective study was made with a 10-year follow-up. Participants: the nasal secretions were studied in 68b joiners with at least 10 years’ vocational exposure and in 81 controls. Parameters: SIgA were assayed in nasal secretions using modified washing. This was performed using a highly selective personal technique of IsoImmuno ElectroFocusing.
Results. SIgA levels were within the norm in 10.3% of the population studied; slight deficits were detected in 61.8% and severe deficits in 27.9% (compared to values of 45.6%, 46.9% and 7.5% respectively in controls). A significant deficit of SIgA (p<0.001) was therefore observed in wood workers.
Conclusions. The assay of SIgA moght represent an extremely practical instrument owing to its excellent tolerability for the diagnosis of mucosal alterations. It could be used as an initial method to select higher risk subjects.