Richeldi L, Kreiss K, Mroz M M, Zhen B, Tartoni P, Saltini C
Department of Medical Sciences, University of Modena, Italy.
Am J Ind Med. 1997 Oct;32(4):337-40. doi: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(199710)32:4<337::aid-ajim3>3.0.co;2-r.
Prevalence of berylliosis, a lung disorder driven by the activation of beryllium-specific T cells, is associated with a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II marker (HLA-DPB1Glu69) and with the type of industrial exposure. We evaluated the interaction between marker and exposure in a beryllium-exposed population in which the prevalence of berylliosis was associated with machining beryllium. The presence of the marker was associated with higher prevalence (HLA-DPB1Glu69-positive machinists 25%; HLA-DPB1Glu69-negative machinists 3.2%, P = 0.05) and predicted berylliosis independent of machining history (odds ratios 11.8 and 10.1). The study shows that in berylliosis the carrier status of a genetic susceptibility factor adds to the effect of process-related risk factors.
