This study was designed to investigate the relation between lung -ancer and IgA level in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and serum. 24 patients with proven lung cancer (group A) were compared with 12 patients with benign chest diseases (group B) and 12 healthy subjects (Group C). It was concluded that fl AT Mad ht .4,,, ',Innr iniltql1Pd lung (68.04 mild!) were increased when corn-
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Smoking specially goza predisposes smokers to more frequent respiratory infections. Smoking interferes with macrophage phagocytic activity and mucociliary transport besides the unhygienic atmosphere in which goza is practice. This may give an explanation to the positive correlation existing between smoking index and IgA / albumin in cigarette and goza smokers found in the present study.
The insignificant increase in BAL and serum CEA observed in our result was also reported by Diego et al., (1990), they did not find significant difference in either serum or lavage CEA between smokers and non smokers. Selim et al., (1989) found no significant difference between smokers and non smokers CEA levels in serum. Smokers showed significantly higher levels of BAL-CEA than non smokers.
Lemarie et at, (1980) determined CEA levels in blood and BAL fluid using Elisa technique in 81 patients of whom 12 were normal volunteers.
Controls (normal volunteers) had CEA level below 10 ng/ml in both serum and BAL. In serum 9 had CEA below 5 ng/ml and 3 had CEA 5-10 ng/ml.
100% of control non smokers had low CEA in BAL and serum, while, a considerable number of smokers has high levels. Meanwhile all smokers (cigarette and goza) with CEA in BAL over 10 ng/ml except one-had average levels of IgG/albumin and
IgA / albumin ratios. Thus, some otherwise normal smokers had increased CEA in their lavage. It is possible that CEA might serve as a useful indicator of future airways disease in certain smokers. The same condition was reached by Merril et al., (1981).
References:
Abdel-Hakim A.M., Gemei S., and Salem E.S. (1985): Study of bronchoalveolar lavage cellularity among non smokers and cigarette and goza smokers. Egy. I. chest dis & tub. (1) 33-46.
Barbers R.G., Gong H., and Tashkin D.P. (1987): Differential examination of bronchoalveolar lavage cells in tobacco, cigarette and marijuana smokers. Am. Res. Resp. Dis. 132: 1271-75.
Budnick L.D. (1987): Statistics. In rqcv.Pms B.J. Preventive medicine and Public health: 4377, New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Cherniack R.M. (1990): Bronchoalveolar lavage constituents. Am. Rev. Resp. Dig. (Suppl.), 141 (S): 169-202.
Concannon J.P., Dalblow Liebler CA., Blake KR, Weil C.S. and cooper J.W. (1974): The carcinoembryonic antigen assay in bronchogenic carcinoma. Cancer, 34: 184.
Concannon J.P., Dalblow M.H. and Hodgson S.E. (1978): Prognostic value of preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) plasma levels in patients with bronchogenic carcinoma. Cancer: 1477-1483.
Diego A, Compte L., and Sanchis J. (1990): Diagnostic value of carcinoembryonic antigen in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of peripheral lung cancer. Chest; 97 (3): 767 |
