Clinical Biomarkers for Diagnosis of Damages in Individuals with Long-Term Exposure to X-Rays.

OBJECTIVE: To determine altered manifestation of plasma proteins in X-rays technicians who are regularly exposed to low doses of radiations over a long period during their job. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: District Headquarters Hospital and Mufti Mahmood Memorial Teaching Hospital; from January 2017 to January 2018. METHODOLOGY: The study enrolled 70 individuals consisting of 50 X-ray technicians working 8 to 12 hours/day for five days per week and 20 unexposed healthy controls. The serum protein expression pattern (concentrations of various serum proteins) was evaluated through cellulose acetate electrophoresis and serum antioxidant status was measured through ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) assay. RESULTS: The antioxidant assay showed significantly low trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) status and FRAP value in X-ray technicians as compared to controls (p<0.001). Analysis of serum protein demonstrated a significantly reduced concentrations of albumin (p<0.001) and elevated level of the Ɣ-globulins (p<0.001), while other globulins fractions like α1 and ß remain unchanged. There was a strong negative correlation (p<0.001) according to Pearson coefficient (r=87%⁽⁻⁾) between albumin and Ɣ-globulins fraction. Whereas, a positive correlation (p<0.001) (r=46%⁽⁺⁾) between alpha 1 globulin and albumin fraction was observed. A correlation between other globulin fractions and albumin was found statistically significant (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Elevated serum gamma globulins may be a potential protein biomarker for triage and detection of X-radiation induced damages.