[Studying the changes of the related serum complement immune indexes in patients with occupational medicamentosa-like dermatitis induced by trichloroethylene and workers occupationally exposed to trichloroethylene].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of occupational medicamentosa-like dermatitis (OMDT) induced by trichloroethylene (TCE) and some immunity indexes in workers occupationally exposed to TCE. METHODS: The blood samples from 8 cases with medicamentosa-like dermatitis in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th weeks after admitting to hospital were examined for liver function, immunoglobulin and some complement indexes. Thirty nine workers occupationally exposed to TCE were investigated for urinary TCE and some immuno-complement indexes. The TCE concentrations of air in workplaces were monitored. RESULTS: C3d-CIC and C3 of patients before admission were (92.86 ± 44.80) mg/L and 0.91 ± 0.19 mg/L, respectively. C3d-CIC and C3 of patients before discharge were (52.41 ± 17.75) mg/L and (1.14 ± 0.22) mg/L, respectively. There were significant differences between admission and discharge (P < 0.05). The average TCE concentration in 4 workplaces was (351.96 ± 36.72) mg/m(3), which was higher than the occupational exposure limits (OELs). The number of workers exposed to the TCE concentration-time weighted and TCA in urine over OELs were 28.21% and 56.41% of total subjects, respectively. The serum IgG and CIC levels of patients before discharge were (10.03 ± 1.21) mg/L and 103.50 ± 29.17 mU/L, which were significantly lower than those (17.21 ± 1.85) mg/L and (227.46 ± 111.67) mU/L of patients before admission (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The type II and III hypersensitivity may be associated with OMDT and the organ injure induced by TCE.

[The level of serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha and epidermal growth factor in patients with medicament-like dermatitis by trichloroethylene and its clinical significance].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the level of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) in patients with medicament-like dermatitis by trichloroethylene (DMLT). METHODS: Using radioimmunoassay methods, serum TNF-alpha, EGF were measured in 39 patients with DMLT and in 20 controls. RESULTS: The levels of serum TNF-alpha, EGF in patients with DMLT [(0.278 +/- 0.092) ng/L, (6.71 +/- 2.28) microg/L, respectively] were significantly higher than those of the controls [(0.128 +/- 0.029) ng/L, (4.31 +/- 1.13) microg/L respectively, P<0.05, P<0.01]. CONCLUSION: The increased levels of serum TNF-alpha, EGF in patients with DMLT may be related to the following causes: (1) Trichloroethylene and its metabolite may irritate the macrophagocyte and monocyte in human body to release TNF-alpha into blood stream; (2) Severe damage of epithelial tissue in patients with DMLT may promote more EGF synthesis to accelerate the regeneration and repair of epithelial tissue.