Prevalence of anti-nuclear autoantibodies in subjects exposed to natural asbestiform fibers: a cross-sectional study

Figures & data

Table 1. Main characteristics of study populations.

	Exposed	Non-exposed	p Value
Age (years)	41.0 ± 3.7	40.0 ± 4.1	NS
Gender (male)	30 (50%)	30 (50%)	NS
Smoking (%)	11 (19%)	12 (20%)	NS
Pack/years	234.8 ± 10.5	240.7 ± 8.9	NS
BMI (kg/m^2)	21.5 ± 2.3	21.9 ± 3.1	NS

NS: not significant.

Table 2. Spirometry and laboratory tests.

	Exposed	Non-exposed	p Value
FVC (%)	97.8 ± 4.1	98.5 ± 3.6	NS
FEV1 (%)	98.1 ± 3.9	97.4 ± 4.2	NS
PEF (%)	96.5 ± 4.2	97.2 ± 3.6	NS
MEF25-75 (%)	95.3 ± 4.7	96.1 ± 3.9	NS
TLC (%)	97.2 ± 3.5	97.7 ± 2.9	NS
TLCO (%)	96.5 ± 4.1	95.9 ± 3.7	NS
RBC (10^6/µl)	4.71 ± 0.27	4.57 ± 0.65	NS
Hematocrit (%)	39.4 ± 1.2	41.0 ± 1.7	NS
Hemoglobin (g/dl)	13.5 ± 1.3	14.1 ± 1.2	NS
WBC (10^3/µl)	9.4 ± 1.2	8.6 ± 1.8	NS
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (mm)	11.0 ± 7.0	9.0 ± 5.0	NS
C-reactive protein (mg/L)	5.0 ± 0.8	4.0 ± 1.2	NS
Aspartate aminotransferase (U/I)	21.0 ± 8.0	24.0 ± 10.0	NS
Alanine aminotransferase (U/I)	22.0 ± 11.0	23.0 ± 9.0	NS

Results expressed as means ± SD.

NS: not significant.

Figure 1. (A) Prevalence of ANA positive tests. (B) ANA pattern profile distribution. Values shown are absolute values for each population (from n = 60 in each). Types of patterns observed are indicated across X-axis in (B).