Lack of a relationship of elastin peptide level to emphysema assessed by CT scans.

Abstract

Clinical reports suggest that peptide (EP) concentration may be used as a subclinical marker of pulmonary emphysema. This hypothesis was tested in a clinical study by comparing EP concentration in male emphysematous patients with the level in two control groups, and by exploring the relation of elastin peptide level to high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan emphysema score among emphysematous patients. Serum EP level was determined among male emphysematous patients with at least 20% of emphysema (n = 27) and in two populations of male workers, drawn from epidemiologic studies (227 coal miners and 310 policemen). No difference in elastin peptide concentration was observed between emphysematous patients and control subjects (mean +/- SD = 2.39 +/- 1.18 micrograms/ml in patients versus 2.55 +/- 1.34 micrograms/ml in policemen and 2.59 +/- 1.20 micrograms/ml in coal miners). The correlation of elastin peptide concentration with percentage of pulmonary emphysema was negative and of borderline significance (r = -0.36; p = 0.06). These results cast doubts on the usefulness of elastin peptide level as a predictive marker of pulmonary emphysema.

• Authors: C Frette, M P Jacob, C Defouilloy, C Atassi, F Kauffmann, Q T Pham, J Bignon
• Journal: American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine (Am J Respir Crit Care Med) Vol. 153 Issue 5 Pg. 1544-7 (May 1996) ISSN: 1073-449X [Print] United States
• PMID: 8630599 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Elastin

Topics

• Adult
• Age Factors
• Aged
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Coal Mining
• Elastin (blood)
• Forced Expiratory Volume
• Forecasting
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Police
• Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity
• Pulmonary Emphysema (blood, diagnostic imaging)
• Radiographic Image Enhancement
• Smoking (blood)
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed