Investigator | Patients Controls | Biomarker / Summary | ROC curve analysis Cut-off values | Specificity – Sensitivity Diagnostic accuracy | Limitations |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Borm et al. 80 | 33 58 | Glutathione levels reflect early inflammatory response but are not a predictive parameter for individual susceptibility in CWP | No | Not estimated | Retrospective analysis / No serial measurement / Small number of patients / Scarce data on the interrelationships among antioxidant enzymes |
Borm et al. 81 | 39 27 | TNF is a marker of individual susceptibility to dust-induced lung fibrosis in coal-workers | No | Not estimated | Retrospective analysis / Small number of patients / Indefinite data on the acquired or genetically controlled differences of TNF release |
Schins et al. 83 | 104 29 | A 5-year follow-up study reveals that TNF is a reliable prognosticator of CWP | No | Not estimated | No linkage to disease behaviour / Indefinite data on the effect of exposure / No ROC curve analysis / cut-off levels |
Schins et al. 84 | 104 29 | Serum PIIIP has a poor value as a biomarker to screen for CWP | No | Not estimated | Studied population: retired miners / Diverse exposure to coal-dust / Heterogeneity of disease-fibrotic activity / Indefinite data on the effect of exposure and time variation in serum PIIP |
Cobben et al. 86 | 201 48 | Serum LDH levels are elevated in coalminers but are not associated with clinical variables of disease severity | No | Not estimated | Retrospective study / No serial measurements / No ROC curve analysis / cut-off levels |
Cobben et al. 87 | 191 48 | Serum b-glucuronidase levels may be a useful biomarker in monitoring lung inflammation following coal dust exposure | No | Not estimated | Retrospective study / No serial measurements / No ROC curve analysis / cut-off levels |
Takahashi et al. 88 | 35 237 | Elevated serum KL-6 levels in patients with FLD | Yes KL-6: 410 - 450 U/ml | KL-6: 80 - 73% | Small number of patients / No serial measurements |
Harris et al. 89 | 108 20 | Elevated serum neopterin levels in CBD | Yes Neopterin: 1.27 ng/ml | Neopterin: 88 - 58% | No serial measurements / No correlation with clinical and/or radiological parameters |
Maier et al. 90 | 31 34 | Neopterin is a useful diagnostic tool in differentiating CBD from BeS | Yes Neopterin: 2.5 ng/ml | Neopterin: 100 - 80% | No serial measurements Poor prognostic value Indefinite cut-off levels |