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Occupational exposure to crystalline silica and risk of systemic lupus erythematosus: a population-based, case-control study in the southeastern United States.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Parks, CG; Cooper, GS; Nylander-French, LA; Sanderson, WT; Dement, JM; Cohen, PL; Dooley, MA; Treadwell, EL; St Clair, EW; Gilkeson, GS ...
Published in: Arthritis Rheum
July 2002

OBJECTIVE: Crystalline silica may act as an immune adjuvant to increase inflammation and antibody production, and findings of occupational cohort studies suggest that silica exposure may be a risk factor for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We undertook this population-based study to examine the association between occupational silica exposure and SLE in the southeastern US. METHODS: SLE patients (n = 265; diagnosed between January 1, 1995 and July 31, 1999) were recruited from 4 university rheumatology practices and 30 community-based rheumatologists in 60 contiguous counties. Controls (n = 355), frequency-matched to patients by age, sex, and state of residence, were randomly selected from driver's license registries. The mean age of the patients at diagnosis was 39 years; 91% were women and 60% were African American. Detailed occupational and farming histories were collected by in-person interviews. Silica exposure was determined through blinded assessment of job histories by 3 industrial hygienists, and potential medium- or high-level exposures were confirmed through followup telephone interviews. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated by logistic regression. RESULTS: More patients (19%) than controls (8%) had a history of medium- or high-level silica exposure from farming or trades. We observed an association between silica and SLE (medium exposure OR 2.1 [95% CI 1.1-4.0], high exposure OR 4.6 [95% CI 1.4-15.4]) that was seen in separate analyses by sex, race, and at different levels of education. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that crystalline silica exposure may promote the development of SLE in some individuals. Additional research is recommended in other populations, using study designs that minimize potential selection bias and maximize the quality of exposure assessment.

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Published In

Arthritis Rheum

DOI

ISSN

0004-3591

Publication Date

July 2002

Volume

46

Issue

7

Start / End Page

1840 / 1850

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Southeastern United States
  • Silicon Dioxide
  • Racial Groups
  • Prevalence
  • Occupational Exposure
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic
  • Logistic Models
  • Humans
 

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Parks, C. G., Cooper, G. S., Nylander-French, L. A., Sanderson, W. T., Dement, J. M., Cohen, P. L., … Savitz, D. A. (2002). Occupational exposure to crystalline silica and risk of systemic lupus erythematosus: a population-based, case-control study in the southeastern United States. Arthritis Rheum, 46(7), 1840–1850. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.10368
Parks, Christine G., Glinda S. Cooper, Leena A. Nylander-French, Wayne T. Sanderson, John M. Dement, Philip L. Cohen, Mary Anne Dooley, et al. “Occupational exposure to crystalline silica and risk of systemic lupus erythematosus: a population-based, case-control study in the southeastern United States.Arthritis Rheum 46, no. 7 (July 2002): 1840–50. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.10368.
Parks CG, Cooper GS, Nylander-French LA, Sanderson WT, Dement JM, Cohen PL, et al. Occupational exposure to crystalline silica and risk of systemic lupus erythematosus: a population-based, case-control study in the southeastern United States. Arthritis Rheum. 2002 Jul;46(7):1840–50.
Parks, Christine G., et al. “Occupational exposure to crystalline silica and risk of systemic lupus erythematosus: a population-based, case-control study in the southeastern United States.Arthritis Rheum, vol. 46, no. 7, July 2002, pp. 1840–50. Pubmed, doi:10.1002/art.10368.
Parks CG, Cooper GS, Nylander-French LA, Sanderson WT, Dement JM, Cohen PL, Dooley MA, Treadwell EL, St Clair EW, Gilkeson GS, Hoppin JA, Savitz DA. Occupational exposure to crystalline silica and risk of systemic lupus erythematosus: a population-based, case-control study in the southeastern United States. Arthritis Rheum. 2002 Jul;46(7):1840–1850.
Journal cover image

Published In

Arthritis Rheum

DOI

ISSN

0004-3591

Publication Date

July 2002

Volume

46

Issue

7

Start / End Page

1840 / 1850

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Southeastern United States
  • Silicon Dioxide
  • Racial Groups
  • Prevalence
  • Occupational Exposure
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic
  • Logistic Models
  • Humans