OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and serum ferritin (SF) in patients with pneumoconiosis and their relationship with the onset of pneumoconiosis.

METHODSThe serum NSE and SF levels in the peripheral blood of patients with pneumoconiosis were measured by electrochemical fluorescence immunoassay.

RESULTSThe patients with first-stage pneumoconiosis and second-stage pneumoconiosis had significantly higher serum NSE and SF levels than the control group (23.0264±14.0410 and 44.9776±26.5208 ng/ml vs 8.1480±3.7512 ng/ml, P < 0.05; 267.2515±186.5809 and 579.1371±433.9326 ng/ml vs 120.8613±74.2809 ng/ml, P < 0.05), and the patients with second-stage pneumoconiosis had significantly higher serum NSE and SF levels than those with first-stage pneumoconiosis (P < 0.05). After treatment, the serum NSE level decreased significantly in the patients with pneumoconiosis (21.1675±17.5942 ng/ml vs 33.4490±21.6948 ng/ml, P < 0.05), but it was still significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The treatment did not produce significant changes in SF level among these patients (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPatients with pneumoconiosis have elevated serum NSE and SF levels, which may be related to the onset and progression of this disease.