Abstract

Serum lactate degydrogenase (LD) and LD isoenzyme activities were evaluated in sera from 74 patients of coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) to investigate biochemical changes of these enzyme activities according to radiographical profusions of CWP. Subjects were participated patients in the detailed examination of pneumoconiosis in December 1989. LD activities were evaluated by lactate to pyruvate methods and isoenzyme activities were determined by agarose gel electrophoresis. And small opacity profusions on chest radiographs of subjects were evaluated by radiologist. The results were as follows: 1. LD activities were not significantly different among categories of radiographical profusions. 2. LD4 activities were shown difference significantly among categories of radiographical profusions (category 1: 8.2+/-2.69 U/l, category 2: 10.1+/-3.90, category 3: 10.6+/-2.63; p<0.05). 3. Activities of LD(1), LD(2), LD(3), and LD(5) were not different significantly among categories of radiographical profusions.
Conclusion
ly, serum LD(4) activity seems to be increased by fibroplasia of CWP, but increasing activities of LD4 should not affect serum LD activities significantly.

• Keywords: coal workers' pneumoconiosis;lactate dehydrogenase;lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme activity