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Determination of CD4, CD8, and IL-8 levels in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of anthracosis patients

Background: Anthracosis is a chronic pulmonary disease with black pigmentation of the bronchial mucosa, caused by carbon accumulation in the lungs, and in some cases, associated with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid levels of the CD4/CD8 ratio and interleukin 8 (IL-8), as the potential diagnosis and prognosis biomarkers for anthracosis. Methods: Of 60 patients, referred to the Masih Daneshvari Hospital, 30 anthracosis patients, confirmed by bronchoscopy, were included as the case group. BAL sample and blood samples were collected from all individuals and sent to the immunology laboratory. Patients with no anthracosis on bronchoscopy, and suspected to have TB, were included in the control group. In addition, BAL samples were used for BK-polymerase chain reaction. Results: In this case–control study, 30 anthracosis patients and 30 controls were investigated. There were no significant differences in IL-8 of patients with anthracosis, compared to others. There were significant differences of the CD4/CD8 ratio in BAL fluid, between anthracosis cases and the control group (1.01 ± 0.77 vs. 2.41 ± 3.50; P = 0.04), and significant differences were seen in serum levels of two groups (P = 0.02). The rate of the confirmed pulmonary TB which was 88.9% in patients with anthracosis was significantly higher than the control group. Conclusion: These outcomes suggest that changes in the CD4/C8 levels in serum and BAL fluid may have a leading role in the diagnosis or prognosis of anthracosis. In addition, due to the strong association of anthracosis and pulmonary TB, TB should be considered in patients with anthracosis, which in turn can eventuate to the early distinguish and cure of the patients.