Low serum IgA and airway injury in World Trade Center-exposed firefighters: A 17-year longitudinal study

Barbara Putman, Lies Lahousse, Rachel Zeig-Owens, Ankura Singh, Charles B. Hall, Yang Liu, Theresa Schwartz, David Goldfarb, Mayris P. Webber, David J. Prezant, Michael D. Weiden

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Serum IgA ≤70 mg/dL (low IgA) is associated with exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The association of low IgA with longitudinal lung function is poorly defined. This study included 917 World Trade Center (WTC)-exposed firefighters with longitudinal spirometry measured between September 2001 and September 2018 and IgA measured between October 2001 and March 2002. Low IgA, compared with IgA >70 mg/dL, was associated with lower forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1) % predicted in the year following 11 September 2001 (94.1% vs 98.6%, p<0.001), increased risk of FEV 1/FVC <0.70 (HR 3.8, 95% CI 1.6 to 8.8) and increased antibiotic treatment (22.5/100 vs 11.6/100 person-years, p=0.002). Following WTC exposure, early IgA ≤70 mg/dL was associated with worse lung function and increased antibiotic treatment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1182-1184
Number of pages3
JournalThorax
Volume74
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2019

Keywords

  • COPD Exacerbations
  • occupational lung disease

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

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