Objective: To assess the significance of anti-type I collagen antibody titer in estimating cumulative trauma and predicting the presence of occupational low back pain.
Method: Under the hypothesis that cumulative trauma on the spine will expose collagen and stimulate the formation of auto-antibody, we measured the serum anti-type I collagen antibody titers (IgM and IgG) in 408 male workers of a metal welding and manufacturing company. The antibody titers were measured in duplicates by ELISA. Statistical analysis was done to compare the titers according to occupational profiles (type of occupation and duration of employment) and clinical profiles (occurrence of low back pain, duration of low back pain and clinical impression).
Results: The anti-type I collagen IgG antibody titers were significantly increased in labor workers (n=357) in comparison with office workers (n=51)(p＜0.05). Among the labor workers both IgM and IgG antibody titers were increased in the low back pain group (n=50) though it did not reach statistical significance (p-value of IgM antibody titers=0.07). IgM and IgG antibody titers were increased in the chronic low back pain group (≥3 months)(n=8).
Conclusion: These data suggest that anti-type I collagen IgM and IgG antibody may be useful in predicting the presence of occupational low back pain and estimating cumulative trauma, respectively.
