Currently there is no convincing evidence concerning pathogenetic mechanisms of fibrous and sclerotic processes in pulmonary tissue as well as processes of bronchopulmonary system remodeling in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) of occupation etiology (OE).The purpose of the study was to identify relationship between the serum hyaluronic acid (HA) level and severity of obstructive pulmonary ventilation impairment according to spirometry data in subjects with COPD associated with the impact of silica-containing dust and chronic occupational non-obstructive (common) bronchitis (CONB) of occupational etiology.Materials and Methods. Patients (n = 153) with the diagnosis OE COPD (n = 92), OE CONB (n = 36) and healthy subjects participated in the study.Results. The study data demonstrated that serum HA level in patients with OE COPD and CONB was 3–5 times higher than that in healthy subjects (p = 0.0001). In patients with OE COPD HA concentration was significantly higher, than that in subjects with OE CONB (p = 0.039). Negative correlation between HA concentration and forced expiratory volume in 1 second value was observed (p = 0.006; R = –0.31). There was statistically significant positive correlation between HA level and disease duration (р = 0.021; R = 0.21).Conclusion. Serum HA level in patients with OE-related COPD and CONB may be used as a biomarker of fibrous and sclerotic process in pulmonary tissue, reflecting progression of obstruction and remodeling of small bronchi.

Hypertension is a global public health problem. One of the reasons contributing to the development of arterial hypertension is endothelial dysfunction, which is expressed in the imbalance of vasoactive indicators of vascular tone - nitrogen oxide and endothelin-1. Monitoring the indicators of endothelial dysfunction in workers exposed to harmful occupational factors will help to identify a risk group for the development of occupationally caused diseases of the cardiovascular system and, in particular, arterial hypertension, for early implementation of preventive measures. This study aims to identify the relationship between endothelin-1, nitrogen oxide metabolites and blood pressure in young and middle-aged people occupied in harmful working conditions, to evaluate the studied parameters as possible markers for diagnosing the risk of hypertension. Two hundred thirty-six (236) employees of young and middle age were examined of one of the metallurgical plants of the Nizhny Novgorod region. In order to characterize the state of vascular tone, a coefficient was used that represents the ratio of the concentration of nitrogen oxide (μmol/L) to endothelin-1 (pg/ml) (NOx/ET-1). It was revealed that in one-third of people with normal and high normal blood pressure, the NOx/ET-1 value was 2-3 times less than in people with optimal blood pressure, which indicates the occurrence of endothelial dysfunction and the possible development of persistent arterial hypertension. Harmful occupational factors negatively affect vascular tone - the value of NOx/ET-1 in individuals exposed to harmful factors was 3-4 times less than in individuals not subjected to such exposure. The NOx/ET-1 coefficient can be used as an informative indicator when monitoring health conditions with an in-depth examination of working people; it can be a criterion for the risk of developing hypertension.

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