Objective To observe the change of serum osteopontin of simple pneumoconiosis patients and pneumoconiosis patients combined with heart failure, in order to explore the diagnostic value of osteopontin.

Methods Three groups of subjects, i.e. 38 healthy persons, 25 pneumoconiosis patients, and 20 pneumoconiosis patients combined with heart failure, were studied and their blood biochemical indices and serum osteopontin were measured and compared.

Results The NT-proBNP level of pneumoconiosis patients with heart failure group was significantly higher than that of both of the healthy persons and the pneumoconiosis patients(P < 0.01). WBC and hs-CRP of simple pneumoconiosis patients and pneumoconiosis patients combined with heart failure group were higher than those of healthy persons(P < 0.01). The serum osteopontin levels of the healthy persons, simple pneumoconiosis patients and pneumoconiosis patients combined with heart failure group were respectively(71.3 ±15.3)ng/mL, (145.3 ±24.9)ng/mL and(199.4 ±25.2)ng/mL, and the difference among these 3 groups was significant(P < 0.01).

Conclusion Osteopontin is probably involved in the pathophysiological process of pneumoconiosis with heart failure. It is expected to be one of the early serological markers of pneumoconiosis combined with heart failure.