Abstract
Occupational asthma is responsible for up to 15% of all causes of asthma. In this chapter, two very different causes of occupational asthma, one secondary to a low molecular weight chemical and one due to a high molecular weight protein, but both with very similar evaluation and management scenarios are presented. These instructional cases should permit the reader to determine how to approach suspected occupational asthma cases in the clinical setting.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Grammer LC et al. Review of trimellitic anhydride (TMA) induced respiratory response. Allergy Asthma Proc. 1997;18(4):235–7.
http://www.cdc.gov/NIOSH/78121_21.html, 1997. Accessed on 5 Nov.11
Ayyadurai SM et al. Perfluorosulfonic acid membrane catalysts for optical sensing of anhydrides in the gas phase. Anal Chem. 2010;82(14):6265–72.
Zeiss CR et al. A clinical and immunologic study of employees in a facility manufacturing trimellitic anhydride. Allergy Proc. 1992;13(4):193–8.
Bernstein DI et al. The relationship of airborne trimellitic anhydride concentrations to trimellitic anhydride–induced symptoms and immune responses. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1983;72(6):709–13.
Grammer LC et al. Prevalence and onset of rhinitis and conjunctivitis in subjects with occupational asthma caused by trimellitic anhydride (TMA). J Occup Environ Med. 2002;44(12):1179–81.
Bernstein JA. Material safety data sheets: are they reliable in identifying human hazards? J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2002;110(1):35–8.
Grammer LC et al. Human leucocyte antigens (HLA) and trimellitic anhydride (TMA) Âimmunological lung disease. Respir Med. 2000;94(10):964–70.
Barker RD et al. Risk factors for sensitisation and respiratory symptoms among workers exposed to acid anhydrides: a cohort study. Occup Environ Med. 1998;55(10):684–91.
Barker RD et al. Risk factors for bronchial hyperresponsiveness in workers exposed to acid anhydrides. Eur Respir J. 2000;15(4):710–5.
Baur X, Czuppon A. Diagnostic validation of specific IgE antibody concentrations, skin prick testing, and challenge tests in chemical workers with symptoms of sensitivity to different anhydrides. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1995;96(4):489–94.
Grammer LC et al. A clinical and immunologic study to assess risk of TMA-induced lung disease as related to exposure. J Occup Environ Med. 1999;41(12):1048–51.
Grammer LC et al. A clinical and immunologic study of workers with trimellitic-anhydride-induced immunologic lung disease after transfer to low exposure jobs. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1993;148(1):54–7.
Bernstein JA, Sarlo K. Enzymes. In: Bernstein IL, Chan-Yeung M, Malo JL, Bernstein DI, editors. Asthma in the workplace. 3rd ed. New York: Taylor & Francis; 2006. p. 377–92.
Flindt ML. Pulmonary disease due to inhalation of derivatives of Bacillus subtilis containing proteolytic enzyme. Lancet. 1969;1(7607):1177–81.
Pepys J et al. Allergic reactions of the lungs to enzymes of Bacillus subtilis. Lancet. 1969;1(7607):1181–4.
Franz T et al. Clinical, immunologic, and physiologic observations in factory workers exposed to B. subtilis enzyme dust. J Allergy. 1971;47(3):170–80.
Mitchell CA, Gandevia B. Respiratory symptoms and skin reactivity in workers exposed to proteolytic enzymes in the detergent industry. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1971;104(1):1–12.
Houba R et al. Airborne levels of alpha-amylase allergens in bakeries. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1997;99(3):286–92.
Nieuwenhuijsen MJ et al. Exposure-response relations of alpha-amylase sensitisation in British bakeries and flour mills. Occup Environ Med. 1999;56(3):197–201.
Bernstein JA et al. A cross-sectional survey of sensitization to Aspergillus oryzae-derived lactase in pharmaceutical workers. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1999;103(6):1153–7.
Losada E et al. Occupational asthma caused by cellulase. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1986;77(4):635–9.
Bernstein JA et al. Occupational asthma induced by inhaled egg lysozyme. Chest. 1993;103(2):532–5.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Bernstein, J.A. (2012). Occupational Asthma to Low and High Molecular Weight Agents. In: Mahmoudi, M. (eds) Challenging Cases in Pulmonology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-7098-5_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-7098-5_5
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-7097-8
Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-7098-5
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)