Immunological reactivity in ranitidine factory workers.
The involvement of immunological reactivity to ranitidine base (R-b) and ranitidine hydrochloride (R-HCl) in the development of occupationally related symptomatology was analyzed in 40 subjects employed in a pharmaceutical plant producing ranitidine and in 33 nonexposed controls, using a specific dose-response lymphocyte proliferative test (lymphocyte transformation test: LTT). Of the 40 workers, 11 (28%) gave positive reactions to LTT: 3/11 to R-b, 4/11 to R-HCl, and 4/11 to both compounds. None of the controls gave positive reactions. Cutaneous, oculonasal, or respiratory work-related symptoms were cited by 23 of the 40 (58%) subjects; ten of these 23 subjects (43%) were LTT positive. One asymptomatic case was LTT positive. The present results indicate that specific immune reactivity to ranitidine, analyzed by LTT, is associated with the presence of occupational symptomatology; R-HCl and R-b seem to share some antigenic determinants, because of the partial cross-reactivity shown by the examined compounds. Nonimmunological, probably irritative, mechanisms are also present in some of the symptomatic subjects.
Riviera
A P
AP
Institute of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Verona, Policlinico di Borgo Roma, Italy.
Pezzini
A
A
Zanoni
G
G
Rocca
M
M
Pagani
M
M
Tridente
G
G
D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011899:Ranitidine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D013997:Time Factors
D011899:Ranitidine