Epidemic asthma in Cartagena, Spain, and its association with soybean sensitivity.
We conducted a matched case-control study to assess the association between epidemic asthma and soybean sensitivity in Cartagena, Spain. In skin tests, 81% of the cases and no control subjects were positive to the commercial soybean allergen; 87% of the cases and 12% of the controls were positive to the prepared soybean allergen; and 69% of the cases and 6% of the controls showed high levels of specific immunoglobulin E antibodies (odds ratio = 10; 95% confidence interval = 1.4-433). The association remained strong after adjustment for total immunoglobulin E and for 28 other allergens. The results indicate that soybean sensitivity may be causing asthma epidemics in Cartagena.
Navarro
C
C
Epidemiology Department, Murcia Health Council, Spain.
Márquez
M
M
Hernando
L
L
Galvañ
F
F
Zapatero
L
L
Caravaca
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D013025:Glycine max; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology