title: Specific IgE-dependent sensitization, atopy, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in apprentices starting exposure to protein-derived agents.
abstract: Atopy, specific IgE sensitization, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) were examined in a cohort of 769 apprentices starting career programs in animal health or veterinary medicine (Group 1), pastry making (Group 2), and dental hygiene (Group 3). The hypothesis were that: (1) a proportion of subjects can be "sensitized" although no significant specific occupational exposure has occurred; and (2) there is a relationship between baseline specific sensitization to work-related antigens and host characteristics. Skin tests were administered using 11 common inhalants and specific allergens, including six laboratory animal extracts, three cereal antigens, alpha-amylase, and latex. Methacholine challenge tests were performed. The prevalence of atopy was 54.4% in Group 1, 58.1% in Group 2, and 52.5% in Group 3. Skin reactivity to work-specific proteins was as follows: laboratory animal proteins, 13.8% in Group 1, 14.0% in Group 2, and 15.6% in Group 3. No subject was sensitized to alpha-amylase, whereas 1.2% in Group 1, 5% in Group 2, and 4.1% in Group 3 were sensitized to flour. Five subjects reacted to latex. BHR (PC20 < or = 8 mg/ml) was present in 17.6%, 21.2%, and 14.8% of subjects in Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Specific sensitization was associated with positive skin reactions to common allergens, work-related symptoms, and BHR. These results suggest that students starting career programs with exposure to high-molecular-weight allergens have a low but substantial frequency of specific sensitization to work-related allergens that is related to atopy and BHR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chest Medicine, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gautrin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Infante-Rivard
authors.forename: T V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Dao
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Magnan-Larose
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Desjardins
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Malo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000276:immunology*; D003756:Dental Hygienists / Q000193:education; D004520:Education, Veterinary; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D007114:Immunization; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012882:Skin Tests; D013334:Students; D013337:Students, Medical
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E