title: Risk factors for sensitisation to methyltetrahydrophthalic anhydride.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine an association between specific IgE to methyltetrahydrophthalic anhydride (MTHPA) and exposure time, atopic history, smoking habits, and total IgE concentrations.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional survey was carried out on a population of 148 workers from two condenser plants using epoxy resin with MTHPA, an acid anhydride curing agent known to cause allergy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using a Pharmacia CAP system with a MTHPA human serum albumin conjugate, specific IgE antibody was detected in serum from 97 (66%) out of the 148 workers exposed to MTHPA. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis showed a striking relation between log concentrations of specific and total IgE (P < 0.0001). Furthermore, when the workers were divided into two groups according to a cut-off point (100 IU/ml) between low and high total IgE, current smoking was significantly (P = 0.025) associated with specific IgE production only in the group with low total IgE (< 100 IU/ml).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Smoking is the most significant risk factor for raising specific IgE to MTHPA in the group with low total IgE concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Matsushita Science Center of Industrial Hygiene, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yokota
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Johyama
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujiki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takeshita
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morimoto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D010796:Phthalic Anhydrides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D015415:Biomarkers; D010796:Phthalic Anhydrides; C088343:methyltetrahydrophthalic anhydride; D007073:Immunoglobulin E