Risk factors for sensitisation to methyltetrahydrophthalic anhydride.
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.
Yokota
K
K
Matsushita Science Center of Industrial Hygiene, Osaka, Japan.
Johyama
Y
Y
Yamaguchi
K
K
Fujiki
Y
Y
Takeshita
T
T
Morimoto
K
K
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
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D015415:Biomarkers; D010796:Phthalic Anhydrides; C088343:methyltetrahydrophthalic anhydride; D007073:Immunoglobulin E