title: [Allergic pathology due to enzymes: a case report of asthma due to pectinase (polygalacturonase)].
abstract: The paper described the case of a worker handling pectinase, an enzyme used in the manufacture of food additives. This enzyme is a carbohydrase (polygalacturonase) obtained by extraction, and consists of three active phases. After little more than a year at the job, the subject complained of bouts of asthma, especially when she had to weigh the enzyme in dust form. Symptoms appeared even when this operation was performed by others near her work station. An allergological examination revealed skin hypersensitivity to the enzyme, without atopy. The methods of preparing the tests performed are described. The authors stress the need to perform similar investigations on other exposed workers in order to assess the allergogenic potential of the substance and adjust environmental preventive measures accordingly.
authors.affiliation: Clinica di Medicina del Lavoro, Università degli Studi di Milano.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Augenti
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Galluzzo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nava
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005503:Food Additives / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011096:Polygalacturonase / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011208:Powders
chemical_list: D005503:Food Additives; D011208:Powders; D011096:Polygalacturonase
vernacular_title: La patologia allergica da enzimi: descrizione di un caso di asma da pectinase (poligalatturonasi).