Immunoglobulin E antibody against environmental allergens in subjects with trimellitic anhydride-induced asthma.
The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between atopy and the development of occupational asthma as a consequence of exposure to trimellitic anhydride (TMA). A case-control study was performed, which comprised 16 employees identified as having TMA-induced asthma and 44 similarly exposed controls. Specific immunoglobulin E measurements in response to cat, dust mite, ryegrass, and ragweed antigens were performed. Fifty-six percent of cases and 29% of controls were found to be atopic (P = 0.098). We demonstrated that there was a trend toward employees with TMA asthma being more atopic than those without TMA asthma. Atopy as an assessment of risk for the development of TMA asthma is unlikely to be useful, although further investigation may be warranted.
Sikora
R
R
Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
Harris
K E
KE
Kenamore
B
B
Grammer
L C
LC
D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010796:Phthalic Anhydrides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D000485:Allergens; D010796:Phthalic Anhydrides; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; C015559:trimellitic anhydride