Occupational asthma caused by grass pea used in the industrial processing of parquet.
BACKGROUND
although grass pea belongs to the leguminoseae family, allergic reactions to its flour have rarely been described. Clinical and immunological studies were performed to confirm a type I hypersensitivity mechanism in a case of occupational asthma to grass pea flour exposure, used in the industrial processing of parquet.


METHODS
occupational asthma was diagnosed according to patient history, PEFR monitoring and a specific bronchial challenge test. Skin prick test with an aqueous grass pea flour extract, specific IgE determinations (CAP assay) and IgE immunoblot tests were performed.


RESULTS
skin prick test with the extract showed a positive immediate response, and negative response in controls. Specific IgE to grass pea was positive (9.57 KU/l). Immunoblotting demonstrated the presence of specific serum IgE that recognized 3 proteins in the extract (MW 46, 32 and 28 kDa). PEFR monitoring showed positive results. Bronchial challenge test with the extract elicited an isolated immediate response.


CONCLUSIONS
as far as we know this is the first time that IgE mediated occupational asthma caused by grass pea is reported and it is also the first time that its allergens are characterized. Grass pea flour might constitute a relevant occupational allergen in this unreported source of exposure in parquet manufacturers.
Porcel
S
S
Department of Allergy, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain. seporcel@yahoo.es
León
F
F
Martín Calderín
P
P
Valero
A
A
Botello
A
A
Alvarez Cuesta
E
E
D000269:Adhesives / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D003252:Construction Materials; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005433:Flour / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D027807:Lathyrus / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D012882:Skin Tests; D017132:Workplace
D000269:Adhesives; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D000485:Allergens; D010940:Plant Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E