title: Prevalence and onset of rhinitis and conjunctivitis in subjects with occupational asthma caused by trimellitic anhydride (TMA).
abstract: Individuals with occupational asthma may also report symptoms of rhinitis or conjunctivitis. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of rhinitis and conjunctivitis in subjects with occupational asthma as a result of trimellitic anhydride (TMA). Additionally, we wanted to evaluate the onset of rhinitis and conjunctivitis symptoms as compared with the occupational asthma symptoms. In a case series design, we studied 25 consecutive employees with TMA-induced asthma; each of them had participated in an annual surveillance program in which they were queried about rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and other respiratory symptoms. Twenty-two of the 25 (88%) reported rhinitis symptoms whereas 17 of the 25 (68%) reported conjunctivitis symptoms. In 17 of the 22 (77%) individuals with rhinitis and asthma, the rhinitis symptoms preceded the asthma symptoms. In 14 of the 17 (82%) individuals with conjunctivitis, those symptoms preceded the asthma symptoms. In summary, symptoms of rhinitis and conjunctivitis are common in subjects with occupational asthma because of TMA and often precede the respiratory symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy-Immunology, Ernest S. Bazley Asthma and Allergic Diseases Center, Department of Medicine, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois, USA. l-grammer@northwestern.edu
authors.forename: Leslie C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Grammer
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ditto
authors.forename: Anju
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tripathi
authors.forename: Kathleen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced*; D003231:Conjunctivitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D010796:Phthalic Anhydrides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D010796:Phthalic Anhydrides; C015559:trimellitic anhydride