title: Occupational asthma caused by high-molecular-weight substances.
abstract: More than 250 agents that are encountered in the workplace have been shown to induce asthma in susceptible individuals. It is estimated that 2% to 15% of cases of asthma may be occupational. High-molecular-weight substances, such as plant and animal proteins, enzymes, and large carbohydrate molecules, can induce IgE-mediated occupational asthma. The incidence of disease varies among industries and is dependent on the physiochemical properties of the agent, the level and duration of exposure, industrial hygiene, engineering practices, and host factors. Risk factors, common high-molecular-weight workplace antigens, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Section of Clinical Immunology, Allergy, and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, 1700 Perdido Street (SL-57), New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
authors.forename: Laurianne G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Wild
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lopez
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000150:complications; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome