title: Outcome of occupational asthma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Occupational asthma is often associated with serious work and financial consequences. Correct management of occupational asthma must be based on a good knowledge of the natural history of the disease and of its prognostic factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Longitudinal studies have demonstrated that improvement of symptoms and airway hyperresponsiveness may be prolonged after cessation of exposure. Severity of asthma at diagnosis is the best predictor of clinical symptoms and functional impairment at follow-up. The molecular weight of the causal agent does not seem to be a prognostic factor. Airway inflammation is associated with persistence of symptoms and airway hyperresponsiveness after cessation of exposure. Reduction of exposure has proved to be effective in improvement of latex-induced asthma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further studies are needed to investigate the prognostic value of sputum eosinophils and neutrophils, and to determine whether some specific agents are associated with a better prognosis than others.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Health, Raymond Poincaré Hospital, ap-hp, Garches, France. Jacques.Ameille@rpc.aphp.fr
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ameille
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Descatha
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011379:Prognosis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000485:Allergens