Occupational asthma and rhinitis in workers from a lasamide production line.
OBJECTIVE
A wide range of low-molecular-weight agents can cause occupational asthma. The chemical industry is an environment in which numerous hazardous substances are used. Lasamide (2,4-dichloro-5-sulfamoylbenzoic acid) is one of them (along with its precursors).


METHODS
Five patients from a lasamide production line with suspected occupational asthma and rhinitis were examined. During the first visit, skin prick tests, total immunoglobulin E (IgE), a nonspecific bronchoprovocation test, and specific bronchoprovocation tests using occupational agents were performed to confirm the diagnosis of allergic diseases. During the follow-up visit (1-3 years after removal from exposure), all of the tests (except the specific bronchoprovocation test) were performed again.


RESULTS
At the first hospitalization, the total IgE levels were increased in three patients. In addition, skin prick tests and the nonspecific bronchoprovocation test were positive for three patients. After the specific bronchoprovocation test, serious bronchoconstriction occurred in three patients; symptoms of rhinitis were present in all five patients. Several years after removal from exposure to the occupational agents, normalization (with respect to the parameters followed) was not yet complete for all of the patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The process of lasamide production seems to be hazardous and is likely to cause allergic respiratory disease. The prognosis of allergic diseases caused by these products is not very favorable. Allergic symptoms (despite the removal from occupational allergen exposure) persisted even after several years.
Klusácková
Pavlína
P
Department of Occupational Medicine, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General Teaching Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic. Pavlina.Janu@lf1.cuni.cz
Lebedová
Jindriska
J
Pelclová
Daniela
D
Salandová
Jana
J
Senholdová
Zdenka
Z
Navrátil
Tomás
T
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced*; D001565:Benzoates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012882:Skin Tests
D001565:Benzoates; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; C519313:2,4-dichloro-5-sulfamoylbenzoic acid