title: Occupational asthma and rhinitis in workers from a lasamide production line.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General Teaching Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic. Pavlina.Janu@lf1.cuni.cz
authors.forename: Pavlína
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Klusácková
authors.forename: Jindriska
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lebedová
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pelclová
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salandová
authors.forename: Zdenka
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Senholdová
authors.forename: Tomás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Navrátil
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D001565:Benzoates; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; C519313:2,4-dichloro-5-sulfamoylbenzoic acid