title: [Occupational asthma caused by maleic anhydride].
abstract: Organic acid anhydrides (OAA) are widely used in the chemical industry. They are irritants and can cause sensitization and asthma. We describe the first documented case of occupational asthma caused by the OAA maleic anhydride (MA) in the production of insecticides. A 60-year-old man developed work-related respiratory symptoms after eight years of intermittent exposure to MA. Peak expiratory flow measurements showed greater variance on work days than on days off. Both a basophilic activation test and determination of the MA-specific IgE level in serum showed sensitization to MA.
authors.affiliation: Sektion for Miljø, Arbejde og Sundhed, Institut for Folkesundhed, Aarhus Universitet, Bartholins Allé 2, 8000 Aarhus C. E-mail: mrha@mil.au.dk.
authors.forename: Martin Rune
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Flemming
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lander
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Skjold
authors.forename: Henrik Albert
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Kolstad
authors.forename: Hans Jürgen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: Vivi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schlünssen
mesh_terms: D059366:Asthma, Occupational / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D001491:Basophils / Q000276:immunology; D002617:Chemical Industry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008299:Maleic Anhydrides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate
chemical_list: D008299:Maleic Anhydrides