Occupational Asthma Reference

Moore VC, Cullinan P, Sadhra S, Burge PS, Peak expiratory flow analysis in workers exposed to detergent enzymes, Occup Med, 2009;59:418-423,

Keywords: detergent enzymes, peak expiratory flow, Oasys, IgE, exposure

Known Authors

Paul Cullinan, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK Paul Cullinan

Sherwood Burge, Oasys Sherwood Burge

Vicky Moore, Oasys Vicky Moore

Steve Sadhra, Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health, Birmingham Steve Sadhra

If you would like to become a known author and have your picture displayed along with your papers then please get in touch from the contact page. Known authors can choose to receive emails when their papers receive comments.

Abstract

Aims
To study serial peak expiratory flow (PEF) responses in a group of symptomatic detergent enzyme-exposed workers.

Methods
Workers were recruited from a biological detergent formulating and packaging company. Those with occupational asthma symptoms and/or specific IgE to a detergent enzyme were asked to complete 2 hourly PEF measurements for 4 weeks. Outputs from the Oasys program (Oasys score, rest-work score and rest-work difference in diurnal variation) assessed PEF response. These were then related to the levels of sensitization and current occupational exposure to detergent enzymes.

Results
In all, 67/72 workers returned PEF records; 97% were able to return a record with at least four readings per day and 87% at least 3 weeks in length. Of total, 79% (n = 27) of those with a final diagnosis of occupational asthma had peak flow records confirming the disease using Oasys. PEF response was similar in those with high, medium and low levels of exposures and those with negative, low-moderate and high specific IgE levels.

Conclusions
The Oasys program is a sensitive tool for the diagnosis of detergent enzyme occupational asthma, but the levels of exposure and specific IgE sensitization to enzymes do not affect the magnitude of PEF response in symptomatic workers.

Full Text

Comments

Please sign in or register to add your thoughts.


Oasys and occupational asthma smoke logo