Reference

BOHRF Original Authors' Main Conclusions

The original authors' main conclusions are taken from Abstract, Results and Discussion. They are decided upon by the authors of the BOHRF occupational asthma guidelines and form part of the guidelines.

Study investigated the workforce of a large platinum refinery exposed to ammonium hexachloroplatinate (ACP) to test the hypothesis that the development of IgE-associated sensitisation to ACP was influenced by human leukocyte-associated antigen (HLA) phenotype, especially in those with lower ACP exposure. An HLA-DR3 phenotype was more common among cases, and more so in those with low than with high exposure; HLA-DR6 was less common among the cases, an association also stronger in the low-exposure group. Authors conclude that these results provide evidence that HLA phenotype is a significant determinant of sensitisation to complex platinum salts and for the first time show that the strength of this association varies with intensity of exposure to the sensitizing agent. They imply that as exposure-control measures are taken to prevent occupational sensitisation and, by analogy, sensitisation to allergens outside the workplace, disease incidence will increasingly be determined by genetic susceptibility.

BOHRF Associated Evidence Statements

The BOHRF occupational asthma guidelines state that this reference is associated with the following evidence statements