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.

Initial and follow-up visits (median 56 months) of subjects with latex-induced asthma included questionnaire and measurement of PC20.At follow-up, subjects who avoided exposure (16/36), asthma severity had decreased from median score of 8.5 to 3.5 and PC20 value increased from 0.4 mg/ml to 2.3 mg/ml. In subjects who reduced their exposure (20/36), asthma severity score improved from 6.5 to 2.5 and PC20 values rose from 0.5 mg/ml to 2.4 mg/ml. Cessation of exposure to latex was associated with asthma-related work disability (69%) and loss of income (62%) more frequently than was reduction of exposure (35% and 30%, respectively). Study suggests that reduction of exposure to latex represents a reasonably safe alternative that should be considered in workers with latex-induced occupational asthma when suppression of exposure is not feasible or when the possibilities for non-exposed jobs are limited. Compared with complete removal, reduction of exposure is associated with a substantially lower socio-economic impact.

BOHRF Associated Evidence Statements

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