Reference

Anees W, Huggins V, Pavord ID, Robertson AS, Burge PS, Occupational Asthma Due To Low Molecular Weight Agents : Eosinophilic And Non-Eosinophilic Variants, Thorax, 2002;57:231-236,

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 aimed to determine sputum cellular profile of workers with occupational asthma induced by low molecular agents and to relate this to physiological measures of airway obstruction. Despite having work-related deterioration in peak expiratory flow (PEF), many workers with occupational asthma show low degree of within day diurnal variability atypical of non-OA. Authors conclude that asthma caused by low molecular weight agents can be separated into eosinophilic & non-eosinophilic patho-physiological variants with latter predominating (24/38 had no eosinophils on sputum induction). Both groups had evidence of sputum neutrophilia. Sputum eosinophilia was associated with more severe disease and greater bronchodilator reversibility but no difference in PEF response to work exposure.

BOHRF Associated Evidence Statements

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

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A large number of concordant studies from different centres using different methodologies demonstrated that increased non-specific reactivity is often found in workers with occupational asthma. There are however many reports of normal methacholine or histamine reactivity within 24 hours of exposure in workers with confirmed occupational asthma.

Non Bohrf Information

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