RISK-FACTORS FOR IMMUNOLOGICALLY MEDIATED RESPIRATORY-DISEASE FROM HEXAHYDROPHTHALIC ANHYDRIDE

Our objective was to identify risk factors for development of immunolo gically mediated respiratory disease in workers exposed to hexahydroph thalic anhydride. We performed a medical and immunologic survey study of 57 workers in a workplace molding operation utilizing hexahydrophth alic anhydride. The main outcome measurements were the development of a respiratory disease due to specific IgE antibody (asthma and/or rhin itis) or specific IgG antibody (hypersensitivity pneumonitis or hemorr hagic rhinitis). Of the 57 workers, 7 had both IgE- and IgG-mediated d isease, whereas 9 had only IgE-mediated disease. Although neither smok ing, age, nor race were risk factors for development of immunologicall y mediated disease, exposure level and specific antibody were. In conc lusion, development of immunologically mediated respiratory disease du e to hexahydrophthalic anhydride is most closely associated with expos ure level and development of specific IgE or IgG antibodies.