PULMONARY HEMORRHAGE DUE TO INHALATION OF VAPOR CONTAINING PYROMELLITIC DIANHYDRIDE

Pulmonary hemorrhage due to inhalation of fumes or powders containing trimellitic anhydride (TMA) is well known. We report pulmonary hemorrh age in a young man exposed to epoxy resin vapor containing pyromelliti c dianhydride (PMDA). Serum IgG antibodies to PMDA could be detected. We conclude that the pulmonary hemorrhage was mediated by a reaction t o PMDA in analogy to the TMA-induced disease. We suggest that exposure to any acid anhydride should be considered a possible cause of pulmon ary hemorrhage since these compounds share structural and functional s imilarities.