Immunoglobulin E antibody against environmental allergens in subjects withtrimellitic anhydride-induced asthma

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between atopy and the development of occupational asthma as a consequence of exposure to trim ellitic anhydride (TMA). A case-control study was performed, which comprise d 16 employees identified as having TMA-induced asthma and 44 similarly exp osed controls, Specific immunoglobulin E measurements in response to cat, d ust mite, ryegrass, and ragweed antigens were performed. Fifty-six percent of cases and 29% of controls were found to be atopic (P = 0.098). We demons trated that there was a trend toward employees with TMA asthma being more a topic than those without TMA asthma, Atopy as an assessment of risk for the development of TMA asthma is unlikely to be useful, although further inves tigation may be warranted.