OCCUPATIONAL ASTHMA TO METABISULPHITES - 3 CASES

Sulphites are compounds which are mainly used in the agricultural, foo d and pharmaceutical industry as preservatives. The possibility of man ifestations of acute hypersensitivity appearing after the ingestion or inhalation of sulphites has already been described several times, ove r the past twenty years. Amongst these manifestations and indeed the o ne that is most often present is bronchospasm, which can sometimes be severe. A few cases of occupational intolerance through contact eczema to sulphites have also been published. The idea of occupational asthm a to metabisulphates is, on the other hand, extremely recent; its lega l recognition only dates back to 1989. The authors present three new c ases of occupational asthma to metabisulphites stressing the value of a specific provocation test and the different hypotheses for the patho genesis of the disorder are reviewed. Preventative measures are always preferable to avoid the development of severe occupational asthma. In all cases, notification of occupational asthma is necessary.