UTILITY OF ANTIBODY IN IDENTIFYING INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE OR WILL DEVELOP ANHYDRIDE-INDUCED RESPIRATORY-DISEASE

Objective: To define the utility of serum antibody against trimellitic anhydride (TMA) in predicting which individuals employed, at Amoco Co rporation, in the manufacture of TMA have or will develop immunologica lly mediated respiratory disease, such as asthma, due to exposure to T MA. Methods: In 1990 we initiated a clinical and immunologic cross-sec tional study of 181 subjects exposed to TMA for at least 1 year who ha d not been diagnosed with an immunologic respiratory disease. We then clinically and immunologically followed 119 of these subjects for the next 5 years to determine whether they would develop an immunologic re spiratory disease due to TMA exposure. Results: Of the 16 individuals with IgE against TMA conjugated to human serum albumin (TM-HSA) in 199 0, 3 had immediate asthma and another 6 developed asthma during the 5- year follow-up. Of the 165 individuals without IgE against TM-HSA, non e had immediate asthma in 1990 and only 1 of 102 individuals followed for 5 years developed asthma, Of the 44 subjects with IgG against TM-H SA, 6 had an immunologic respiratory disease in 1990 and 2 more develo ped it in the ensuing 5 years. Of the 137 subjects without IgG against TM-HSA, none had an immunologic respiratory disease in 1990 and none of the 80 subjects followed for 5 years developed it. Conclusions: Dev elopment of antibody against TM-HSA, both IgE and IgG, is predictive o f subjects who have or will develop immunologically mediated respirato ry disease due to TMA exposure, The absence of antibody is a potent ne gative predictor.