C. Palczynski et al., Occupational asthma and rhinitis due to glutaraldehyde: changes in nasal lavage fluid after specific inhalatory challenge test, ALLERGY, 56(12), 2001, pp. 1186-1191
Background: Glutaraldehyde (GA) is a known respiratory sensitizers, and som
e studies have reported occupational asthma in exposed workers. Specific ch
anges in nasal lavage fluid (NLF) induced by high-molecular-weight allergen
provocation in sensitized subjects were described previously. The purpose
of this Study was to evaluate the changes in cytogram. protein content, eos
inophil cationic protein (ECP), and mast-cell tryptase concentrations in NL
F after GA inhalation challenge in patients with a positive history of GA-i
nduced asthma and late or dual asthmatic response due to exposure to low-le
vel GA.
Methods: A single-blind. placebo-controlled study was performed on 11 healt
h workers with occupational asthma and rhinitis due to GA. The control grou
ps comprised 10 atopic subjects with perennial asthma and rhinitis and 10 h
ealthy ones. A "nasal pool" technique was used to evaluate the examined par
ameters in nasal washings before and 30 min, 4 h, and 24 h after the inhala
tory provocation with GA and placebo.
Results: There was a significant increase in eosinophil number and percenta
ge. and albumin, ECP, and tryptase concentrations in NLF from patients with
occupational asthma and rhinitis when compared to controls.
Conclusions: The results indicate the immunologic mechanism of GA-induced a
sthma and the applicability of the "nasal pool" technique as the diagnostic
procedure in GA-induced airway allergy.