Occupational asthma and rhinitis in workers from a lasamide production line
研究了拉沙米德生产线工人中职业性哮喘和鼻炎的诊断与预后，发现该生产过程易引发过敏性呼吸疾病，且脱离接触后症状持续多年。
OBJECTIVES: A wide range of low-molecular-weight agents can cause occupational asthma. The chemical industry is an environment in which numerous hazardous substances are used. Lasamide (2,4-dichloro-5-sulfamoylbenzoic acid) is one of them (along with its precursors). METHODS: Five patients from a lasamide production line with suspected occupational asthma and rhinitis were examined. During the first visit, skin prick tests, total immunoglobulin E (IgE), a nonspecific bronchoprovocation test, and specific bronchoprovocation tests using occupational agents were performed to confirm the diagnosis of allergic diseases. During the follow-up visit (1-3 years after removal from exposure), all of the tests (except the specific bronchoprovocation test) were performed again. RESULTS: At the first hospitalization, the total IgE levels were increased in three patients. In addition, skin prick tests and the nonspecific bronchoprovocation test were positive for three patients. After the specific bronchoprovocation test, serious bronchoconstriction occurred in three patients; symptoms of rhinitis were present in all five patients. Several years after removal from exposure to the occupational agents, normalization (with respect to the parameters followed) was not yet complete for all of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The process of lasamide production seems to be hazardous and is likely to cause allergic respiratory disease. The prognosis of allergic diseases caused by these products is not very favorable. Allergic symptoms (despite the removal from occupational allergen exposure) persisted even after several years.