Occupational Asthma Caused by Low-Molecular-Weight Chemicals Associated With Contact Dermatitis: A Retrospective Study. 2022

Hung-Chang Tsui, and Steven Ronsmans, and Peter H M Hoet, and Benoit Nemery, and Jeroen A J Vanoirbeek
Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Occupational asthma (OA) may have different etiologies, but it is not clear whether the etiologic agents influence the clinical presentation, especially the co-occurrence of skin lesions. To determine the impact of different asthmagens on the characteristics of OA, with a focus on the occurrence of prior or concomitant skin disorders. In a retrospective analysis of patients who visited the Occupational and Environmental Disease Clinic of a tertiary referral hospital from 2009 to 2019, we classified patients into definite, probable, or possible OA according to prespecified diagnostic guidelines. In multivariate logistic regression with sensitivity analysis, we examined the relation of high- and low-molecular-weight (HMW and LMW) agents with the clinical presentation. Of 209 cases of OA, 66 were caused by HMW agents and 143 by LMW agents. Patients with OA exposed to LMW agents had higher odds of having (had) allergic contact dermatitis (odds ratio, 5.45 [1.80-23.70]; P < .01), compared with patients exposed to HMW agents. Conversely, HMW agents were associated with higher odds of rhinitis symptoms (odds ratio of LMW/HMW, 0.33 [0.17-0.63]; P < .001) and high total IgE (odds ratio of LMW/HMW, 0.35 [0.17-0.70]; P < .01). Risk factors for having coexisting contact dermatitis included construction work, hairdressing, and exposure to metals or epoxy resins. Among patients with OA, exposure to specific LMW agents was associated with a high frequency of contact dermatitis. Different types of asthmagens within HMW or LMW agents appear to determine the phenotype and comorbidity of OA.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008970 Molecular Weight The sum of the weight of all the atoms in a molecule. Molecular Weights,Weight, Molecular,Weights, Molecular
D009784 Occupational Diseases Diseases caused by factors involved in one's employment. Diseases, Occupational,Occupational Illnesses,Disease, Occupational,Illnesse, Occupational,Illnesses, Occupational,Occupational Disease,Occupational Illnesse
D003877 Dermatitis, Contact A type of acute or chronic skin reaction in which sensitivity is manifested by reactivity to materials or substances coming in contact with the skin. It may involve allergic or non-allergic mechanisms. Contact Dermatitis,Dermatitis Venenata,Eczema, Contact,Hypersensitivity, Contact,Sensitivity, Contact,Contact Dermatitides,Contact Eczema,Contact Hypersensitivities,Contact Hypersensitivity,Contact Sensitivities,Contact Sensitivity,Dermatitides, Contact,Hypersensitivities, Contact,Sensitivities, Contact
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012189 Retrospective Studies Studies used to test etiologic hypotheses in which inferences about an exposure to putative causal factors are derived from data relating to characteristics of persons under study or to events or experiences in their past. The essential feature is that some of the persons under study have the disease or outcome of interest and their characteristics are compared with those of unaffected persons. Retrospective Study,Studies, Retrospective,Study, Retrospective
D016273 Occupational Exposure The exposure to potentially harmful chemical, physical, or biological agents that occurs as a result of one's occupation. Exposure, Occupational,Exposures, Occupational,Occupational Exposures
D059366 Asthma, Occupational Asthma attacks caused, triggered, or exacerbated by OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE. Asthmas, Occupational,Occupational Asthma,Occupational Asthmas

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