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Baker's asthma
Author(s) -
BLOCK G.,
TSE K.S.,
KIJEK K.,
CHAN H.,
CHANYEUNG M.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2222.1983.tb02610.x
Subject(s) - methacholine , immunology , asthma , immunoglobulin e , medicine , inhalation , antigen , allergen , asymptomatic , radioallergosorbent test , antibody , respiratory system , allergy , respiratory disease , lung , anesthesia
Summary Seven bakers with respiratory symptoms were evaluated by skin tests, RAST assay for specific IgE antibodies to rye and wheat, inhalation challenge with methacholine for the determination of non‐specific bronchial reactivity, and bronchoprovocation with rye and wheat extracts for the determination of antigen‐specific bronchial reactivity. An immediate asthmatic response to antigen challenge was observed in four subjects and all of them had a high level of flour‐specific IgE antibodies. The serum RAST values provided a more accurate predictive value than the degree of cutaneous sensitivity determined by skin testing with respect to the bronchial response to antigenic challenge. Among those who reacted positively to antigenic bronchoprovocation, a much lower antigen dose was required to elicit a positive reaction if the subject also had an increased degree of non‐specific bronchial reactivity. An elevated RAST value was not found in thirty‐eight asymptomatic bakers or in ten asthmatics who had no occupational exposure to flour. Thus, baker's asthma appears to he a form of allergic asthma to cereal flours mediated by specific IgF antibodies. Both the level of serum IgE antibodies and the degree of non‐specific bronchial reactivity are important factors which may influence a baker's bronchial response upon inhalation of cereal flours.