Sensitization to Laboratory Animals and Small-Airway Hyperreactivity

Abstract

Fifty-six laboratory-animal workers were investigated regarding allergy and lung function. Thirty percent had at least one positive skin prick test against laboratory animals. RAST® test was positive in 25 %. Thirty-two percent had laboratory-animal allergy (LAA; rhinoconjunctivitis and/or asthma). Associa tion with an increased risk for LAA was found for atopy, as indicated by a family history of allergy, positive skin prick test against nonlaboratory envi ronmental allergens, positive Phadiatop®, and increased levels of serum IgE. The entire group of laboratory workers did not significantly differ from a ref erence group in airway reactivity. However, subgrouping of the workers showed that sensitized cases had significantly increased levels of volume of trapped gas (VTG), a measure of the small-airway function, after pulmonary provocation with methacholine at a concentration of 0.1 %, as compared to both a reference group and nonsensitized workers. Thus, animal allergen sen sitization was found to be associated with small-airway hyperreactivity. Also, a positive Phadiatop was associated with increased levels of VTG.