Is atopy a risk factor for developing occupational asthma?

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Atopy increases the risk of developing occupational asthma caused by exposure to many high molecular weight agents that induce the production of specific IgE antibodies.

Evidence

Agrup G, Belin L, Sjostedt L et al , Allergy to laboratory animals in laboratory technicians and animal keepers , Br J Ind Med , 1986 ; 43 : 192-198

Baur X, Degens PO, Sander I , Baker's asthma: still among the most frequent occupational respiratory disorders , J Allergy Clin Immunol , 1998 ; 102 : 984-997

Botham PA, Davies GE, Teasdale EL , Allergy to laboratory animals: a prospective study of its incidence and of the influence of atopy on its development , Br J Ind Med , 1987 ; 44 : 627-632

Cullinan P, Cook A, Gordon S, Nieuwenhuijsen MJ, Tee RD, Venables KM, McDonald JC, Newman Taylor AJ , Allergen exposure, atopy and smoking as determinants of allergy to rats in a cohort of laboratory employees , Eur Respir J , 1999 ; 13 : 1139-1143

DeZotti R, Bovenzi M , Prospective study of work-related respiratory symptoms in trainee bakers , Occup Environ Med , 2000 ; 57 : 58-61

DeZotti R, Bovenzi M, Molinari S et al , Respiratory symptoms and occupational sensitisation in a group of trainee bakers: results of a 6-month follow up , Med Lav , 1997 ; 88 : 155-165

Droste J, Myny K, Van Sprundel M et al , Allergic sensitisation, symptoms, and lung function among bakery workers as compared with a nonexposed work population , J Occup Environ Med , 2003 ; 45 : 648-655

Gautrin D, Ghezzo H, InfanteRivard C et al , Natural history of sensitisation, symptoms and occupational diseases in apprentices exposed to laboratory animals , Eur Respir J , 2001 ; 17 : 904-908

Gautrin D, InfanteRivard C, Ghezzo H et al , Incidence and host determinants of probable occupational asthma in apprentices exposed to laboratory animals , Am J Respir Crit Care Med , 2001 ; 163 : 899-904

Jeal H, Draper A, Jones M, Harris J, Welsh K, Newman Taylor AJ , HLA associations with occupational sensitisation to rat lipocalin allergens: a model for other animal allergies? , J Allergy Clin Immunol , 2003 ; 111 : 795-799

Juniper CP, Roberts DM , Enzyme asthma: fourteen years clinical experience of a recently prescribed disease , J Soc Occup Med , 1984 ; 34 : 126-132

Krakowiak A, Palczynski C, Walusiak J et al , Allergy to animal fur and feathers among zoo workers , Int Arch Occup Environ Health , 2002 ; 75 : S113-116

Kruize H, Post W, Heederik D, Martens B, Hollander A, van der Beek E , Respiratory allergy in laboratory animal workers: a retrospective cohort study using pre-employment screening data , Occup Environ Med , 1997 ; 54 : 830-835

PlattsMills TAE, Longbottom J, Edwards J, Cockcroft A, Wilkins S , Occupational asthma and rhinitis related to laboratory rats: serum IgG and IgE antibodies to the rat urinary allergen , J Allergy Clin Immunol , 1987 ; 79 : 505-515

Sjostedt L, Willers S , Predisposing factors in laboratory animal allergy: a study of atopy and environmental factors , Am J Ind Med , 1989 ; 16 : 199-208

Sjostedt L, Willers S, Orbaek P , A follow-up study of laboratory animal exposed workers: the influence of atopy for the development of occupational asthma , Am J Ind Med , 1993 ; 24 : 459-469

Talini D, Benvenuti A, Carrara M et al , Diagnosis Of Flour-Induced Occupational Asthma In A Cross-Sectional Study , Respir Med , 2002 ; 96 : 236-243

Venables KM, Tee RD, Hawkins ER et al , Laboratory animal allergy in a pharmaceutical company , Br J Ind Med , 1988 ; 45 : 660-666

Weill H, Waddell LC, Ziskind M , A study of workers exposed to detergent enzymes , JAMA , 1971 ; 26 : 425-433

Zentner A, Jeep S, Wahl R et al , Multiple IgE-mediated sensitisations to enzymes after occupational exposure: evaluation by skin prick test, RAST, and immunoblot , Allergy , 1997 ; 52 : 928-934