Sensitization to HMW allergens is a relatively common immunopathogenic factor in occupational asthma. The mechanism of sensitization is an IgE-mediated, type I reaction. High molecular weight allergen refers to proteins and polymers of organic compounds over 5 kd and usually in the 20 to 50 kd range. In most cases diagnosis requires: 1. A high index of suspicion of job-related asthma. 2. Exposure to HMW compounds and clinical findings associated with such an exposure. 3. Confirmation of sensitization by appropriate in vitro or in vivo tests. 4. Confirmation of a pathogenic role by physiologic measurements in either a natural setting or during laboratory-controlled challenges.

Allergens↗

PubMed1989

Clinical ecology in the workplace.

The field of clinical ecology is based on a putative diagnosis of "environmental illness," applied to persons who have multiple symptoms and are believed to be sensitive to numerous items in the environment. Increasingly this diagnosis is being used by workers for an occupational disability claim. Medical records of 90 workers claiming work-related "environmental illness" were reviewed. The majority were women. They worked in a variety of occupations with no unifying feature of the type of work or the claimed causative exposure. Symptoms were multiple and unaccompanied by objective clinical findings. Careful review of medical records showed that most had their symptoms before the claimed occupational exposure. Examining physicians who were not clinical ecologists invariably arrived at other diagnoses, usually psychiatric. This retrospective review lends no support to the clinical ecology concept of "environmental illness."

Adult↗

PubMed1988

In vitro tests for immediate hypersensitivity.

In vitro measurement of IgE antibodies in serum has an established role in the study of allergic disease, but the place of in vitro tests in routine diagnosis is not well established. They are particularly helpful in confirming new allergens in the workplace and in situations where skin testing is potentially dangerous or technically not feasible. The basic procedure is the radioallergosorbent test (RAST). Each modification has its peculiar advantages and disadvantages. A clinician depending upon in vitro tests for diagnosis must be aware of the technical problems, the inherent limitation in sensitivity in comparison to skin testing, and above all, the fact that in vitro tests detect the presence of an IgE antibody in serum but give no direct information about its pathogenetic role in an individual patient.

Anaphylaxis↗

PubMed1987

Clinical ecology.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed1987

Effect of total lymphoid irradiation on IgE antibody responses in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Thirteen patients with rheumatoid arthritis and four patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and nephritis were treated with total lymphoid irradiation because of severe disease refractory to other forms of treatment. Serum samples before and after irradiation were tested for changes in total serum IgE and for changes in specific IgE antibodies to ryegrass pollen, dust mite, cat dander, and Alternaria. There were no statistically significant changes in total or specific IgE from lymphoid irradiation in these patients. The therapy caused a significant decrease in circulating total lymphocyte and Leu-3 (helper/inducer) T-lymphocyte counts. Therefore, reduction in circulating levels of helper/inducer T cells does not appear to influence preexisting levels of IgE antibodies.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

Environmental illness. A clinical review of 50 cases.

A review of 50 patients with a clinical ecology diagnosis of environmentally induced illness is reported. Histories were extremely heterogeneous. Eight patients had no symptoms or disease, 11 had symptoms caused by preexisting nonenvironmental disease, and 31 had multiple subjective symptoms. No consistent physical findings or laboratory abnormalities were found. Serum levels of immunoglobulins and complement, and circulating lymphocyte, B-cell, T-cell, and T-cell subset counts were not significantly abnormal. The diagnostic provocation-neutralization procedure, environmental restrictions, and dietary advice of clinical ecology produced further symptoms and fear of environmental and food contaminants. The patients with chronic multisystem complaints had characteristic symptoms of psychosomatic illness, but this study does not support the clinical ecology theory that psychosomatic illness may be an expression of food and chemical sensitivities induced by the toxic effect of environmental chemicals on the immune system.

Adult↗

PubMed1986