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Biomedical subjects

E Losada

Publications and source records attributed to E Losada.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Occupational asthma in a hairdresser caused by persulphate salts.

Persulphate salts, which are common constituents of hair bleaches, have occasionally been reported to cause occupational asthma in hairdressers. We describe the clinical and immunological studies carried out in a hairdresser who developed cutaneous and respiratory symptoms, about 1 year after being employed in a hairdressing salon. Skin prick tests with 1:5 w/v potassium and sodium persulphate extracts were positive in our patient at 15 min and negative in control subjects. The European standard contactans (ECDRG) and a battery of hairdressing agents were patch tested with positive result to KATHON CG (isothiazolinone). The methacholine-inhalation test showed airway hyperresponsiveness. Bronchial provocation test with a 1:50 w/v potassium persulphate extract elicited a nonimmediate asthmatic reaction, followed by recurrent nocturnal fall in FEV1 lasting up to 3 days after the test. Plethysmography results revealed air trapping caused by a marked increase of airway resistance 3 h after the specific bronchial challenge. Histamine release test was not conclusive, and the determinations of specific IgA, IgM, IgG and IgG subclasses by EIA and IgE by RAST against persulphate salts were negative.

Adolescent↗

Severe anaphylactic reaction to thymostimulin.

Thymostimulin is a partially purified extract of calf thymus, consisting of a group of polypeptides with a total molecular weight of approximately 12,000 D. It is used as an immunologic response modifier in primary and secondary immunodeficiencies. We report a patient who had a severe anaphylactic reaction with the first injection of thymostimulin. Type I hypersensitivity to thymostimulin was suggested by an immediate skin test response, specific IgE determination by indirect ELISA and a positive histamine release test. This patient also reacted to bovine serum albumin (BSA), fetal calf serum (FCS) and cow hair and dander. The controls did not react to any of these tests. Clinicians need to be aware that the use of medical products of xenogeneic origin may lead to severe allergic reactions.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Swiss chard hypersensitivity: clinical and immunologic study.

Allergy to vegetables and fruits seems to be more prevalent in atopics, especially in birch pollen-sensitized individuals. We report a case of a grass pollen-sensitized woman, in whom the inhalation of vapor from boiling Swiss chard precipitated rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma. Type I hypersensitivity to Swiss chard was demonstrated by means of immediate skin test reactivity, specific IgE determination by RAST, basophil degranulation, histamine release test, and an immediate bronchial provocation test response to Swiss chard extract. The controls did not react to any of these tests. RAST inhibition assays suggest the presence of some cross-reactivity among Swiss chard and grass pollen antigens, as well as cross-reactivity between vegetables and weed pollens of the chenopod family.

Adult↗

Occupational asthma due to latex surgical gloves.

Since 1979 several reports of contact urticaria due to natural latex have been well documented. Recent case reports suggest that rhinitis and asthma may also be due to rubber exposure. We describe an operating room nurse who was exposed at work to natural rubber (latex) due to the use of latex surgical gloves. After 25 years, she developed contact urticaria, rhinoconjunctivitis and acute asthma following the handling of rubber gloves for surgical purposes. She was symptom-free when on vacation. Skin prick testing demonstrated an immediate skin reaction to latex. Rub testing with surgical gloves was positive. Specific IgE antibodies to latex were found by indirect ELISA. Specific bronchial challenge with latex extract elicited an isolated immediate asthmatic reaction that was inhibited with cromolyn sodium pretreatment. Patch testing to common rubber additives was negative. These results suggest that latex present in surgical rubber gloves and probably acting as inhalant allergen may produce occupational asthma in exposed subjects, probably by means of an IgE-mediated mechanism.

Adult↗

Housewives with raw potato-induced bronchial asthma.

Allergy to white potato has rarely been described. We report two cases of atopic patients, housewives, in whom peeling raw potatoes precipitated rhinoconjunctivitis and asthmatic attacks, and, in one of them, contact urticaria. Type I hypersensitivity to raw potato antigens was demonstrated by means of immediate skin test reactivity, specific IgE determination by RAST, basophil degranulation, histamine release test and an immediate bronchial provocation test response to raw potato extract. The controls did not react to any of these tests. Potato allergenic constituent is currently being investigated but, as far as we know, it is heat-labile and has an MW of more than 10 Kd.

Adult↗

Farm animal feeders: another group affected by cereal flour asthma.

Asthma induced by cereal flour is a long recognized entity. We present studies of three patients affected by asthma related to exposure to cereal flour contained in animal formula feeds. Skin prick test performed with the formula feed components showed positive reactions to cereal flours (wheat, rye and barley) and negative to the other substances in these formulas. Specific anti-wheat, rye and barley flour IgE antibodies were found by RAST. Bronchial provocation tests (BPT) with wheat flour (patients 1 and 2) and barley flour (patient 3) all showed immediate responses. These findings suggest that our patients' symptoms were caused by an IgE-mediated hypersensitivity to cereal flours from animal formula feeds. We call attention to the importance of cereal flours in animal formula feeds as a cause of occupational asthma in farm and animal feeders.

Adolescent↗

Severe anaphylactoid reaction to nalidixic acid.

We present the case of a 58-year-old non-atopic woman who suffered an adverse reaction to orally administered nalidixic acid, which had been prescribed for the treatment of a urinary tract infection. The single-blind oral provocation test was positive; the patient presented the clinical features of an anaphylactoid reaction 3 min after administration of nalidixic acid. Both the skin test and the histamine release test were negative. These results suggest that we are dealing with an anaphylactoid reaction not described before with this drug.

Anaphylaxis↗

Occupational asthma caused by Voacanga africana seed dust.

We report a case of a nonatopic patient in whom exposure to Voacanga africana (VA) dust precipitated asthma. The patient was indirectly exposed to this dust by her husband, a chemist working in a pharmaceutical plant in which VA is used for the production of vinburnine, an alkaloid derivative. Vinburnine (Cervoxan) is widely used in conditions associated with cerebral circulatory insufficiency. Studies revealed the presence of immediate skin test reactivity to VA dust, and specific anti-VA antibodies were detected in the patient's serum by the reverse enzyme immunoassay technique. Bronchial challenge with a VA extract also resulted in an immediate asthmatic response without late reaction. These findings suggest a type I IgE-mediated immunologic mechanism as being responsible for the patient's respiratory symptoms. Unexposed persons did not exhibit reactivity to this seed with any of the tests referred to above. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of occupational asthma caused by VA seeds.

Adult↗

Anaphylaxis after intra-articular injection of orgotein. Detection of an IgE-mediated mechanism.

Orgotein, a recently introduced anti-inflammatory agent, is the generic name accepted in the U.S.A. for the drug version of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase. This metallo-enzyme is obtained from bovine liver and has a molecular weight of about 32,000. We report on a patient to whom an intra-articular injection of orgotein caused an anaphylactic reaction. An IgE-mediated mechanism was suggested by an immediate positive skin test to orgotein and by the finding of specific IgE against orgotein in the patient's serum.

Adult↗

Occupational asthma caused by cellulase.

Inhalation of enzyme dusts can cause occupational asthma, and the list of enzymes able to induce asthma is increasing. We report two patients with asthma induced by occupational exposure to cellulase powder derived from Aspergillus niger. A type I hypersensitivity to this enzyme was demonstrated by means of skin test reactivity, positive passive transfer test, positive reverse enzyme immunoassay for specific IgE, and immediate bronchial provocation test response to cellulase dust. Skin tests with an A. niger extract were positive. Cross-reactivity between cellulase dust and an entire A. niger extract was also demonstrated.

Adult↗