Short report
Report of occupational asthma due to phytase and 
-glucanase
T M O'Connora, J F Bourkeb, M Jonesc, N Brennana
a Department of
Respiratory Medicine, Mercy Hospital, Cork, Ireland, b Department of
Dermatology, South Infirmiary Victoria Hospital, Cork, Ireland, c Department of Occupational
and Environmental Medicine, Imperial College, London, UK
Correspondence to: Dr T M O' Connor, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Cork, Republic of Ireland terryoconnor{at}eircom.net
Accepted 9 February
2001
OBJECTIVES
Occupational
asthma is the principal cause of respiratory disease in the workplace.
The enzymes phytase and 
-glucanase are used in the agricultural
industry to optimise the nutritional value of animal feeds. A relation
between these enzymes and occupational asthma in a 43 year old man was suspected.
METHODSInhalation
challenge tests were performed with the enzymes phytase, -glucanase,
and amylase. Skin prick tests were performed with the enzymes diluted
to a concentration of 1 mg/ml and 5 mg/ml. Specific IgE to phytase
and -glucanase were measured with a radioallergosorbent test.
RESULTSBaseline
spirometry values were normal. A histamine challenge test showed
bronchial hyperreactivity. Exposure to phytase and -glucanase led to
significant reductions in forced vital capacity and forced expired
volume in 1 second. No significant
differences were noted after exposure to amylase. Skin tests showed a
positive reaction to -glucanase (5 mm) at a concentration of
1 mg/ml and positive reactions to -glucanase (7 mm) and phytase (5 mm) at a concentration of 5 mg/ml. Similarly specific IgE was present against both phytase and -glucanase, at 2.5% and 9.3% binding respectively (2% binding is considered positive).
CONCLUSIONSThis is
the first description of occupational asthma due to the enzymes phytase
and -glucanase. Their addition to the ever increasing list of
substances associated with occupational asthma will have notable
implications for those exposed to these enzymes.
Keywords: occupational asthma; phytase;
-glucanase
© 2001 by Occupational and Environmental Medicine
CiteULike 
Complore 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Digg 
Reddit 
Technorati What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
-
van Heemst, R. C., Sander, I., Rooyackers, J., de Jong, L., Djamin, R. S., Aerts, J. G., Belderbos, H. N. A.
(2009). Hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by occupational exposure to phytase. Eur Respir J
33: 1507-1509
[Abstract] [Full Text] -
Zober, A, Strassburger, K, Baur, X
(2002). Response to a case of occupational asthma due to the enzymes phytase and {beta}-glucanase. Occup. Environ. Med.
59: 64-64
[Full Text]
eLetters:
Read all eLetters
- Response to a case of occupational asthma due to the enzymes phytase and ß-glucanase
- Andreas Zober
- Occup Environ Med Online, 14 Aug 2001 [Full text]
- Full Text
- Full Text (PDF)
- Submit a response
- Read responses to this article
- Alert me when this article is cited
- Alert me when eLetters are posted
- Alert me if a correction is posted
- Citation Map
Services
- Email this link to a friend
- Similar articles in this journal
- Similar articles in PubMed
- Add article to my folders
- Download to citation manager
- Request Permissions
Citing Articles
Google Scholar
PubMed
Topic Collections
Bookmark with
Register for free content
The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.
Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.
