Is there a place for a computer based asthma hazard prediction model in clinical practice?
- 1Department of Chest Medicine, Hôpital du Sacré—Coeur de Montréal, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- 2Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Correspondence to Professor Manon Labrecque, Department of Chest Medicine, Hôpital du Sacré—Coeur de Montréal, 5400 Boulevard Gouin Ouest, Montreal H4J 1C5, Canada; martin.seed{at}manchester.ac.uk
- Accepted 2 April 2012
- Published Online First 5 May 2012
Modelling of the relationship between chemical structure and toxicological end-points offers a quick and efficient means of hazard prediction using a computer.1 Agius et al have developed and validated a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model to predict the potential of low molecular weight (LMW) organic agents to cause asthma due to sensitisation, as determined by the hazard index (HI).2–5 Using a cut-point HI of 0.5, it has demonstrated a sensitivity of 79% and a specificity of 93%4 with a high negative predictive value (91–100%) suggesting that the use of such a HI could play a …
