Abstract
The prevalence of positive skin-prick test reactions to ammonium persulphate and potassium persulphate (1% and 5% solutions) was tested in a cross-sectional study on 52 employees of a company producing persulphates after a case of “persulphate asthma” was observed. A random test of 13 persons without occupational exposure to persulphates served as controls; among them all the skin-prick test reactions were negative. Eight company employees showed a positive skin-prick test reaction to at least one of the persulphate solutions tested. Employees showed lower lung function results with a positive prick test reaction than did employees with a negative result. The positive skin-prick reactions correspond well to the anamnestic data and indicate a possible relationship to obstructive ventilation disorders. The results therefore suggest an IgE-induced, allergic pathomechanism of “persulphate asthma” triggered by persulphates.
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Wrbitzky, R., Drexler, H. & Letzel, S. Early reaction type allergies and diseases of the respiratory passages in employees from persulphate production. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 67, 413–417 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00381054
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00381054