Occupational non-immediate type allergic asthma due to ammonium persulfate

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2013:755:79-84. doi: 10.1007/978-94-007-4546-9_10.

Abstract

While numerous cases of immediate-type occupational asthma due to persulfates with positive skin prick test reactions to ammonium persulfate are well documented, few non-immediate type reactions have been described in the literature. We report the case of an atopic worker who developed work-related asthmatic symptoms shortly after he began his job in persulfate production. The diagnosis of asthma was corroborated by methacholine testing. The patient showed a positive patch test reaction to ammonium persulfate, while skin prick test was negative. He presented an isolated late symptomatic airway obstruction after a cumulative dose of 0.6 mg ammonium persulfate administered by a dosimeter method. An immunologic mechanism was demonstrated by a significant increase in exhaled nitric oxide and the number of eosinophils in induced sputum. These findings suggest that isolated late bronchial reactions to persulfates are mediated by eosinophilic inflammatory responses.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Ammonium Sulfate / toxicity*
  • Asthma, Occupational / chemically induced*
  • Asthma, Occupational / diagnosis
  • Breath Tests
  • Forced Expiratory Volume
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Nitric Oxide / analysis
  • Skin Tests
  • Sputum / cytology

Substances

  • ammonium peroxydisulfate
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Ammonium Sulfate