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Acta
Medica Medianae
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OCCUPATIONAL ASTHMA: WHAT ARE THE MECHANISMS?
Mirjana Arandelović i
Department of Occupational Medicine, Clinical center, Niš
Occupational asthma may be defined as asthma
induced by acquired hypersensitivity to an agent inhaled at work. A lot of
agents in the workplace have been shown to cause asthma and the list is growing
as new materials and processes are introduced. There are two major types of
occupational asthma. Sensitizer-induced asthma is characterized by specific
responsiveness to the etiologic agent. The mechanism of irritant-induced asthma
is unknown, but there is no clinical evidence of sensitization. Two other
mechanisms by which variable airway obstruction due to workplace exposure can
occur are reflex and pharmacological bronchoconstriction. Occupational asthma
can be a challenging diagnosis to make and to prove. Tests which are used and
are helpful include nonspecific pulmonary function tests, specific or
bronchoprovocative pulmonary function test, serial pulmonary function tests
(most commonly using the peak flow meter), and immunologic tests. Each test has
its own drawbacks and none is perfect. Early diagnosis of occupational asthma
and early removal of patients from exposure are important. |