1/41. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis due to aspergillus niger without bronchial asthma.A 65-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a dry cough and pulmonary infiltrates. Chest radiograph and CT revealed mucoid impaction and consolidations. Peripheral blood eosinophilia and elevated serum IgE were observed. aspergillus niger was cultured repeatedly from her sputum, but A. fumigatus was not detected. Immediate skin test and specific IgE (RAST) to Aspergillus antigen were positive. Precipitating antibodies were confirmed against A. niger antigen, but not against A. fumigatus antigen. She had no asthmatic symptoms, and showed no bronchial hyperreactivity to methacholine. Thus, this case was diagnosed as allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) without bronchial asthma due to A. niger, an organism rarely found in ABPA. The administration of prednisone improved the symptoms and corrected the abnormal laboratory findings.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = bronchial hyperreactivity, hyperreactivity (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/41. Disappearance of wheezing during epidural lidocaine anesthesia in a patient with bronchial asthma.BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Local anesthetics in blood absorbed from the epidural space attenuate bronchial hyperreactivity to chemical stimuli. However, it is not documented whether local anesthetics at clinically relevant concentrations improve active wheezing in patients with bronchial asthma. CASE REPORT: We managed a 60-year-old man with bronchial asthma and active wheezing under continuous epidural anesthesia using plain lidocaine. The wheezing gradually diminished 20 minutes after the epidural injection of 13 mL 2% lidocaine and completely disappeared over 155 minutes during continuous epidural injection of 2% lidocaine (6 mL/h). The plasma concentrations of lidocaine in arterial blood during the epidural anesthesia ranged from 2.5 to 3.9 microg/mL. Wheezing reappeared 55 minutes after termination of the continuous epidural injection of lidocaine. The plasma concentration of lidocaine at this time was 1.9 microg/mL. CONCLUSIONS: At clinically relevant concentrations, lidocaine in the blood absorbed from the epidural space may improve bronchospasm in patients with bronchial asthma.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = bronchial hyperreactivity, hyperreactivity (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/41. Report of occupational asthma due to phytase and beta-glucanase.OBJECTIVES: Occupational asthma is the principal cause of respiratory disease in the workplace. The enzymes phytase and beta-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. methods: Inhalation challenge tests were performed with the enzymes phytase, beta-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 beta-glucanase were measured with a radioallergosorbent test. RESULTS: Baseline spirometry values were normal. A histamine challenge test showed bronchial hyperreactivity. Exposure to phytase and beta-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 beta-glucanase (5 mm) at a concentration of 1 mg/ml and positive reactions to beta-glucanase (7 mm) and phytase (5 mm) at a concentration of 5 mg/ml. Similarly specific IgE was present against both phytase and beta-glucanase, at 2.5% and 9.3% binding respectively (2% binding is considered positive). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first description of occupational asthma due to the enzymes phytase and beta-glucanase. Their addition to the ever increasing list of substances associated with occupational asthma will have notable implications for those exposed to these enzymes.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = bronchial hyperreactivity, hyperreactivity (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/41. Reactive airways dysfunction syndrome following metal fume fever.Metal fume fever (MFF) is an acute response to the inhalation of heavy metals used in industry. The patient typically experiences symptoms of cough, fever, chills, malaise, and myalgia that are self-limited and of short duration. Wheezing may occur and pulmonary function may be acutely impaired with a decrease in lung volumes and diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide. Nevertheless, respiratory function quickly returns to normal, and persistent pulmonary insufficiency is unusual. Irritant-induced asthma is a non-immunogenic form of airway injury that may be associated with industrial inhalation exposure. In this situation, the direct toxic effect on the airways causes persistent airway inflammation and bronchial hyperreactivity. The two conditions are considered distinct entities, but we report a previously healthy worker who had classic MFF and was left with irritant-induced asthma or reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS).- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = bronchial hyperreactivity, hyperreactivity (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/41. Successful treatment of refractory vasospastic angina with corticosteroids: coronary arterial hyperactivity caused by local inflammation?BACKGROUND: Although vasospastic angina usually responds well to treatment with calcium antagonists and/or nitrates, there have been anecdotal case reports of refractory vasospastic angina resistant to intensive treatment with high doses of calcium antagonists and nitrates. methods AND RESULTS: Four patients with vasospastic angina, which was refractory to intensive treatment with high doses of calcium antagonists and nitrates, were completely controlled after administration of corticosteroids. Although none of the 4 patients showed eosinophilia, all had bronchial asthma or chronic thyroiditis, and in 2 cases, the activity of vasospastic angina corresponded with that of bronchial asthma. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that in these patients, coronary spasm may have been induced by arterial hyperreactivity because of local inflammation in the coronary arterial wall and that the corticosteroids suppressed the arterial hyperreactivity by alleviating the inflammation. Corticosteroids may be considered as a treatment choice for patients with refractory vasospastic angina, particularly when the patient has an allergic tendency, such as bronchial asthma.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.75242979283682keywords = hyperreactivity (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/41. Reactive airways dysfunction syndrome caused by bromochlorodifluoromethane from fire extinguishers.Although the neurological and cardiovascular effects of Freons have been extensively described, the respiratory effects have been less well documented. We report four cases of occupational asthma following accidental exposure to bromochlorodifluoromethane (Halon 1211) due to release of the contents of a fire extinguisher. All subjects developed an irritative reaction of the upper airways and lower respiratory symptoms immediately after exposure. Non-specific bronchial hyperreactivity was present for at least two months in all subjects and was still present more than two years after exposure in one case. The diagnosis of reactive airways dysfunction syndrome can be adopted in at least three of these four cases.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = bronchial hyperreactivity, hyperreactivity (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/41. Occupational asthma due to acrylates in a graphic arts worker.BACKGROUND: Acrylates are used in a wide variety of products such as solvents, adhesives, paints, printing ink, soft contact lenses, porcelain nails, and methacrylates (used by dentists and orthopedists). Currently there are various types of acrylic compounds: acrylates, cyanoacrylates (such as tissue adhesives and home glues), and methacrylates (prostheses and dental and orthopedic fillings). The sensitization mechanism is unknown, but the allergy is believed to be due to a non-IgE mediated phenomenon, since a late asthmatic response occurs. Various cases of acrylate-induced asthma have been reported, especially in dentists and persons using glues or paints containing this substance. MATERIAL AND methods: We present the case of a 52-year-old man who had been working in graphic arts for the previous 7 years. For the previous 2 years he had experienced persistent cough with a sensation of drowning, dyspnea that increased with moderate exertion, and nasal obstruction despite continuous treatment. The symptoms first appeared after an episode of acute respiratory difficulty associated with weight loss, pulmonary infiltrates, and eosinophilia. Peak expiratory flow (PEF) was measured during work and sick leave, and specific bronchial challenge with acrylates was performed in a bronchial chamber. RESULTS: The PEF improved on weekends and sick leave. The challenge test provoked a late asthmatic response and the non-specific bronchial hyperreactivity increased after the test. As well in the sputum samples there was a increase of eosinophil amount.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = bronchial hyperreactivity, hyperreactivity (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/41. Occupational asthma caused by brazil ginseng dust.The inhalation of different substances of plant origin can cause immediate and late onset asthma. The list of these agents responsible for such reactions is continuously increasing. We discuss a patient who developed symptoms of asthma after exposure to Pfaffia paniculata root powder used in the manufacturing of brazil ginseng capsules. Airway hyperreactivity was confirmed by a positive bronchial challenge to methacholine. Sensitivity to this dust was confirmed by immediate skin test reactivity, a positive bronchial challenge (immediate response), and the presence of specific IgE detected by ELISA technique to an aqueous extract. The bronchial response was inhibited by sodium cromoglycate. Unexposed subjects did not exhibit reactivity to this ginseng extract with any of the tests referred to above. The same study performed with Korean ginseng (panax ginseng) elicited negative results. This study is the first, to our knowledge, that links ginseng-root dust to occupational asthma.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.37621489641841keywords = hyperreactivity (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/41. methotrexate-induced asthma.A patient with rheumatoid arthritis developed pulmonary symptoms and function test abnormalities consistent with asthma during methotrexate therapy. Assessments of airway responsiveness to methacholine during therapy revealed airway hyperreactivity that reverted to normal when the methotrexate was stopped. An extension of the methotrexate dosage interval from 7 to 10 days resulted in an abolition of the asthma, which remained in remission despite a return to a weekly cycle after a 3-month period of 10-day cycles.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.37621489641841keywords = hyperreactivity (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/41. Screening for occupational asthma: a word of caution.The diagnosis of occupational asthma may be difficult due to the complex mechanisms inducing the disorder. Identification of the offending agent after historical documentation may be difficult without bronchial challenge. The hallmark of asthma is bronchial hyperreactivity as detected by methacholine challenge, and this test could be considered as a screening test for asthma in the workplace. Four cases are presented that document changes in methacholine airway reactivity dependent on temporal association with exposure to the workplace or the specific offending agent. This indicates a need for a careful evaluation of symptoms relative to exposure in patients suspected for workplace asthma as well as serial determinations of methacholine response to detect potential variability in the airway reactivity.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = bronchial hyperreactivity, hyperreactivity (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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