Santiago Quirce1,2, Joaquín Sastre3,2. 1. Department of Allergy, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research (IdiPAZ). 2. Department of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, CIBERES, Instituto Carlos III, Madrid, Spain. 3. Department of Allergy, Fundación Jiménez Díaz.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review focuses on new findings in the clinical and inflammatory aspects that can help to better identify the different phenotypes of work-related asthma and the development of specific biomarkers useful in diagnosis and follow-up. RECENT FINDINGS: Studies on phenotyping of occupational asthma, a subtype of work-related asthma, have mainly compared the clinical, physiological, and inflammatory patterns associated with the type of agent causing occupational asthma, namely, high-molecular-weight and low-molecular-weight agents. Most of this research has found that patients with occupational asthma due to high-molecular-weight agents have an associated presence of rhinitis, conjunctivitis, atopy, and a pattern of early asthmatic reactions during specific inhalation challenge. The inflammatory profile (blood eosinophils, sputum cell count, or exhaled nitric oxide) may be similar when occupational asthma is caused by either type of agent. In some studies, severity of asthma and exacerbations have been associated with exposure to low-molecular-weight agents. The most reliable biomarkers in diagnosis and follow-up are eosinophilia in induced sputum and exhaled nitric oxide. SUMMARY: There are several phenotypes, characterized by its pathogenesis and inflammatory profile. Avoidance of the causative agents does not warrant complete recovery of occupational asthma. Treatment with biologic agents may be considered in severe occupational asthma.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review focuses on new findings in the clinical and inflammatory aspects that can help to better identify the different phenotypes of work-related asthma and the development of specific biomarkers useful in diagnosis and follow-up. RECENT FINDINGS: Studies on phenotyping of occupational asthma, a subtype of work-related asthma, have mainly compared the clinical, physiological, and inflammatory patterns associated with the type of agent causing occupational asthma, namely, high-molecular-weight and low-molecular-weight agents. Most of this research has found that patients with occupational asthma due to high-molecular-weight agents have an associated presence of rhinitis, conjunctivitis, atopy, and a pattern of early asthmatic reactions during specific inhalation challenge. The inflammatory profile (blood eosinophils, sputum cell count, or exhaled nitric oxide) may be similar when occupational asthma is caused by either type of agent. In some studies, severity of asthma and exacerbations have been associated with exposure to low-molecular-weight agents. The most reliable biomarkers in diagnosis and follow-up are eosinophilia in induced sputum and exhaled nitric oxide. SUMMARY: There are several phenotypes, characterized by its pathogenesis and inflammatory profile. Avoidance of the causative agents does not warrant complete recovery of occupational asthma. Treatment with biologic agents may be considered in severe occupational asthma.
Authors: Angelica I Tiotiu; Silviya Novakova; Marina Labor; Alexander Emelyanov; Stefan Mihaicuta; Plamena Novakova; Denislava Nedeva Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-06-24 Impact factor: 3.390