FREE NEJM E-TOC    HOME   |   SUBSCRIBE   |   CURRENT ISSUE   |   PAST ISSUES   |   COLLECTIONS   |   Search Term  Advanced Search

Sign in | Get NEJM's E-Mail Table of Contents — Free | Subscribe

Previous Volume 333:107-112 July 13, 1995 Number 2 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

	Full Text PDF Purchase this article Add to Personal Archive Add to Citation Manager Notify a Friend E-mail When Cited PubMed Citation

Occupational asthma has become the most prevalent occupational lung disease in developed countries.^1,2,3,4,5 Surveillance programs in the United Kingdom⁴ and in British Columbia, Canada,⁵ indicate that asthma is the most frequently reported occupational lung condition, accounting for 26 percent and 52 percent of such reports, respectively.

Asthma affects 5 to 10 percent of people worldwide. The proportion of newly diagnosed cases of asthma in adults that are due to occupational exposure is unknown. In the United States, it has been estimated to be 15 percent,⁶ which is similar to estimates in Japan.⁷ Since the treatment of choice for occupational asthma . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Definition and Classification

Causative Agents

Pathophysiology

Occupational Asthma with Latency

Occupational Asthma without Latency

Epidemiology

Long-Term Consequences

Diagnosis

Diagnostic Criteria

Diagnosis in Clinical Settings

Case Identification in Surveys

Management

Impairment and Disability Evaluation

Conclusions

Source Information

From the Respiratory Division, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver (M.C.-Y.); and the Department of Chest Medicine, Sacre-Coeur Hospital, Universite de Montreal, Montreal (M.C.-Y., J.-L.M.) -- both in Canada.

Address reprint requests to Dr. Chan-Yeung at the Dept. of Medicine, Vancouver General Hospital, 2775 Heather St., Vancouver, BC V5Z 3J5, Canada.

References

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Fent, K. W., Gaines, L. G. T., Thomasen, J. M., Flack, S. L., Ding, K., Herring, A. H., Whittaker, S. G., Nylander-French, L. A. (2009). Quantification and Statistical Modeling--Part I: Breathing-Zone Concentrations of Monomeric and Polymeric 1,6-Hexamethylene Diisocyanate. ANN OCCUP HYG 53: 677-689 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Fent, K. W., Trelles Gaines, L. G., Thomasen, J. M., Flack, S. L., Ding, K., Herring, A. H., Whittaker, S. G., Nylander-French, L. A. (2009). Quantification and Statistical Modeling--Part II: Dermal Concentrations of Monomeric and Polymeric 1,6-Hexamethylene Diisocyanate. ANN OCCUP HYG 53: 691-702 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Dufour, M-H., Lemiere, C., Prince, P., Boulet, L-P. (2009). Comparative airway response to high- versus low-molecular weight agents in occupational asthma. Eur Respir J 33: 734-739 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Caress, S., Steinemann, A. (2009). Asthma and chemical hypersensitivity: prevalence, etiology, and age of onset. Toxicol Ind Health 25: 71-78 [Abstract]  
• Beckett, W. S. (2009). Occupational Asthma. ACCP Pulmonary Med Brd Rev 25: 723-728 [Full Text]  
• Castano, R, Gautrin, D, Theriault, G, Trudeau, C, Ghezzo, H, Malo, J-L (2009). Occupational rhinitis in workers investigated for occupational asthma. Thorax 64: 50-54 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Rioux, J-P., Malo, J-L., L'Archeveque, J., Rabhi, K., Labrecque, M. (2008). Workplace-specific challenges as a contribution to the diagnosis of occupational asthma. Eur Respir J 32: 997-1003 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Christiani, D C, Mehta, A J, Yu, C-L (2008). Genetic susceptibility to occupational exposures. Occup. Environ. Med. 65: 430-436 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Malo, J.-L., Newman Taylor, A. (2007). Defining occupational asthma and confirming the diagnosis: what do experts suggest?. Occup. Environ. Med. 64: 359-360 [Full Text]  
• Beach, J., Russell, K., Blitz, S., Hooton, N., Spooner, C., Lemiere, C., Tarlo, S. M., Rowe, B. H. (2007). A Systematic Review of the Diagnosis of Occupational Asthma. Chest 131: 569-578 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Hannu, T., Piipari, R., Tuppurainen, M., Nordman, H., Tuomi, T. (2007). Occupational asthma caused by stainless steel welding fumes: a clinical study. Eur Respir J 29: 85-90 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Lawyer, M. C. (2006). More on Life-Threatening Asthma and Salmeterol. NEJM 355: 2157-2158 [Full Text]  
• Caldeira, R D, Bettiol, H, Barbieri, M A, Terra-Filho, J, Garcia, C A, Vianna, E O (2006). Prevalence and risk factors for work related asthma in young adults. Occup. Environ. Med. 63: 694-699 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Magnusson, L L, Wennborg, H, Bonde, J P, Olsen, J (2006). Wheezing, asthma, hay fever, and atopic eczema in relation to maternal occupations in pregnancy. Occup. Environ. Med. 63: 640-646 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Pavord, I. D., Birring, S. S., Berry, M., Green, R. H., Brightling, C. E., Wardlaw, A. J. (2006). Multiple inflammatory hits and the pathogenesis of severe airway disease.. Eur Respir J 27: 884-888 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Vandenplas, O., Ghezzo, H., Munoz, X., Moscato, G., Perfetti, L., Lemiere, C., Labrecque, M., L'Archeveque, J., Malo, J-L. (2005). What are the questionnaire items most useful in identifying subjects with occupational asthma?. Eur Respir J 26: 1056-1063 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Malo, J.-L. (2005). Future advances in work-related asthma and the impact on occupational health. Occup Med (Lond) 55: 606-611 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Le Moual, N., Siroux, V., Pin, I., Kauffmann, F., Kennedy, S. M., on behalf of the Epidemiological Study on the Gene, (2005). Asthma Severity and Exposure to Occupational Asthmogens. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 172: 440-445 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Mapp, C. E., Boschetto, P., Maestrelli, P., Fabbri, L. M. (2005). Occupational Asthma. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 172: 280-305 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Le Moual, N., Kennedy, S. M., Kauffmann, F. (2004). Occupational Exposures and Asthma in 14,000 Adults from the General Population. Am J Epidemiol 160: 1108-1116 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Girard, F., Chaboillez, S., Cartier, A., Cote, J., Hargreave, F. E., Labrecque, M., Malo, J.-L., Tarlo, S. M., Lemiere, C. (2004). An Effective Strategy for Diagnosing Occupational Asthma: Use of Induced Sputum. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 170: 845-850 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Munoz, X, Cruz, M J, Orriols, R, Torres, F, Espuga, M, Morell, F (2004). Validation of specific inhalation challenge for the diagnosis of occupational asthma due to persulphate salts. Occup. Environ. Med. 61: 861-866 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• WOSKIE, S. R., SPARER, J., GORE, R. J., STOWE, M., BELLO, D., LIU, Y., YOUNGS, F., REDLICH, C., EISEN, E., CULLEN, M. (2004). Determinants of Isocyanate Exposures in Auto Body Repair and Refinishing Shops. ANN OCCUP HYG 48: 393-403 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Marabini, A., Siracusa, A., Stopponi, R., Tacconi, C., Abbritti, G. (2003). Outcome of Occupational Asthma in Patients With Continuous Exposure: A 3-Year Longitudinal Study During Pharmacologic Treatment. Chest 124: 2372-2376 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Jaakkola, J. J. K., Piipari, R., Jaakkola, M. S. (2003). Occupation and Asthma: A Population-based Incident Case-Control Study. Am J Epidemiol 158: 981-987 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Gautrin, D., Newman-Taylor, A.J., Nordman, H., Malo, J-L. (2003). Controversies in epidemiology of occupational asthma. Eur Respir J 22: 551-559 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Saarinen, K., Karjalainen, A., Martikainen, R., Uitti, J., Tammilehto, L., Klaukka, T., Kurppa, K. (2003). Prevalence of work-aggravated symptoms in clinically established asthma. Eur Respir J 22: 305-309 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• O'Byrne, P. M., Inman, M. D. (2003). Airway Hyperresponsiveness. Chest 123 : 411S-416S [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Ameille, J, Pauli, G, Calastreng-Crinquand, A, Vervloet, D, Iwatsubo, Y, Popin, E, Bayeux-Dunglas, M C, Kopferschmitt-Kubler, M C (2003). Reported incidence of occupational asthma in France, 1996-99: the ONAP programme. Occup. Environ. Med. 60: 136-141 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Leigh, J. P., Romano, P. S., Schenker, M. B., Kreiss, K. (2002). Costs of Occupational COPD and Asthma. Chest 121: 264-272 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Cates, C. (2001). Extracts from ""Clinical Evidence"": Chronic asthma. BMJ 323: 976-979 [Full Text]  
• FitzGerald, M. (2001). Extracts from ""Clinical Evidence"": Acute asthma. BMJ 323: 841-845 [Full Text]  
• Knott, P. G., Gater, P. R., Dunford, P. J., Fuentes, M. E., Bertrand, C. P. (2001). Rapid Up-Regulation of CXC Chemokines in the Airways after Ag-Specific CD4+ T Cell Activation. J. Immunol. 166: 1233-1240 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Wenzel, S. (2000). Proceedings of the ATS Workshop on Refractory Asthma . Current Understanding, Recommendations, and Unanswered Questions. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 162: 2341-2351 [Full Text]  
• Wang, J., Homer, R. J., Chen, Q., Elias, J. A. (2000). Endogenous and Exogenous IL-6 Inhibit Aeroallergen-Induced Th2 Inflammation. J. Immunol. 165: 4051-4061 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• LISS, G. M., TARLO, S. M., MACFARLANE, Y., YEUNG, K. S. (2000). Hospitalization among Workers Compensated for Occupational Asthma. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 162: 112-118 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Beckett, W. S. (2000). Occupational Respiratory Diseases. NEJM 342: 406-413 [Full Text]  
• Chatkin, J. M., Tarlo, S. M., Liss, G., Banks, D., Broder, I. (1999). The Outcome of Asthma Related to Workplace Irritant Exposures* : A Comparison of Irritant-Induced Asthma and Irritant Aggravation of Asthma. Chest 116: 1780-1785 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Becklake, M. R, Kauffmann, F. (1999). Gender differences in airway behaviour over the human life span. Thorax 54: 1119-1138 [Full Text]  
• (1999). Provocative factors in asthma. CMAJ 161: s8-14 [Full Text]  
• MALO, J.-L., GHEZZO, H., ÉLIE, R. (1999). Occupational Asthma Caused by Isocyanates . Patterns of Asthmatic Reactions to Increasing Day-to-Day Doses. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 159: 1879-1883 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Shefer, S., Salen, G., Honda, A., Batta, A. K., Nguyen, L. B., Tint, G. S., Ioannou, Y. A., Desnick, R. (1998). Regulation of rat hepatic 3ß-hydroxysterol {Delta}7-reductase: substrate specificity, competitive and non-competitive inhibition, and phosphorylation/dephosphorylation. J. Lipid Res. 39: 2471-2476 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Schenker, M. (1998). Respiratory Health Hazards in Agriculture. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 158: S1-S76 [Full Text]  
• LEROYER, C., PERFETTI, L., TRUDEAU, C., L'ARCHEVQUE, J., CHAN-YEUNG, M., MALO, J.-L. (1998). Comparison of Serial Monitoring of Peak Expiratory Flow and FEV1 in the Diagnosis of Occupational Asthma. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 158: 827-832 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• FORASTIERE, F., BALMES, J., SCARINCI, M., TAGER, I. B. (1998). Occupation, Asthma, and Chronic Respiratory Symptoms in a Community Sample of Older Women. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 157: 1864-1870 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Bernstein, D. I. (1997). Allergic Reactions to Workplace Allergens. JAMA 278: 1907-1913 [Abstract]  
• MAPP, C. E., BALBONI, A., BARICORDI, R., FABBRI, L. M. (1997). Human Leukocyte Antigen Associations in Occupational Asthma Induced by Isocyanates. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 156: S139-S143 [Abstract] [Full Text]