The primary objective of this prospective, multidisciplinary study is to identify risk factors which predispose individuals to develop asthma and other manifestations of allergic disease on exposure to laboratory animals in the workplace. This proposal is to continue a study which was originally funded for 3 years. Specific objectives relate to two major questions under investigation. First, what are the factors which increase the risk of allergic asthma, as measured by relative risk? Factors of potential importance include: airway hyperreactivity; personal or family history of allergy or asthma; skin test sensitivity to animal or other aeroallergens; IgE and IgG antibody levels to animal allergens; demographic and psychosocial factors; and workplace exposure levels to specific respirable animal allergens. Second, what is the natural history of the development of allergy and asthma to lab animals? How do changes in factors such as exposure to animals, airway hyperreactivity, specific IgE and IgG, skin test reactivity, and symptoms relate to one another and to other factors, in a temporal sense in the development of disease? These questions are being addressed in a longitudinal study of 500 research lab workers with minimal prior exposure to the animals and who do not have asthma to the animals at the time of entering this longitudinal study. Subjects are evaluated at 6-month intervals for at least 30 months, with the following: personal interviews; tests for immunologic reactivity (skin tests, serum IgE and IgG antibodies); and tests of airway reactivity (bronchoprovocation with mechalyl). The degree of exposure to animal allergens is quantitated by aeroallergen sampling of workplace and personal breathing zone air, and by Work Diaries. Laboratory animal allergy provides an excellent model of occupational asthma, and increasingly important problem. An improved understanding of mechanisms and risk factors will contribute to successful prevention not only of asthma and allergy to lab animals but also of allergic disorders not limited to the occupational environment.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL030532-06
Application #
3341562
Study Section
Epidemiology and Disease Control Subcommittee 3 (EDC)
Project Start
1983-07-01
Project End
1990-06-30
Budget Start
1988-07-01
Budget End
1989-06-30
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
1988
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
045911138
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21218
Newill, C A; Eggleston, P A; Prenger, V L et al. (1995) Prospective study of occupational asthma to laboratory animal allergens: stability of airway responsiveness to methacholine challenge for one year. J Allergy Clin Immunol 95:707-15
Eggleston, P A; Ansari, A A; Adkinson Jr, N F et al. (1995) Environmental challenge studies in laboratory animal allergy. Effect of different airborne allergen concentrations. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 151:640-6
Wood, R A; Laheri, A N; Eggleston, P A (1993) The aerodynamic characteristics of cat allergen. Clin Exp Allergy 23:733-9
Ziemann, B; Corn, M; Ansari, A A et al. (1992) The effectiveness of the Duo-Flo BioClean unit for controlling airborne antigen levels. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 53:138-45
Newill, C A; Prenger, V L; Fish, J E et al. (1992) Risk factors for increased airway responsiveness to methacholine challenge among laboratory animal workers. Am Rev Respir Dis 146:1494-500
Eggleston, P A; Rosenstein, B J; Stackhouse, C M et al. (1991) A controlled trial of long-term bronchodilator therapy in cystic fibrosis. Chest 99:1088-92
Eggleston, P A; Ansari, A A; Ziemann, B et al. (1990) Occupational challenge studies with laboratory workers allergic to rats. J Allergy Clin Immunol 86:63-72
Eggleston, P A; Kagey-Sobotka, A; Proud, D et al. (1990) Disassociation of the release of histamine and arachidonic acid metabolites from osmotically activated basophils and human lung mast cells. Am Rev Respir Dis 141:960-4
Eggleston, P A; Newill, C A; Ansari, A A et al. (1989) Task-related variation in airborne concentrations of laboratory animal allergens: studies with Rat n I. J Allergy Clin Immunol 84:347-52
Eggleston, P A (1988) Upper airway inflammatory diseases and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. J Allergy Clin Immunol 81:1036-41

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