The overall objective of this controlled, prospective, multidisciplinary study is to identify and investigate risk factors associated with the development of asthma in individuals who develop allergy to laboratory animals in an occupational setting. Specific objectives relate to the following questions: 1) Is the existence of allergy (symptoms and/or sensitivity) prior to exposure a risk factor for asthma? 2) Are family history and demographic factors risk factors for asthma? 3) Is the pre-existence of airway hyperreactivity a risk factor and is there an association between changes in airway hyperreactivity and asthma? 4) What are the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of suspended airborne particulate matter, including animal allergens, at selected sites and 5) Is the level of exposure of laboratory workers to specific, respirable animal allergens a risk factor? The study will be conducted within the population of research laboratory workers at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions and University. Study subjects will be enlisted over a 3 1/2 year period when they first come here to work with laboratory animals. They will be evaluated semi-annually by interview, allergy skin tests, in vitro assays for total serum IgE and IgE antibodies specific for allergens of the principal laboratory animals, and pulmonary function tests including bronchial challenge with methacholine. Environmental samples will be collected at selected sites within the JHMI and in the personal breathing zones of a sample of laboratory workers. Both respirable and nonrespirable fractions of suspended particulate matter trapped in the air sampling devices will be analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively, including assays for specific animal allergens. We will estimate an Index of Exposure from personal work histories and measure actual exposure using air sampling devices. The results of these studies are expected to contribute significantly to our understanding of the pathogenesis of asthma in general and the role of airway hyperreactivity in this disorder. As occupational asthma is an increasingly important problem, improved understanding of the risk factors and mechanisms will hopefully lead to the development of promising new approaches to successful disease prevention.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL030532-03
Application #
3341560
Study Section
Epidemiology and Disease Control Subcommittee 3 (EDC)
Project Start
1983-07-01
Project End
1986-06-30
Budget Start
1985-07-01
Budget End
1986-06-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1985
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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