RISK FACTORS FOR ASTHMA IN LABORATORY ANIMAL ALLERGY

这项前瞻性多学科研究的主要目的是 确定易患哮喘的危险因素， 接触实验动物后过敏性疾病的其他表现 在工作场所。 这项建议是继续进行一项研究， 最初资助3年。 具体目标涉及两个主要方面： 正在调查的问题。 首先，哪些因素会增加过敏性哮喘的风险， 以相对风险衡量？ 潜在的重要因素包括： 过敏或哮喘的个人或家族史; 对动物或其他空气过敏原的皮肤试验敏感性; IgE和IgG 对动物过敏原的抗体水平;人口统计学和心理社会因素; 和工作场所接触特定可吸入动物过敏原的水平。 第二，什么是过敏发展的自然史， 哮喘实验动物？ 如何改变因素，如暴露于 动物，气道高反应性，特异性IgE和IgG，皮肤试验 反应性和症状彼此相关，并与其他因素相关， 在疾病发展中的时间意义 这些问题在一项对500项研究的纵向研究中得到了解决 实验室工作人员与动物接触最少， 在进入该纵向研究时对动物进行哮喘。 每6个月对受试者进行至少30个月的评估， 以下内容：个人访谈;免疫反应测试（皮肤 试验，血清IgE和IgG抗体）;和气道反应性试验 （用甲磺酰进行支气管激发）。 暴露于动物的程度 通过工作场所和个人的空气过敏原采样来定量过敏原。 呼吸区空气，并通过工作日记。 实验室动物变态反应提供了一个很好的职业性变态反应模型。 哮喘，越来越严重的问题。 更好地理解 机制和风险因素将有助于成功预防， 不仅是哮喘和对实验室动物过敏， 不仅限于职业环境。

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.