Table 1 Skin and blood tests for allergy, lung function and induced sputum of case 1 .
| Skin prick test | |||
| Common aeroallergens (Alk)* | Negative | ||
| Total serum IgE | Normal (10 kU/l) | ||
| Specific serum IgE (ImmunoCAP Pharmacia) | HDI | Negative (<0.35 kUA/l) | |
| MDI | Negative (<0.35 kUA/l) | ||
| TDI | Negative (<0.35 kUA/l) | ||
| FEV1 | 3.14 litres (92% predicted value) | ||
| FVC | 4.1 litres (93% predicted value) | ||
| FEV1/FVC | 75% | ||
| Peak expiratory flow rate† | Daily variability <20% | ||
| PD20‡ | >3200 μg | ||
| Induced sputum | After the work shift | While asymptomatic (not exposed at work) | After isocyanate bronchial challenge |
| Total cell count (×106/ml) | 2.7 | 1.3 | 3.8 |
| Non‐squamous epithelial cells (%) | |||
| Neutrophils | 38 | 35 | 25 |
| Eosinophils | 35 | 0 | 60 |
| Macrophages | 27 | 65 | 15 |
FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 s; FVC, forced vital capacity; HDI, hexamethylene diisocyanate; MDI, methylene diphenyl isocyanate; PD20, provocative dose inducing a 20% fall in FEV1; TDI, toluene diisocyanate.
*House dust mites, pollens, cat and dog dander, moulds such as Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus fumigatus and Cladosporium herbarum.
†Peak expiratory flows measured six times daily for 4 weeks without significant changes at work or away from work.
‡Methacholine challenge performed soon after the work shift (approximately 3 h after) at a maximal dose–response curve.
Alk‐Abellò, Horsholm, Denmark; ImmunoCAP Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden.