Table 2.
The results of skin prick tests (SPTs) to common allergens, latex, and evaluation of the total IgE in the HCWs with occupational asthma to latex (OA), in the subjects with work‐exacerbated asthma (WEA) and in the control group
| SPT results [N (%)] |
Study group of HCWs N = 44 |
Control group N = 17 (100%) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
With OA N = 26 (100%) |
With WEA N = 18 (100%) |
All N = 44 (100%) |
||
| At least one SPT positive to a common allergen | 17 (65.4%)a | 5 (27.8%) | 22 (50.0%) | 9 (52.9%) |
| SPT positive to | ||||
| Mixed feathers | 2 (7.7%) | 0 | 2 (4.6%) | 1 (5.9%) |
| Grass pollens | 7 (26.9%) | 1 (5.6%) | 8 (18.2%) | 8 (47.1%)a |
| Mixed tree pollens I* | 7 (26.9%) | 0) | 7 (15.9%) | 6 (35.3%) |
| Mixed tree pollens II** | 7 (26.9%) | 1 (5.6%) | 8 (18.2%) | 6 (35.3%) |
| Mixed moulds I* | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 (11.7%) |
| Mixed moulds II** | 1 (3.9%) | 0 | 1 (2.3%) | 1 (5.9%) |
| Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus | 8 (30.8%) | 4 (22.2%) | 12 (27.3%) | 3 (17.7%) |
| Dermatophagoides farinae | 7 (26.9%) | 3 (16.7%) | 10 (22.7%) | 1 (5.9%) |
| Weeds | 6 (23.1%) | 2 (11.1%) | 8 (18.2%) | 5 (29.4%) |
| Acarus siro | 6 (23.1%) | 2 (11.1%) | 8 (18.2%) | 0 |
| Lepidoglyphus destructor | 7 (26.9%) | 3 (16.7%) | 10 (22.7%) | 1 (5.9%) |
| T putrescientiae | 6 (23.1%) | 2 (11.1%) | 8 (18.2%) | 0 |
| Cat dander | 2 (7.7%) | 0 | 2 (4.6%) | 0 |
| Dog dander | 1 (3.9%) | 0 | 1 (2.3%) | 0 |
| Positive SPT results to latex | 24 (92.3%)a | 12 (66.7%) | 36 (81.8%) | 0 |
|
Total IgE level (kU/L) (mean ± SD) Total IgE > 100 kU/L |
187.94 ± 235.2 11 (42.3%) |
148.22 ± 117.7 10 (55.6%) |
162.1 ± 189.9 21 (47.7%) |
315.5 ± 216.4 14 (82.4%)a |
| sIgE to latex range (kUA/L) | ||||
| 0.35‐0.7 | 5 (19.2%) | 6 (33.3%) | 11 (25.0%) | 4 (23.5%) |
| 0.71‐3.5 | 11 (42.3%) | 8 (44.4%) | 19 (43.2%) | 12 (70.6%) |
| 3.51‐17.5 | 8 (30.8%) | 4 (22.2%) | 12 (27.3%) | 1 (5.9%) |
| 17.5‐100 | 2 (7.7%) | 0 | 2 (4.6%) | 0 |
| ≥100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Abbreviations: HCWs, health‐care workers; OA, occupational asthma, due to latex occupational allergy; SPT, skin prick test; WEA, work‐exacerbated asthma.
Mixed tree pollens I*:( alder, hazel poplar, elm, willow), mixed tree pollens I**(birch, beech, oak, plane‐tree), mixed moulds I* (Alternaria tenuis, Botrytis cinerea, Cladosporium. herbarum, Curvularia lunata, Helminthosporium halodes, Fusarium moniliforme), mixed moulds II** (Aspergillus fumigatus, Mucor mucedo, Penicillium notatum, Pullularia pullulans, Rhizopus nigricans, Serpula lacrymans), mixed feathers (hen, goose, duck), SPT with latex was caried out only in patients with a negative history of generalized allergic reactions.
P<0.05; The Chi‐square test (or Fisher's exact test) was used to compare the HCWs and the control group as well as the HCWs with OA to latex and work‐exacerbated respiratory symptoms.