Pedro Angel Galindo⁽¹⁾, Elisa Gómez⁽²⁾, Francisco Feo⁽³⁾, Jesús Borja⁽⁴⁾, Rosa García Rodriguez^{(5)
(1)(2)(3)(4)}Complejo Hospitalario Ciudad Real - Ciudad Real. Spain
⁽⁵⁾Allergy Section. Complejo Hospitalario Ciudad Real - Ciudad Real. Spain

		[Allergy & Clinical Immunology]
	[Occupational Health]

DISCUSSION

The seeds of Plantago ovata (Psyllium or ispaghula) are turned into a fine dust to prepare bulk laxatives, which are used by millions of people all over the world. The powdered PS seed is a potent allergen that can produce IgE-mediated hypersensitivity when is inhaled by nurses dispensing PS to patients ^(1-5) and in workers of pharmaceutical industries processing PS ^(6,7).

We report on 2 new cases of nurses with occupational asthma IgE-mediated by PS. The sensitization IgE-mediated has been clearly demonstrated in patient no.2 (positive SPT and elevated levels of specific IgE againts PS). The patient no.1 showed a positive SPT with PS but specific IgE was negative, we think this is due to the time that has passed without being exposed to PS. In our 2 patients we demonstrate that the PS was the responsible antigen in exposure tests, we found a dual reaction (immediate and late) in patient no.2. The patient no.1 showed an isolated immediate reaction, although the use of corticosteroids after that reaction could have avoided the developed of late bronchial response.

Although occupational asthma from exposure to ispaghula dust has been described before, we considered it interesting to report on these 2 new cases for the following reasons: 1) to draw attention to the fact that in cases of respiratory allergy who are in contact with laxatives containing inpaghula, sensitization to this should be studied. 2) The pharmaceutical industry the should change the form in which tis drug is presented, as if it were marketed in the form of granules this would avoid the inhaling of the dust.

Discussion Board

Any Comment to this presentation?

[ABSTRACT] [INTRODUCTION] [CASES REPORT ] [DISCUSSION] [REFERENCES] [Discussion Board]

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		[Allergy & Clinical Immunology]
	[Occupational Health]

Pedro Angel Galindo, Elisa Gómez, Francisco Feo, Jesús Borja, Rosa García Rodriguez
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Last update: 18/01/00